The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-15
HOUSE HAS OLEO UP
PASSES a BILL TO SUBJECT IT TO
STATE CONTROL

Champions, Now Solicitors for tho
Bill Provides for the Application OF
State Laws to Imitation Dairy Producti
Brought From Another State.
washington, Jan. 1.-THE house spent
almost the entire day debating the Groul
bill, which was under consideration for a
time yesterday, TO subject oleomargarine
and other imitation dairy products to the
laws of the states into which they are
transported. The advocates of the mea-
sure took the view that the states should
be allowed to regulate the sale of a
produc. sailing under false colors. and
the opponents argued that the bill would
establish dangerous precedent and in
wade the power Of congress to regulate
Interstate commerce. Those who sup
ported the measure were: Messrs North
way Rep., o., Morse CRep., Mass.).
Lacey Rep., Ia), Hainer Rep., Neb),
Willis (Rep., DELI, Grosvenor Rep., o.,
and Henderson Rep., Ia) Those who
opposed il were Messrs. Cooper Dem,
Fla.), Tucker Oem., Va), Cannon Rep.,
I'D, Boatner Oem., Lao, Clardy Rep.,
Ay). and Williams Dem, Miss.
TENT OF THE BILL.
The bill is as follows:
THAT all articles known as oleomar-
garine, butterine, imite ton butter. or i'm
itation cheese, or any substance in the
semblace OF butter or cheese, not the
usual product OF the dairy and not made
exclusively of pure and unadulterated
milk or cream, transported into any state
or territory, or remaining therein. for
use, consumption, sale, or storage there
in. shall, upon arrival in such state or
territory, be subject to the opera ton and
effect Of the laws of such state or terri
tory enacted in the exercise Of its police
powers 10 the same extent and in the
same manner as though such articles or
substance had been produced in such
state or territory, and shall not be ex-
empt therefrom by reason of being intro
duced therein in original packages or
otherwise; provided, that nothing in this
act shall be construed to permit any
state to forbid the sale or oleomargarine
except in such a manner as will advise
a customer Of its real character"
DEBATE ON THE BILL.
Washington, Jan. 1.-THE house to-
day resumed consideration OF the Grout
bill to make oleomargarine and other
imitation dairy products subject TO the
laws of the state or territory into which
they are transferred. An arrangement
was agreed to to extend the debate an
hour and half and then take a vote.
Mr.. Cooper Dem, Fla.) opposed the
bill. He argued hat it would take away
from congress the right to regulate COM
1terce between the states. Congress had
a)brogated it's power in the case of whis-
Ky. That was perhaps defensible, but
the moment congress delegated this pow
er in the case of another product. inter-
state comemrce would be demoralized.
The precedent would arise to plague con-
yerss i'm the future and lead to infinite
confusion.
Mr.. Northway Rep., o. argued in IA
vor of the bill, that the people of one
state should not be allowed to import in
70 another state and sell products which
the people of that state could not them
selves put upon the market
Mr. Lacey called the attention Of Mr..
Williams Dem, Miss, who is in charge
Of the OPPOSITION, TO the fact that the state
IF Mississippi prohibited the sale or
except when branded az
such. He said that the states should
have the right, and had the
right, to regulate the sale of deleterious
sood just as they had the right TO regu-
ate the sale of whisky and tobacco.
Mr.. Cannon (Rep., HID insised that
was not deleterious pro-
1uct-waS, in fact, a more wholesome
God than three-fourths Of the butter sold
n the United States. If the principle of
his bill was applied, he said, all these
could be barred from
'ale in other states.
Mr.. Hainer Rep., Neb.) supported the
oill. He said go per cent of the 10000
'00 pounds of oleomargarine which an
1ually invaded the domain of the genu-
ne dairy product was sold as butter
The dairy interests had a right 10 pro-
ection from this counterfeit product.
Mr.. Boatner Dem, Lao said the adj
-ocates of the bin were proceeding on
he theory that oleomargarine was
.heat and deleteriouS to the public
health If that was true, he said, the
larry interests would not need TO come
o Congress, as the states had a perfect
light. in the exercise Of their police pow
r. to interdict the sale of something
which threatened the health of her citi-
seias.
Mr.. Clardy CRep., KY and Mr.. Will
Jams Dem, TENN also spoke against
he bill. and Mr.. Willis (Rep., DELI and
VT. CIpSNetlOI W III 'OA VI -.
The latter closed the general debate.
n the course of his remarks he said it
vas a peculiar comment on the march OF
POLITICAL opinions to see oid-line Demo-
rats who had in the past defended state
lights with the sword, now arguing that
he hands of the states were tied ana
hat congress had the power 10 force IN
% a state against her protest, articles
which she did not desire sold there.
CIRCUITS AMENDMENT.
Mr.. Grout, in charge of the bill. offered
In amendment providing that nothing
in the act shall be construed TO permit
INV state TO forbid the manufacture or
ale of oleomargarine in such manner
Is will advise the customer or Its real
haracter.'
During the debate on this amendment. |
Ir. Henderson (Rep., Ia-) recalled the
ong filibustering fight against the. origi- |
al oleomargarine bill when, he said the |
interests of Chicago and Kansas City |
we're masssd against the agricultural in |
erests. He denied that the lard and tai |
ow interests were opposed to the bill |
nd closed with an eloquent peroraton |
n favor of the measure, With the state |
nent that he always stood ready TO un-
mask deception in order that all might |
ave fair play.
Mr. Cannon answered Mr.. Henderson |
vith the assertion that the bill was a |
raud on its face, processing 10 do one |
hing, but. with Misrepresentation in its /
tomach. doing something else.
BEEVES VS.. BEEFSTEAK.
Mr.. Cannon's remarks drew from Mr..
henderson an Indignant, protest.
The opposition to the BILL. he said.
nth great emphasis. comes from the
auitalized institutions in Chicago and |,
Kansas CITY. II comes from men like
armour and swift. who are destroying
he great cattle interests of my state and /
the- states. by kepeing down the price
( beeves and keeping up the price OF
e efsseak.''