River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-08-12
OLEOMARGARINE MESSAGE.

OLEOMARGARINEM MESSAGE.
The president has signed the oleomargarine
bill and sent the following message to the honse
Of representatives, stating his reasons for
approving it:
To the House of Representative: have this
day approved bill originating in the house
Of representatives entitled "An act defining
butter; also imposing tax upon and regulat-
ing the manufacture, sale importation and
expectation Of oleomargarine This legisla-
ton has awakened much interest among the
people OF the country, ard earnest arguments
have been addressed to the executive for the
purpose Of influencing his action thereupon.
Many in opposition have urged its dangerous
character a tending to break down the bonn
daries between the proper exercise Of legisla-
tive power by federal and state authority.
Many IN favor Of the enactment have represent
ed that it promised great advantages to 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 in
terest have outnumbered all others. This
upon its face and in its main features il a rev
enue bill, and was first introduced in the house
Of representatives wherein the constitution de-
clares that all bills for raising revenue shall
originate. The constitution has invested con
gress with a very wide legislative discretion,
both az to the necessity of taxation and the
selection of the objects OF its burdens aud
though, If the question was presented to me as
an original proposition, | might doubt the pres
ent need of increased taxation, deem it my
duty in this instance to defer to the judgment
Of the legislative branch of the government,
which has been emphatCally announced in both
houses OF congress upon the passage OF this
bill Moreover those who desire to see re-
moved the weight Of taxation now pressing upon
the people from other directions may well be
justified in the hope and expectation that the
selection of
AN ADDITIONAL SUBJECT
Of internal taxation so well able to bear it, will,
in consistency, be followed by legislation re-
lieviug our citizens from other revenue burdens,
rendered by the passage Of the bill even more
than heretofore unnecessary and needle ssly op
pressive. II has been urged as an objection to
this measure that while purportng to be legis-
lation for revenue its real purpose is to destroy,
by the use Of the taxing power, one industry
Of our people for the protection and benefit OF
another. If entitled to indulge in such a sus-
picioH as a basis of official action in this case,
ard IL entirely satisfied that the consequences
indicated wonld ensue, ] should doubtless feel
constrained to interpose executive dissent. But
do not feel called upon to interpret the mo-
tyes of congress otherwise than by the apparent
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 Ifthis article has the
merit VIII Oh its friends claim for it, and if the
people with full knowledge of its character de-
sire to use IL the taxes enacted by this bill will
permit fair profit to both manufacturer and
dealer. 1.-THE existence of the commodity taxed
and the profits of its manufacture and sale de-
pend upon disposing OF it to the people for
something else which il decetfully initiates, the
entire enterprise is fraud and not an industry;
and If it cannot endure the exhibition of its
real character, which will be effected by the in
spectiOn, supervision and stamping which this
bill directs, the sooner il is destroyed the better
in the interest of fair dealing Such a result
would not furnish the first instance in the his
toEy Of legislation in which a revenue bill pro-
duced benefit which was merely incidental to
its main purpose. There is certainly no industry
better entitled to the incidental advantages
which may follow this legislation than
OUg FARMrng AND DAIRY INTERESTS,
and to none OF orr people snould they be less
begrudged than our farmers and dairymen
The present depression Of the occupations the
hard steady and often unremunerative toll which
such occupations exact, and the burdens OF tax
alton which agriculturalists necessarily bear,
entitle them to every legitimate 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 a wholesome
.
ions may be subject to taxation. As long as
their business is carried on under cover and by
false pretenses, such men lave bad companions
in those whose manufactures, however vile and
harmful, take their place without challenge with
the Better sort in common crusade OF deceit
against the public. But IL this occupation and
its methods are forced into the light and all
these manufactures must thus either stand upon
their merits OF fall, the good aud bad mnst soon
part company and the fttest only will survive.
s,,as 10 Is
legislation is the defense afforded TO the CON
snner against the fraudulent substitution and
sale Of imitation for a 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 food,
and Notwithstanding the claim made that lis
manufacture supplies cheap substitute for
butter. venture to say that hardly pound ev-
or entered a poor mans house under It's real
name and in its true character. While IN its
relation to an article OF this description there
should be no governmental regulation Of what
the citizen shall eat, il is certainly not cause
Of regret il by legislation OF this character he
Is afforded mesns by which he may
BETTER PROTECT HIMSELF
against imposition 10 meeting the needs and
wants of his daily life. Having entered upon
this legislation, it il manifestly duty TO render
il as effective as possible in the accomplishment
OF al the good which should legitimately follow
in ia train This leads to the suggestion that
the article proposed to re taxed and the cir
Cumstanees which subject il thereto should be
clearly and with great distiuctness defined In
tie statute Il eeems TO me that this object
has not been completely attained in the phrase
ology Of the second section Of the bill and that
question may well arise as 20 the precise con-
difion the article TO be taxed must assume in or
der to be regarded as made in imitation or sem
blense OF batter. or when so made calculated
or intended to be sold as butter or for butter"
The fourteenth and fifteenth sections Of this
bill, in my opinion, arc in danger Of being con-
stfued e. an interference with the police pow
ers Of the states. Not being entirely satisfied
Of the unconstitutiOnaity Of these provisions.
and regarding them a. not being so connected
and interviewer with the other sections as
found invalid. TO vitiAte the entire measure,
have determined to commend them TO the atten-
ton Of the house with a view TO an immediate
amendment Of the bill should il be deemed nee
ESSAY ard il it is practicable at this late day in
the session of congress. The fact too that,
the bill does take effect by its terms until ninety
days have elapsed after its approval, thus leav-
ing il but one month in operation before the next
session Of congress. when II time does not now
permit, the safety and efficiency Of the measure
may be abundanty protected by remedial legs-
latiye action and the desire to see localized the
besefcial results which il il expected will imme
diatcly follw the Inauguration Of this legislation,
has hadits influence in determining my Official
action The considerations which have been
referred too will, hope, justify this communi-
cation andthe suggestions which il contains.
[Signedl GROVER CLEVELAND.
NO2THH ESTEEM NEWS.