Evening star., 1896-04-11
IN THE HOUSE TODAY
Only One Branch of the National Legisla.
ture in Session.
The Time Occupied I'm n Discusxion of
the Bill as to Filled
Cheese.

The House was the only branch Of Con-
sress in session today. Before the debate
on the filled cheese bill was resumed a
resolution was adopted directing the Sec
retary of War to furnish a plan and es.i-
mate for the improvement of the Nebraska
side OF the Missouri river opposite Sioux
City, Iowa.
MIR. CannOn's Amendment.
When the filled cheese bill was taken up
for amendment under the five-minute rule
Mr. Cannon Qll) offered an amendment to
reduce the annual license to be paid by the
manufacturer of filled cheese from siOO to
500.
Mr. Grosvenor, in charge of the measure.
although appealed to, refused to accent the
amendment He thought the manufacturer
could easily pay $780, With regard to the
tax to pe paid by the retail dealer (s4O), he
admitted that perhaps some concession
should be made.
Mr. Cannon, in support of his amend
ment, said that while this was ostensibly a
Dill to raise revenue, its real purpose was
TO prevent the sale Of bogus cheese in
competition with the genuine dairy product.
Mr.. Tcrry's Substitute.
Mr. Terry Ark) offered as a substitute
Tor the whole measure bill providing that
every manufacturer of articles intended
for interstate commerce who shall sell or
ship low-grade goods, pretending by their
brands to be a higher grade shall I've guilty
of fraud and liable to a fine of 81 900 Mr..
Terry said that the ostensible object of the
pending bill was to prevent fraudulent
practices. Complaints were constantly made
that inferior merchandise of all kinds was
being palmed off on the public If the
other side was sincere. he said, and did rot
desire to crush single industry, this sub
sttute would be adopted. The substitute
was declared pending, the vote to be taken
at the conclusion OF the consideration of
the original bill
Mr.. Dfngley Favored the Bill.
Mr.. Dingley, chairman of the ways and
means committee, speaking to the amend
ment, made an argument in favor of the
bill. This proposed legislation, like the
c1eomargarine law, he said, was excep-
uonal. 1t proposed to invoke the taxing
power to accomplish an object that proper
ly came within the police powers of the
states. 1t could only be justified on ex-
ceptional grounds. A great and overshad-
owing interest-the farming interest-wss
being seriously interfered with by an flle-
gitimate product. Were 1t possible to Sc
cure uniform state legislation he would not
favor this legislation, but in view of the
great interest involved In the overshadow-
ing hecessity Of protecting the property
rights OF the farmers, he believed * should
he passed.
Mr.. Dingley. however. favored a reiuc-
ton of the proposed tax on retail dealers.
Mr.. McMillin CTern.) argued as a practi-
cal a estion that such a law as this could
be no ore easily and completely enforced
with lower taxes. He recalled that state
ment cf the commissioner of internal reve-
nue. before the ways and means committee
that the special taxes of the oleomargarine
law were too high.
Amendment Voted Down.
Mr.. Tawney (Niinn.) said the pending
amendment came very properly from Illi-
nois. which last year produced 1900, 600
pounds Of filled cheese" After some fur
ther remarks by Mr.. Northway against and
Mr.. Hopkins in favor, the Cannon amend
ment was voted down; 3S-76. Mr.. Cannon
then moved to reduce the tax on wholesale
dealers from $3.50 to $50. This amendment
was also lost on viva voce vote.
Compromise as to Retail Dealers.
Mr.. Grosvenor offered an amendment to
reduce the tax on retail dealers from $40
to s24.
Mr.. Cannon moved to reduce the tax to
$40. He maintained that every purpose
sought would be subserved by so tax.
Mr.. Grosvenor finally agreed to a c.m-
promise of ST., which was adopted.