Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1886-08-06
THE BILL Is APPROVED.
The President Signs the Oleomargarine
Bill-His Message to the House
Giving his Reasons.
If Legitimate the Business viii Endure
Taxation with Fair Margin to
Manufacturer and Dealer.
THE OLEOMARGARINE BILL.
The President Signs the Measure and Gives his
Reasons.


sent the following message to the house
of representatives, stating his reasons
for approving 1t:
To the House of Representatives:
1 have this day approved the bill
originating in the house of representa-
tives, entitled "An act defining butter
also imposing tax upon and regulating
the manufacture, sale, importation and
expectation of oleomargarine."
This legislation has awakened much in
terest among the people of the country,
and an earnest argument has been ad-
dressed 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 eyer-
else of the Legislative power by federal
and state authority. Many in favor of
enactment have represented that it prom
ised great advantages to a larger portion
of osr 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 main
features
Is REVENUE BILL,
and was first introduced in the house of
representatives, wherein the constitution
declares that all bills for raising rev venue
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 burdens,
and though if the question was presented
to me as an original proposition, l might
doubt the present need of increased tax
alton, l deem it my duty in this instance
to defer to the judgment of the legisla-
tive branch of the government
which has been so emphatically announced
in both houses of congress upon the
passage of this bill. Moreover, those who
desire to see removed the weight of taxa
tion now pressing upon the people from
other directions, may well be justified in
the hope and expectation that the selec
ton of an additional subject of internal
taxation so well able to bear it will in con
sistency be followed by legislation reliev-
ing our citizens from other revenue bur
dens, 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 purpose 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 the official
action in this case, and if entirely salts
fed that the consequences indicated
would ensue, would doubtless feel con-
strained to interpose executive dissent,
but / do not feel callo5 upon to interpret
the motives of congress, otherwise
than by the apparent charac-
ter of the bill which has been
presented 10 me, and | am convinced that
the taxes which it creates cannot possibly
destroy the open and legitimate manufac-
ture 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 it, the taxes cxacted by this bill will
permit fair profit to both manufacturer
and dealer. If the existence of the com
modify taxed and the profits of its man
ufacture and sale depend upon disposing
of it to the people for something else
which it deceitfulIy 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 inspection, supervision and
stamping which this bill directs the
sooner it is destroyed the better in
THE INTEREST OF FAIR DEALING.
Such result would not furnish the first
instance in the history of legislation in
which revenue bill produced a benefit
which was merely Incidental to its main
purpose. There is certainly no industry
better entitled to the incidental ad-
vantages which may follow tins
legislation than our farming
and dairy interests, and to none of our
people should it be less begrudged than
our farmers and dairymen. The present
depression of their occupation; the
hard, steady and often unremunerative
toll which such occupations exact, and
the burdens of taxation which our agri-
| culturists necessarily bear, entitle them
to every legitimate consideration.
Nor should there be opposition to
the Incidental effect of this legisla-
tion on the part of those who profess to
be engaged honestly and fairly in 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 under
cover and by false pretences such men
have bad companions in those whose
manufactures, however vile and harmful.
take their place without challenge with a
better sort in common crusade of
DECEIT AGAINST THE PUBLIC.
But if this occupation and its methods
are forced into the light, and all those
manufacturers must thus either stand up
on their merits or fail, the good and bad
must soon part company and the fttest
only will survive. Not the least import
ant incident related to this legislation.
| is the defense afforded tc the CON
| sumer against the fraudulent substitution
and sale of an imitation for the genuine
article of food of very general household
| use. Notwithstanding the immense
| quantity of the article described in this
| bill, which is sold to people for their con-
| sumption as food. and Notwithstanding
| the claim made that its manufacturer
| supplies a cheap substitute for butter, l
venture to say that hardly pound ever
| entered poor mans house under its real
name and character. While in its rela-
| ton to an article of this description
| there should be no governmental regula-
! ton of what a citizen shall eat, it is
| certainly not cause of regret if by
/ legislation of this character he is offered
means by which be may better protect
| himself against the imposition IN meet
| ing the needs ard wants of his daily life.
Having entered upon this legislation il
is my manifest duty to render 1t as efrec-
/ tive as possible in the accomplishment of
| all good which should legitimately follow
| in its train.
This leads to the suggestion that the
article proposed TO be taxed and the cir
| cumstances which subject Ii thereto
should be clearly and with great distinct
| ness
DEFINED N THE STATUTE.
1t seems to me that this object has not
| been completely attained in the phrase
| ology of the second section of the bill
| and that the question may well arise as
| to the precise condition of the article to
| be taxed must assume in order to be
| regarded as made in imitation O,
semblance of butter. or when sc
made. calculated or intended to be sold
as butter or for butter
The fourteenth and fifteenth section.
of the bill. in my opinion. are in danger
of being construed as al interference
with the police powers of the states. No'
being entirely satisfied of the unconstitu-
tionality of these provisions, and regard
ing them as not being so connected and