Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-03
OLEOMARGARINE.
THE PRESIDENT SIGNS THE BILL AND
GIVES HIS REASONS.
His Doubts as 10 It's Constitutionaiity
Yield to His Sense Of the Necessity
Of the Measure.
Ivy telegraph TO the Dispatch.l

on this bill will not expire till Thurs
day, August 5th. An impression Is
growing that the President will allow
the bill to become a law without his
signature. This can be done, however,
only with the consent OF Congress,
which would have TO defer its adjourn.
ment till after the expiration of the ten
days limit. Should Congress adjourn
before that date and the President de-
cline to sign the bill, it would of course
be null and void.
Lo,er.--The President has signed the
oleomargarine bill and sent message
10 the House Of Representatives stating
his reasons for approving it and sug-
costing some additional legislation.
The President, in his message to
the House of Representatives TO-
day, after formally announcing that
he had signed the oleomargarine
bill, says: "This legislation has
awakened much interest among the
people of the country, and earnest
argument has been addressed TO the
Executive for the purpose Of influencing
bis action thereupon. Many in oppo.
sition have urged its dangerous charac-
Ter as ,endingto break down the bOunds-
lies between the proper exercise OF the
legislative by Federal and State suthori-
ty many in favor Of the enactment
have represented that it promised great
advantages to a large portion of our
population 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 have Outnumbered
all others. This, upon its face and in
its main features, is a revenue bill,
and was first introduced in the House
Of Representatives, wherein the Consti-
tuition declares that all bills for
raising revenue shall originate. The
Constitution has invested Congress
with very wide legislative discretion,
both as to the necessity Of taxation and
the selection of the objects Of its bur.
dtns; and though, II the question was
presented to me as an original PROPOSE
ton, might doubt the present need OF
increased taxation, ! deem it my duty
in this instance to defer comment on the
action Of the legislative branch Of the
Government, which action has been so
emphatically announced in both houses
Of Congress upon the passage Of this bill.
Moreover, those who desire removed
the weight Of taxation now pressing
upon the people from other directions
may we'll be justified in the hope and
expectation that the selection Of an ad-
dilioral subject Of internal taxation so
well able to bear it will, in consistency,
he followed by legislation relieving our
citizcns from other revenue burdens
rendered by the passage of this bill
even more than heretofore unnecessary
and needlessly oppressive.
1t has been urged as an objection to
this measure that, while purporting to
be legislation for revenue, its real pur.
pose is to destroy by use Of the taxing
power one industry of our people for
the protection and benefit OF another.
If entitled to indulge in such suspicion
as the basis of official action in this
case, and if entirely satisfied that the
consequences indicated would en-
sue, should doubtless feel con-
strained to interpose Executive dis
sent; but do not feel called
upon to interpret the motives Of Con-
gress otherwise than by the sppa-
rent character Of the bill which has been
presented to me, and | Am convinced
that the taxes which it creates cannot
possibly destroy the open and legitimate
manufacture and sale Of the thing upon
which it is levied. If this article has
the merit which its friends claim for it,
and if the people Of the land, with full
knowledge of its real character
desire TO purchase and use 1t,
the taxes exacted by this bill will
permit fair profit to both manutactu-
rers and dealers. If the existence Of a
commodity taxed snd the profits of its
manufacture and sale depend upon dis
posing OF it to the people for something
else which it deceiIfully initiates, the
entire enterprise is fraud and not an
industry and il it cannot endure tho
exhibition Of its real character, which
will be Affected by the inspection, SUI
peryision, and stamping, which this bill
directs, the sooner it is destroyed the
better in the interest OF fair dealing.
Such a result would not furnish
the first instance in the history of legis-
la,ion in which revenue bill produced
benefit which was merely Incidental to
its main purpose. There is certainly
no industry better entitled to the Incl.
dental advantages which may follow
this legislation than our farming and
dairy interests, and 10 none of our peo-
pie should they be less begru5sea than
our farmers and dairymen. The present
depression OF their occupations ; the
bard, steady, and often unremaneratiye
toll which such occupations exa't,
and the burdens Of taxation
which our sgriculturists necessa-
rily bear, cntitle them to every leglti-
mate consideration. Nor should there
be opposition to the Incidental effect of
this legislation on the part Of those who
profess to be engaged honestly and fairly
in the manufacture and sale of q whole
some and valuable article of food,
which, by its provisions, may DO sub
iect to taxation. AS long ss their bust
ness is carried on under cover and by
false pretences such men have had COM
paniops in those whose manufactures,
however vile and harmful, take their
place without challenge with the
better sort in common cru
SADIE of deceit against the public.
But il this occupation aud its methods
are forced into light, and allthese manu-
features must thus either stand upon
their merits or fall, the good and bad
must soon part company, aud the fittest
only will survive. Not the least in
portsnt incident related TO this leglsla-
ton is the defence afforded to the con-
sumner against fraudulent substitution
and the sale Of an imitation for genuine
article Of food of very general household
use. Notwithstanding the immense
quantity Of the article described in this
bill which is sold to the people for shsil
ri xoA khgts nd.