The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1886-08-12
PRESIDENTS SIGNATURE AFTzxED.
Accompanied With Reasons Why He Signs
the Measure.

President Cleveland has approved the
oleomargarine bill and sent the following
message to the house notifying that body
OF his action, but suggesting some amend
ments to the measure:
To the House OF Representatives. have
this day approved a bill originating in the
house OF representatives entitled A act
defining butter, also imposing q tax upon
and regulating the manufacture for sale,
Importation and expectation OF oleomar-
g%arine." This legislation has awakened
country and earnest argument has been
addressed to the executive for the purpose
of influencing his action thereupon. Many
in opposition have urged its dangerous
character as tending to break down the
boundaries between the proper exercise Of
legislative power by federal and state au-
thority. Many in favor OF the enactment
have represented that it promised great
advantages to a large portion OF our popu-
lation who sadly need relief, and those on
both sides of the question whose advocacy
or opposition is based upon no broader
foundation than local or personal interest
nave outnumbered all others. This upon
its face and in its main features is q
revenue bill and was first introduced in the
house OF representatives wherein the con
~stitution declares that all bills for raising
revenue shall originate. The constitution
has invested congress with a very wide leg
~islative discretion both as to the necessity
of taxation and selection of the objects OF
it's burdens, and though il the question was
presented to me as al original proposition
/ might doubt the present need OF increased
taxation, l deem it my duty in this in
stance to defer to the j~udgment'of the legis-
lative branch of the government which has
been so ~emphatically announced in both
houses OF congress in favor OF the passage
OF this bill. Moreover those who desire to
see removed the weight OF taxation now
pressing upon the people from other direc-
tons may well be justified in the hope and
expectation that the selection OF an addi-
tional subject OF internal taxation sc well
able to pear it, will in consistency be fol-
lowed by legislation relieving our citizens
from other revenue burdens rendered by
the passage of this bill even more than
heretofore unnecessary and needlessly OPP
pressive. 1t has been urged as an objection
to this measure that while p%urporting to
be legislation for revenue it's real purposeis
to destroy by all the use Of the taxing
power one industry OF our people for the
protection and benefit of another. If enti-
tied to indulge in such q suspicion as a
basis of official action in this case, and if
entirely satisfied that the consequences in
dictated would ensue, [ should doubtless
feel constrained to impose executive dis
sent, but l do not feel called upon to inter-
pref the motives OF congress other
wise than by the apparent charac-
ter of the bill which has been
presented to me, and 1 am convinced
that the taxes which it creates cannot pos
sibly destroy the open and legitimate man.
ufacture and sale OF the thing upon which
it is levied if this article has the merit
which it's friends claim for it, and if the
people of the land withfull knowledge of it's
real character desire to purchase and use
it, the taxes enacted by this bill will per-
NIT a fair profit to both manufacturer and
dealer. If the existence OF the commodity
taxed and the profits Of its manufacture
and sale depend upon isposing OF it to the
people for something else which it deceit
fully initiates. the entire enterprise is a
fraud and not an industry, and if it can
not endure the exhibition of its real char
acter, which will be effected by the inspec-
ton, supervision and stamping which this
bill directs, the one it is destroyed the
better in the interest of fair dealing. Such
a result would not furnish the first instance
in the history of legislation in which a rev.
enue produced a benefit which was merely
incidental to its purpose. There is certain
ly no industry better entitled to the incl
dental advantages which may follow this
legislation than our farming and dairy in
~terests, and to one OF our people should
they be less ~begrudged than our farmers
and dairymen. The present depression OF
their occupations, the hard, steady and
often u~nremunerative toll which such occu-
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which our agiculturists necessarily bear, en-
title them to every legitimate considera-
ton. Nor should there be opposition to
the Incidental effect OF this legislation on
the part OF those who profess to be engaged
honestly and fairlyin the manufacture and
sale OF a wholesome and valuable article
of food which, by its provisions, may
be subject to taxation. AS long
as their business is carried on I'M
der cover and by false pretenses, such men
have bad companions in those whose man.
ufactures, however vile and harmful, take
their place without challenge with the bet
ter sort in q common crusade OF deceit
against the public. But if this occupation
and it's methods are forced into the light
and ALI these manufactures must either
stand upon their merits or fall, the good
and bad must Don part company and the
fittest only will survive. Not the least i'm
portant incident related to this legislation
is the defense afforded to the
against the fraudulent substitution and
sale OF an imitation for a genuine article OF
food OF very general household use. Not
w~ithstanding the immense quantity of the
article described in this bill which is sold to
the people for their consumption as food,
and Notwithstanding the claim made that
its manufacture supplies a cheap substitute
tor butter, l venture to say that hardly a
pound ever entered a poor mans house
under it's real name and in it's true characl
ter. While there should be no governmental
regulation of what the citizen shall eat, it
is certainly not a cause of regret if by legis-
lation OF this character he is afforded a
means which he may better protect him
self against an imposition in meeting the
needs and wants of his daily life. Having
entered upon this legislationit is manifestly
a duty to render it as effective as possible
in the accomplishment of all the good
which should necessarily follow in its train.
This leads to the suggestion that the article
proposed to be taxed and the circumstances
which subject it thereto should be clearly
and with great distinctness defined in the
statement. 1t seems to me that this object
has beer wholly attained in the phrase
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