The herald., 1896-06-06
PERVERSION AND INFRINGE.
MENT

| MENT
The filled cheese" bill which has just
passed the senate should be vetoed by
the president. 1t provides for a most
shameful abuse of the power of taxation
| and for the exercise of authority that is
essentially state and not federal. Con-
gress has absolutely no right to impose
taxes for any such purpose as that in
tended to be attained through this bill;
1t has no right to impose taxes for the
encouragement or encouragement of
any private undertaking and from such
perversions of the power of taxation as
are illustrated in this measure untold
evils have arisen, the rankest injustices
have been born. The people can only
permit. with safety, the exercise of the
power of taxation for the purpose of
raising money for defraying the ex-
penses Of functions Of the government
provided for by the constitution.
If the prosecution of an industry is
wrong in the sense that it interferes
with the rights or safety of people it
should be prohibited, not discouraged
by taxation. And the prohibition, ex-
cept in the territories, should come from
state governments, not the federal gov
ernment. When congress undertakes to
regulate the manufacture and sale of
commodities within the lines of the sew
eral sovereign states it is getting out
side of it's sphere, and the sooner the
people resent such infringements the
hatfer
There is no doubt that the public
ought to be protected from persons who
sell sham butter or cheese as the genu-
inc article just as from other frauds. but
it is the business of the different states
in their individual capacities to do the
protecting There is no need, and 1t
would not be right, to prohibit the man
ufacture and sale of imitation butter or
filled" cheese; If people desire TO con-
sumo that sort of stuff they should be
permitted to, it is a matter of private
and personal concern. In fact, many
authorities have contended that oleo-
margarine is more healthful than the
product of the dairy, for which 1t is
substitute; such may or may not be the
case-it is a question that is certainly
not within the province of legislatures
or congresses to decide.
But of course people who do not wish
to use other than the genuine goods
are entitled to some protection from
dishonest manufacturers and deal
ers who represent the imitation
to be the real. To that end
there should be enactments not pro-
viding for taxation of the product but
requiring that all imitation goods be
| packed and labeled so that the public
| can distinguish them from the genuine,
| and that they be sold for what they are;
| and the penalties for violation of these
| requirements should be heavy enough to
| deter the boldest and most avaricious.
But these enactments should be state
| not federal. If the state governments
are to abdicate their functions the people
| ought to know it so that they may adjust
! their affairs and relations accordingly.
1t is said that the British government
/ is preparing to demand that Volney
| V. Ashford, an Englshman exiled from
| the Hawaiian Islands on a charge of
misprison of treason-failure to disclose
alleged knowledge of treason commit
ted by others-be permitted to return
and that, moreover, the demand is tc
! be enforced in the characteristic Brit
| ish manner. president" Dole, it is re-
ported, will stand firm in resistance, and
appeal to the United States for assist
| ance The head of the Sandwich
Islands oligarchy has probably become
imbued with the belief, by reading tht
outgivings of some of our senatoria
jingoes who think with their mouths
that it is the mission Of this government
to mind the business of other countrie.
and to hunt rows as pastime. Why il
the name of the homeliest kind of hors,
sense should we interfere in such 6
matter?
| ----------------
After long and weary waiting, Nc
Kinley has been heard from as the fol
lowing from the Washington Post will
show:
Tired of the continuous nagging Nc
Kinley finally seated himself at his type
writer and assumed the following posi-
ton on the financial question:
"'Wad. ~ :; S9.rmapa4mhrfF da y2f
p, 4) 3 Do )l'6WK bfw OF 9 3'hi RI
wy fl. orb diff ..*-& rdwyu dwrmbfg
dol troltf- fgtouyth Hanna
The Fullerton Tribune has just pub
lished a very creditable special edition