The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-05-29
THE FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS
The House Continues the Debate on the
Proposition to Tax 0leomargarine,
And the Opponents Of the Measure Resume
Their Attempt to Ridicule the Bill Out of
Existence-Proceeding in the Senate.
Continuation of the Debate on the Bill to |
Tax Oleomargarine.

THE HOUSE.
Continuation of the Debate on the Bill to
Tax Oleomargarine.
WAsHINGToN, May 28-On motion of Mr..
Morrison, of Illinois, it was ordered that when
the House adjourned to morrow it be to meet on
next Tuesday.
The Senate resolutions relating to the death
of John f. Miller late Senator from Califor-
mia, having been laid before the House, Mr..
Morrow, of California. gave notice that he
would call them up fer action on Saturday,
June Is.
Private business having been dispensed with,
the House went into committee of the whole
Mr. Springer, OF Illinois, in the chair-on the
Oleomargarine bill, the pending amendment
being that offered by Mr.. Daniel, of Virginia,
reducing the special tax on retail dealers from
$48 to $25
Mr. Van Schaak. of Wisconsin, presented pro-
test from the executive board of the Knights of
Labor of Milwaukee against the passage of the
BILL
Mr. Gibson, Of West Virginia, regarded the
whole bill a fraud, and all amendments as
simply aiding to carry out that fraud. 1t pro-
fessed to be bill in the interest of the farmer
while, in fact, it was bill in favor of the grasp
ing dairymen around the great cities who
toriously watered their milk and made nasty
butter for the people. The gentleman from
Missouri Mr.. Hatchi, who seemed to be the wet
nurse of this measure, had formerly denounced
the protective system as asystem OF plumber. and
yet here he was found as the standard bearer of
the plunderers. What had become of his dem
oeracyi Was it because some of the plumber
went to his people that he was willing to become
the leader of a measure the most infamous that
had ever been introduced in an American Con-
sressY The bill proposed to place spy over
every old woman's churn in the country.
and to add 15 cents pound to the
grease that was put upon the bread of
shidren. Laughter. The advocates of the
measure were willing that should sell
mean whisky If he paid tax of 800, but if
man desired to sell cheap food to the aborer he
must pay tax of 5000. and this was called
Democratic measure. If he Mr.. Gibsonl were
allowed TO give the names of members of Con-
gress who had told him here on the floor that
they knew the bill was infamous and mon
strous one, but that they were afraid to vote
against 1t, he would make revelation which
would startle the country and show what a mock
cry this legislation was
Mr.. Cannon, of nlinois-Why not tell as their
pamesa
Mr. Gibson-I do not choose to do so; but 1t is
. fact
Mr. Hammond of Georgia, moved to strike
put the proviso that IN case manufacturer OF
Oeomargarne commences business subse-
quent to June 80. in any year. the special
fax shall be reckoned from July, and shall be
$500.
Mr.. Butterworth, of Ohio favored making
oleomargarine sail under Its true colors, but was
not In favor Of taxing it out of existence. From
on the sea of commerce. 1t had not for an hour
sailed under its true flag. 1t had placed itself
under BAN But Congress might as well tax
cream gravy out of existence because 1t limited
the use OF butter upon bread. 1t the bill only
proposed to tax the industry out of existence,
IL ought to find no favor on either side Of the
House.
Mr.. Findlay, of Maryland, said that few
days since he had offered, in comparative good
faith, an amendment, the object of which had
49, @l.~ %ok:> - IL
inc to any point Inhabited by Parsees. or Fire
worshipers That sect had q peculiar form of
burial It was the custom for the priest to
grease the face of the dead man, and then to call
Ia dog If the dog licked the face it was sure
sign that the man had gone to heaven, but if he
did not it was an infallible sign that the man had
gone to the other place. suppose that, by any
mistake, this man would happen to be creased
with oeomargarine-there was not dog in Gre
alton that would lick him. Laughter. But,
in all seriousness, he was opposed to the bill,
chiefly because he believed that the most iniqui-
tous system of taxation ever devised or within
she power of man was the internal revenue sys-
tenn. He was in favor of repeating the tax on
tobacco and cigars-a thing that entirely
feasible, for he had the authority of the chair
man of the committee on ways and means that,
while 1t was not feasible to get rid of the whole
system of internal revenue, the tax on tobacco
and cigars could be dispensed with; and yet the
House was confronted with bill that not only
proposed to extend the system, but also pro-
posed to raise revenue in the teeth of the asser
ton of the committee on ways and means that
no revenue needed, but that the revenue
ought to be reduced.
Mr.. Hiscock, of New York, said that all the
wit the invective, the filibusterng Of the bull
butter men, the hog-fat butter men, the soap
grease butter men. could not drive the farmer
out OF court The agricultural and dairy man
was here, and, as he Mr.. Hiscockl hoped and
trusted, to stay until we had action on this bill.
The committee on agriculture, after consultation
with the friends of the measure, had unanimous
" reported the bill, and the friends of this legs
lation were pledged to it, Whenever the com
mittee on agriculture saw fit to change any of
the provisions of the biz he would vote for il,
but he proposed, for one. to stand by this bill
letter by letter, line by line section by section,
until he received that sign from tho chairman of
the committee. One word to the gentlemen on
the other side: If he desired them to make
mistake in this matter, he would pray them to
defeat this bill by filibustering. Seven million
and half of the people of the United States
were interested in this bill. The curtain was
rung up, and the representatives were perform
Ing before them, and they would note the reward
and note the vote.
Mr.. Breckinridge. of Kentucky, suggested
that the advocates of the bill were performing
In view of the people for the purpose of gaining
votes but he was willing to wait and see whether
they would receive the applause of the pit. He
desired to ask the gentleman in charge OF the
bill what amount of money it would take to put
the law into operatong
Mr. Hatch replied that he had information
from the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
that not dollar of appropriation was necessary
to carry the act into execution
The motion to recommit the bill was lost
Mr. Warner, of Missouri. regarded it as
great compliment to his State that the leader Of
the Republican side Mr.. Hiscockl only awaited
the nod of the gentleman from Missouri Mr..
Hatchl to say how he would vote, but being new
member. being accustomed to vote for what he
believed to be right and against what he believed
to be wrong, regardless of the beck and nod of
any man, he Mr.. Warnerl must decline to fol-
tas plume of the elegant gentleman from Mis-
souri, Mr. Hatch He had fought the battle of
protection in his State when he was showed I'M
der by $4,000 majority. He had listened to the
speech of his colleague opposing all legislation
that looked to the protection of the labor of the
rountry; and yet, to-day, that gentleman was