The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-15
Measure That Subjects Imitation
Dairy Prod to Laws of states
in Which They Are Sold.
BLOW AT CHICAGO PACKERS
THE BILL DENOUNCED By MR.. CAN
NON, OF ILLINOIS, AS A FRAUD,
But Vigorously Upheld by Mr.. Hender-
Measure Proceeding slowly.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE House
spent almost the entire day debating the
Grout bill, which was under consideration
for a time yesterday. to subject oleomarga-
rine and other imitation dairy products to
the law of the States into which they are
transported. 1t passed by a vote of 126 TO
50. The advocates of the measure took the
view that the States should be allowed TO
regulate the sale of a product sailing under
false cClors, while its opponents maintained
that the bill would establish a dangerous
precedent and invade the power of Con-
gress to regulate interstate commerce.
Those who supported the measure Were:
Messrs. Northway (Rep., Ohio, Morse
(Rep., Massachusetts,, Lacey (Rep., Iowa..
Hainer (Rep, Nebraska), Willis (Rep.,
Delaware). Grossvenor (Rep., Ohio, and
Henderson (Rep., Iowa.) Those who OPP
posed it were Messrs. Cooper Dem, Flor
ida). Tucker (Dem., Virginia). Cannon
(Rep., nlinois), Boatner (Dem., Louisiana),
Clardy Rep., kentucky and Williams
Dem, Mississippi.) The bill as passed fol-
lows:
That all articles known as oleomarga-
ton cheese. or any substance in the SEM
blance of butter or cheese, not the usual
product of the dairy and not made ex-
clusively of pure and unadulterated milk
or cream, transported into any state or
Territory. or remaining therein for use.
sale or storage therein, shall
upon arrival i'm such State or Territory be
subject to the operation and effect of the
laws of such State or Territory enacted in
the exercise of its police powers to the
same extent and in the same manner as
though such articles or substances had been
produced in such State o. Territory. and
shall not be exempt therefrom by reason
of being introduced therein in original
packages or otherwise. provided that moth
ing in this act shall be construed 10 permit
any State to forbid the sale of oleomarga-
rine. except in such a manner as Will ad-
wise a customer of its real character
Mr.. Cooper, who wa the first speaker
to-day. argued that the bill would take
away from Congress the right to regulate
between the States. Congress
had ~abrogated its power in the case OF
whisky. That was perhaps defensible, but
the moment Congress delegated this power
I'm the case of another product, Interstate
would be demoralized. The pre-
cedent would arise to plague Congress In
the future and lead to infinite confusion.
Mr.. Northway argued that the peoSle of
one State should not be allowed TO import
into another State and sell their products.
which the people of that State could not
themselves put upon the market.
Mr.. Lacey called the attention of Mr..
Williams. who was in charge of the OPP
position to the bill, to the fact that the
State of mississippi prohibited the sale or
oleomargarine except when branded as
such. He said that the States certainly
should have the right to regulate the sale
of deleterious food products. just as they
had the right to regulate the sale OF WHISKY
and tobacco.
was not a deleterious food product; IL was,
in fact. more wholesome than three-fourths
of the butter old In the United SIates' III III
said, all those manufacturers could be
barred from a sale in other States.
Mr.. Hainer supported the bill. He said
that 90 per cent. of the 20. 00U. 600 pounds of
oleomargerine which annually invaded the
domain of the genuine dairy product was
sold as butter. The dairy interests had a
right to protection from this counterfeit
product. -,
were proceeding on the theory that oleo-
margarine was a cheat, and deleterious TO
the public health. If that were true. he de,
clared, the dairy interests would not heeu
TO come to Congress-, as the states had a
perfect right. in the exercise OF their ponce
power, to interdict the sale OF something
which threatened the health of her citizens.
Mr.. Grosvenor closed the general debate.
In the course of his remarks he SAID IL was
a peculiar comment on the march or poiti-
cal OpiniOnS to see OlQ-llne Democrats, WHO
had in the past defended states rights with
the sword, now urging that the hands OF
the States were tied. and that Congress had
the power to force into a S.ate against her
protest articles which she did not desire
sold there. 80, s.,
an amendment providing that Nothing In
the act shall be construed to permit any
State to forbid the manufacture or sale OF
oleomargerine in such a manner as VIII ao-
wise the customer of its real character.
During the debate on this amendment
Mr.. Henderson recalled the long tlibuster-
ing fight against the original oieomargarin
hill. when. he said, the interests of Chicago
and Kansas City were massed against the
agricultural interests. He denied that the
lard and tallow interests were opposed TO
ton i'm favor of the measure. with the state
ment that he always stood ready 10 I'M
mask deception, in order that all might
MIR. cannon answered Mr.. Henderson Wit
the assertion that the bill was "A fraud on
it's face. protesting TO do one thing. but.
with Misrepresentation in its stomach. do
ing something else.
MIR. Cannon's remark drew from Mr.. hen
derson an indignant protest. The opposi-
ton TO this bill" said he. with great en-
phasis. comes from the capitalized institu-
lions of Chicago and Kansas City. II comes
from men like Armour and swift. who are
destroying the great cattle interests of my
State and other States by keeping down the
price of beeves and keeping up the price of
beefsteak.'
MIR. CIRCUITS amendment was adopted. The
| bill was then passed-l26 to 90.
The Presidents veto of the bill TO create
a now division of the Eastern judicial dis
trict of Texas was laid before the House
and was referred to the judiciary commit
tee. The Indian appropriation bill was re-
ported.
A resolution was adopted on motion of
Mr.. FITZGERALD Dem. Mass.) calling on the
secretary of the navy for an estimate of
the amount of money which will be re-
uuired to place the frigate Constitution,
now living at the Portsmouth navy yard, in
such a seaworthy condition as would en-
able her TO make the trip from Portsmouth
to Washington. The object of bringing her
to Washington. he said. was TO preserve
and use her as a naval museum.
Among the pension bills passed was one
granting A pension of $50 per month TO
| Martha Curtis Carter. widow OF the late
Rear Admiral 5. =. Carter After the bill
passed Mr.. Loud rep. Cali said he had
consistently opposed bills carrying so large
an amount. and should have objected in this
case had his attention not been distracted.
At $50 the House adjourned.