Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1890-04-03
THE coNGER BILL.

Amid the general discomfort and
depression which prevails among
the agricultural classes, and the
general demand for relief through
legislation, it is not q matter of
surprise that they should favor any
measure which seems to give
promise of relief. The present
trouble with the farmer as we'll as
all the other industrial classes,
however, seems to be that they
have neglected TO go to the root of
the evils which now affect them.
They mistake effects for causes.
They do not reflect that our pres
ent taxing laws are the fruitful
source from which spring most of
the ills which beset them, and that
their only hope for relief lies in
the complete abolition of those laws.
This nebulous condition of thought
upon the question of taxation, ls
the only reason why single farm
er could for moment tolerate or
look with favor on the pasags Of
such a measure as the bill intro
duced by Mr.. Conger, of Iowa, to
tax what is known as compound
lard, which is preparation made
from cotton seed oil, and which
has been proven to be a healthy
food product.
The manufacture of compound
lard has developed into an impor-
tant industry in which millions Of
dollars of capital has been invest
ed. 1t has never sought for friend
ly legislation, but has been con-
tent to stand on its cwn merits. 1t
is as much a legitimate industry as
the manufacture of pig iron, wool
en- or cotton good-, or any other
necessity of our daily life and bus
ines5. 1t affords a market for the
seed of the cotton plant, which a
few years ago was considered
worthless, and enables the farmers
and planters of the cotton States to
realize hundreds of thousands of
dollars more on their cotton crop
than they could but for the devel-
Iopment of this industry.
There is no more reason why the
manufacturers Of compound lard
should be taxed on their product,
than that the manufacturers OF
sugar and molasses from sorghum
cane should be taxed on their pro.
duct.
| 1t is simply the application Of
the vicious principle of taxing con-
sumption by enhancing the price oi
food products to the consumer. II
is this principle of taxation that is
producing the widespread dlscon-
tent which prevails throughout
the entire county, and which is
moving the industrial and farming
classes into their various forms OF
organization, Tor the purpose of
investigating the causes of the evils
of which they so justly complain.
i 1t is not contended by the ad.
vocates of the Conger bill that its
passage is necessary as a revenue
measure, because the government
does not need the money which
would result from this tax. They
cannot successfully demonstrate its
NECESSITY as a sanitary measure fol
it has been shown that lard manu-.
factured from cotton seed oil is
quite as healthy and edible as
that manufa ctured from hog tat.
/ There is no reason in equity OF
Justice which will justify its pass
Iage, for the principle contained in
it is violative of the very genius
and spirit of free government. [,
is an unwarranted interference
with the right of every citizen to
do what he will with his own,
and to engage in any form ofindus.
try he may desire.
1t is a proposition to use thu
, internal revenue system as ths
hateful protective tariff system il
used, to build up and enrich one
J industry at the expense of the
masses of the people, tor its effec
, will be to increase the prices o.
both hog lard and compound lart
/ to the consumers.
: It Is in violation of the we'll
f settled and clearly defined prin
clples of the Democratic party, de
: clared again and again in convoca
E tions of the party, and by it
: brightest lights from Thomas JEFF
, ferson to Grover Cleveland.
8 AS recurrence to these prin
: ciples seems to be frequently neces
. sary to keep them fresh in tn
g minds of many who have beel
a charged by the people with th
performance of legislative duties
lit is well in this connection to sc
forth some declarations of tn
fundamental Democratic doctrine
:, on this subject of taxation.
al Perhaps one of the cleares
;, statements of the Democratic vie1