The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1890-03-13
Listen to Arguments For md Against the
Adulterntcl Lard BILL.

Listen to Arguments For and Against the
Adulterntcd Lard bill.
WAsnINToN, D. O., March ,l2.-Tho
House Committee on Agriculture de-
votedits session today to hearing Rep.
resentatives Butterworth and Mason,
who favored and opposed respectively,
the measures pending before the Com.
mittee, having for their purpose,the regu-
lation and taxation OF the manufactur.
ers OF lard compound.
Mr.. Butterworth was the first speaker.
lie said the objects Of his bill were to
raise revenue to regulate a certain in
dustry, that it should not be permitted
to destroy an established industry, and
thatl,it should be conducted upon the
principals of common honesty, and to
prevent the extinction Of an established
article Of commerce produced by the
farmer. The bill did not propose to pre-.
vent the manufacturers OF compound
lard from prosecuting their business.
We only ask, he said, that in taking it's
place this industry shall not place it's
fingers ON the throat OF another industry.
Mr.. Butterworth discussed the condi-
ton OF the farmers OF the country, tax
ing gloomy view OF it. He said they
were" rapidly becoming class Of peas.
ants, md despised class, too. The
farmers have been robbed by means OF
gambling and gambling shops, and now
Il is proposed to add to their burdens
and Losses by making them the victims
Of the counterfeiter.
Mr.. Butterworth said he spoke feel
ingly on this subject because a great in.
dustry of the country is suffering from
influences that this committee can do
much to correct.
In answer to question by by mem.
Der OF the committee, Mr.. Butterworth
said he did not care what term was used
in designating ihs lard compound, 50
long az IL told what it vas, aud that it
| was bold for what it was. A basis oi
honest dealing is what is needed in this
country.
Congressman Mason said that the
farmer is tho rock to which most men
fly for foundation for their action
when they cannot justify it iu any other
way; 80 some city politicians fly to the
laboring men for their rock Of refuge.
To-day, Mr.. Mason said, he appeared 10
behalf Of the workingmen OF his district
10 oppose tho legislation proposed in the
bills before the committee. lie with the
laboring men he represented, pre-
ferred cotton seed oil lard to the rotten
lard put on the market and they object.
ed to being taxed for choosing between
two articles OF diet. But they want to
buy what they ask for, and favor brand.
ing the product for just whatit is. Legis.
lation to secure that will meet their up.
proyal. "But referring to the labels
used on the compound by the refiners)
is any man with an ounce Of gray mat.
ter in the upper end OF his anatomy mis-.
led when he buys that? Can he say, \
thought was buying lard r." a
Mr.. Mason contrasted the position and
condition Of farmers with that OF labor
ing men Of the country, saying that the
former, as class, were much better of
than the latter, and any man who does
not know that to be the case is not well
informed, either as to their standing in
society or financial circles. The princi.
pal objection to the bill, Mr.. Mason said,
was that, owing to the imposition Of a
dealers tax and the liabilities under in.
ternal revenue regulations tho com.
pound is driven out OF convenient
places, and the would.be purchaser com.
PEELED to either go a great distance or to
buy hogs lard, however nasty and rot.
ten it may be. 1t ia no argument in favor
OF tho bin to say that the farmer suffers
from the existence Of the beef trust and
boards OF trade and because OF extor'
tionate charges by railroads. Will the
bill relieve the farmer Of the burdene
imposed on himself ? il so, pass the bill
but II 1t will not, push the other bills tc
reach these evils, and, Mr.. Mason said
he would be with the advocates Of these
measures. But it is a great mistake, he
said, to place any food product under {
tax. ~ Il If NJ y ~ ~ ,el a. b
In answer to a aquestion Mr.. Mason re
affirmed that the makers OF lard com
pound would accept a bill requiring
them with. a criminal penalty for failur'
to observe it) the place on the package
containing the products Of an analysis 0
their contents. "Further," "said he, 9Th