The sun., 1890-09-21
The Proposed Lard Outrage.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUE-Sir: There 10 an
act now before the Senate Committee entitled.
An act defining lard" also imposing q tax and
regulating the manufacture and sale. importa-
tion and expectation Of compound lard. which,
II allowed to become law, will. unquestionsbly
be one Of the greatest blots upon the statute
book ofthis country. 1t is, presumably an act
to protect the public but in reality 1t is so con-
istituted that it will press most heavily upon
the consumers of lard throughout the land. 1t
not only taxes lard compound for the benefit Of
lard. but it contains SO many conditions that.
II IL passes in its present form and becomes
law. 1t will undoubtedly, destroy the industry
which has given TO tho people OF this country q
cheap and wholesome food It not only taxes
the manufacturer OF lard compound. but 1t also
compels every retail dealer In tho United
States to take ont a license to sell it. That any
one article should be taxed simply to give an
other article which enters into competition
with it an advantage is neither according to
no Constitution Of the United States nor is it
~ accordance with common sense and the
liberty OF the citizen. The manner. however
IN which this tax is to be levied is 30 compli-
Gated that it would be practically impossible
for any retail grocer to deal in lard compound.
In section the bill provides:
That when the sale is from original stamped
package they shall pack the said lard compound sold
by them in suitable wooden. tin or paper packages,
which shall bo marked and branded as the CommB.
sioner Internal Revenue with the approval OF the
Secretary of tho Treasury shall prescribe Every per
who knowingly sells or offers for sale, delivers
or Offers TO deliver, any such compound lard in any
other form than In wooden. tin, paper packages
above described. who packs In any packages any
compound lard in any manner contrary to law, or
who falsely brands package denotinR less
Of than that required by law. shAu be fined for
every offence than OOo and be imprisoned
not moro than one year.
1t is quite obvious to any one who knows
anything about the retail grocery trade Of this
country that such conditions as are herein de-
scribed would be absolutely prohibltory be-
cause Of their peculiar and stringent charac-
ter. The expense which would be necessary In
order to provide those new wooden. tin, or
paper packages." would be such that no retail
dealer could possibly sell compound lard at
profit This feature Of the bill is contrary to
any legislation which has hitherto been en-
acted In this country. and ifuit is revenue alone
that ls desired, certainly compound lard or
any other article Of a similar character should
undoubtedly have the same freedom OF sale as
tobacco, cigars, spirits. or any other article
which Is made the vehicle for revenue. Fancy
what nolse would be made II every cigar
dealer In the country was compelled to have q
new wooden, tin. or paper package for every
cigar that he sold from the package. 1t 10 evi-
dent that the intention of the framers OF this
act Is not to protect the public, but 1t 10 intend
cd to utterly destroy an industry which has
ssndered great service to the & public By giving
In order to show the auimus which, this act
9pntalnh u 10 only necessary TO look at the
1fetiop Waish defines how this lard compound
20 apS e. %
rd compound 10 any PHshass 90 on Which AZ the marks r.
n;:ISS E;;:as:
irbs or dssesd or are Shoy Or pnsT al sonessss
yssS Or ships, F.a:PSrts q Tsmoy:' say aTd
%astsSsr he sas Iorsit rhs isIa eO@poand and The
oTsd and s: suSs:. ~! %oPs than o r.
Those who are nequainted at all with, the
Trade knew that this condition 10 practically u
pSanS. ior the small tins o. SoHD0Snd Y1 lard
lore the marks, brands OF, stamps would nee.
4 sssSsd Xii tEs trsds 10 eo@
pound hTd, 6ss4aSe aSS ths % small originEl paoE:
e al 10 ,Rs RS 5i
isnasr ths 5q1i$sss ~ unpIOtabs s % But 0dS sSS
manner lp which ihls act has been rushed
also through tie ssSsts i iS one t6st ought ito 70
receive ths ItssHti26 Of 0ySI o. is play
ifs Senate cSismsiSs and only ~ last W wsSf c'Is tbS
gar n ths fSaS hs res srOSs
iers the Committee the oPisetleps 'i q Il: RS
bill 70 its present form but ths1s s4ms
aud that no hearing could Be gTsRISJ' Il. Il
bsas lSs bSsbsd S R: sSSH aoi ts s: sSs
pf tho IfGpeTs OF this act ~ arrive at tie Truth
but Is 10 tbsir Intention ~ pass 40 set Whisb