, 1886-08-03
FROM THE CAPITAL.
The President Signs the Bogus
Butter Bill.
And States His Reasons for so
Doing.
Fitz John Porter Confirmed by
the Senate.

4AtS ~ 'ia
has signed the oleomargarine bill, and sen
the following message to the house o
representatives, stating his reasons fol
approving io:
70 the House Of Representatives. i
have this day approved the bill originating
in the house Of representatives, entitled,
''an act defining butter; also imposing a
tax upon and regulating the manufacture,
sale, importation and expectation of cleo
margarine" This legislation has awakened
much interest, among the people of the
country, and earnest argument has been
ad, r :ssed to the executive for the purpose
Of influencing his action thereupon.
Many in opposition have urged its danger
Gus character as tending to break down
the boundaries between the proper exer
else of Legislative power by federal and
state authority; 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 n
bered all the others. This upon its face
and in its main feature is a revenue bill
and was first introduced in the house Of
representatives, wherein the constitution
declares that all bills for raising revenue
shall originate. The constitution has in
vested congress with very wide legislative
discretion both as to the necessity of taxa
ton and the selections of the objects Of
its burden. And although if the question
was presented to mt as an original propo-
| might doubt the present 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 so emphaticaily announced
in both houses of congress upon the pas
of this bill. Moreover, those who
desire 10 see removed the weight of taxa
ton now pressing upon the people from
other directions may well be justified in
the hope and expectation that the selec
lion of an additional subject OF internal
so well able to bear it, will in
consistency be followed by legislation re
our citizens from other revenue iur-
rendered by the passage of this
bull 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 rev.
enue, its real purpose is TO destroy, by the
use of the taxing power, an industry of
people for the protection and benefit
Of another. II entitled to indulge in such
suspicion as a basis of official action in
this case, and if entirely satisfied that the
consequences indicated would ensue, |
would doubtless ieel constrained to inter
pose executive dissent. But | do not feel
called upon to interpret the motives OF
congress otherwise than by the apparent
of the bill which has been pre-
sented to me, and | am convinced that the
which it creates cannot possibly de-
stroy the open and legitimate manufacture
and sale of the thing upon which it is
levied Ii 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 pur-
chase and use it, the taxes enacted by
this bill will permit II fair profit to both
manufacturer and dealer. II the existence
of the commodity taxed aud the profits OF
its manufacture and sale depend on dis
posing OF it to the people for something
else, which it deceitfully initiates. the en-
tire enterprise is a fraud and not All indus
try, and if it cannot endure The exhibit
ton of its real characto., which will be
effected by the inspection, supervision
andIstamping of which this bill directs, the
sooner it is destroyed the better, in the
of fair dealing.
AThe fourteenth and fifteenth sections of
the bill, in my opinion, are in danger Of
being construed as an interference with
the police powers o. the states. Not be-
ing entirely satisfied OF the unconsti
t~utionality of these provisions, and
regarding them as not being
so much connected and interviewer
with the other sections found valid, to
vitiate the entire measure, | have deter
mined to commend them to the attention
of the house. with a view to an immediate
amendment of the bill if it should be
deemed necessary, and if it is practicable
at this late day in the session of congress
The fact, too, that the bill does not take
effect by its terms until ninety DAYS have
elapsed after its approval, thus leaving but
one month in operation before the next
session of congress, when, if time does
not now permit the safety and efficiency
of the measure may be abundantly pro
tected by remedial legislative action, and |
desire to see realized the beneficial results
which it is expected will Immediately
follow. The considerations which have
been referred to will. | hope. Justify this
communication and the suggestions which
it contains. GROVER CLEVELAND.
Executive Mansion, Aug. ., 1856.