The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-01-04

Setting Forth the Injury to Live
stock Industry That Will Follow
the Passage of the Proposed Law
Grounds of the Protest Elk
planned In the Petition.
Congressman Tawney has aroused the
ire Of the live stock men, or at least, those
Of the live stock men that are interested
in beef and stock cattle, not only in Min
nesota, but over the country at large,
through the introduction Of bill in the
national house OF representatives. that
provides for a tax on oleomargarine This
bill was introduced by Mr.. Tawney on
Dec. d. 1899, and is in reality, an amend
ment to bill approved In 1896, which
was an act defining butter and imposing
tax upon and regulating the manufac-
ture and sale of oleomargarine. The
amendment provides for tax of two
cents per pound on uncolored oleomargar-
inc, and tax of 10 cents per pound on
oleomargarine that is colored in imitation
Of butter
This matter was brought to the atten-
ton Of the members Of the South st. Paul
Live Stock exchange at its regular month
ly meeting held yesterday afternoon, when
notice was received from the National
Live Stock exchange that the bill had
been introduced. Accompanying the no.
tice was a letter from Secretary Baker,
Of the parent body, stating that q mem
orial to congress, protesting against the
passage of the bill, had been prepared and
would be forwarded to congress at once.
The members of the local exchange
thoroughly discussed the situation, with
the result that 1t was determined to pre-
pare a memorial to congress on behalf OF
the South st. Paul exchange and forward
the document to the Minnesota members.
In the discussion it was brought out that
Minnesota has made rapid strides during
the past few years as a beef cattle pro-
ducing state, and Is fast approaching the
top round among the other cattle states
in the country. The magnitude OF the
dairying interests was recognized, but II
was the general opinion that it was as
nothing compared to the cattle growing
industry In view of these facts 1T was
deemed advisable to bring all possible
pressure to bear as quickly as possible
to prevent the passage Of this bill.
The individual members and officers of
the exchange will take the matter up
among their congressional friends, and
among the leading men of the state, and
apon all 1t will be urged that If some
means. other than those now in force,
must be had to regulate the manufacture
and sale of oleomargarine, 1t must be
something different than the proposed bill.
It is urged that this will be class legisla-
sion, and will be of benefit to one In
.iustry only to do great harm to another
that is vastly larger and more important.
The memorial to be prepared and for
warded to congress will be practically as
follows:
To the Honorable, the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United states:
Your petitioner, the South st. Paui
Live Stock exchange. respectfully repre-
sents to your honorable body that 1t IS
an association Of live stock dealers en-
gagged in buying and selling, feeding,
shipping and slaughtering live stock, and
was organized, among other things, for
the purpose Of promoting the best IN
terests Of the live stock industry Of the
Northwest, jealousy guarding the inter
ests of the producer and consumer alike.
Your petitioner, in behalf Of it's con-
stituency, desires to enter it's emphatic.
protest against the enactment OF House
Bill 10. g. introduced by MT. TaWIfey,
providing for tax on the manufacture
and sale of oleomargarine. In support
Of it's protest a few reasons of the many
that might be mentioned are set forth
in support of It's contention. -
islation of the most dangerous kind, cal
culated to build up and restore one IN
dustry at the expense or another equaiy
as important. 1t seeks to impose an I'M
just, uncalled-for and unWarranted bur-
den upon one of the principal CONNER
cial industries of the country. Manu-
facturers cannot assume this added pIf-
den and continue to sell their product
in competition with butter. The passage
of this measure would throttle compe-
tition, render useless the immense es-
adjustments erected at great expense
for the manufacture OF oleomargarine,
deprive thousands of employees Of the
opportunity to gain livelihood and deny
the people, and especially the working
people, a wholesome article Of diet.
The butter fat Of an average beef ami
NAL for the purpose of manufacturing
oleomargurine Is worth from So to 81 per
head more than before the advent of
oleomargarine. This has increased the
value of the beef steer and consequent
ly to the profit Of the producer.
To legislate this article out of com
merce would necessarily entail that loss
on the owners and raisers of beef cat
tie, as it would depreciate the market
value Of the cattle. and this would mean
a loss to the cattle producers of the
country Of millions and millions of dol
lars.
The use of this fat for the purpose
set forth is an encouragement to the
producer to improve his herd and raise
class of thoroughbred cattle capable
Of carrying the fat. and this results in
q benefit to ALL
The rights and privileges of the pro,
ducers Of beef cattle should be as we'll
respected as those of Others. and, as
they are the beneficiaries in the manu-,
facture of this wholesome article Of
food, they should not be burdened with
unnecessary special taxes other than is
absolutely necessary.
This product of the beef steer should
receive at the hands OF congress no
greater exactions than are imposed oE
competing food products. The manu-
facture and sale of oleomargarine is al
ready surrounded with numerous safe
guards which congress, in its wisdom
has seen fit to provide.
Experience has proven that it Is just
what a large majority Of the people of
this country want, and, in behalf Of the
producers and consumers Of the great
Northwest, we do solemnly protest
against the enactment of legislation cal
culated to ruin great industry.
This memorial will be signed by the
officials of the South st. Paul Live Stock
exchange.
SUIT ALL MANKIND.