Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-04
IN THE HOUSE.
OIeomargarine Bill Discussed in Spite
of the FiIibustering.

Washington, Feb. 3.-The House de-
voted today to general debate upon the
oleomargarine bill. The opponents OF
the measure attempted to filibuster
against it at the opening of the SEES
sion. but We're beaten by more than q
two thirds vote. The speakers. today
were Henry, Conn.,: Haskins, VT; and
Graft, ILL.,. in favor of the measure and
Wadsworth, N. Y; Foster, ILL.,; Bur-
Lesson, Texas, and Clayton, Ala, in OPP
position to it. Those who antagoniZed
the bill favored the adoption of the
substitute which is designed to pre-
vent the fraudulent sale of oleomar-
garine under the guise of butter.
Under the terms of the special order
adopted, Friday. the House entered up
on the consideration Of the eleomarga-
rine bill. Before it was taken up Bull,
r. L., who has been i'll since Congress
convened, was sworn in and Mr.. Payne
of the committee on ways and means,
reported the bill to repeal the war reve-
nue. taxes.
The opponents of the oleomarga rim,
bill resisted the motion to go into COM
mittee of the whole to consider it and
when the division was announced, 62
ayes and 4S noes, Clayton, Ala, made
the point of no quorum. The Speaker
was able to count only 152 members, not
a quorum, whereupon Underwood, Ala,
moved that the House adjourn.
Henry, Conn, who had charge of the
eleomargarne bill made the point tina
the motion was dilatory but the Speak
er overruled the point and the roll was
called upon the motion to adjourn. The
motion to adjourn was lost-63 to 1873.
Another roll call followed on the
motion to go into committee of the
whole. 1t was carried, IT'S to 30, and
the House went into committee of the
whole Lacey in the chair. Henry,
Conn.,, in charge of the measure, made
the opening presentation in it's behalf,
following closely the arguments of the
committee which reported the bill.
The purpose of the bill, he said, was
to make the sale of oleOmargarine
cOlored in imitation of butter, unpro-
fltable by imposing q tax of 10 cents
per pound. 1t would not, however, in
terfere with the sale of the uncolored
product on which the bill proposes to
reduce the tax to ne-fourth Of cent
per pound. That the country was be-
hind the proposed Legislation, he ar
gned. was proven by the fact that 81
states with four-ffths of the popula-
ton of the United States absolutely
orbid the manufacture of oleomar-
garine colored to resemble butter. The
bill was aimed only at the fraudulent
product.
The new section of the bill making
any person who sells or furnishes oleo-
margarine for the use of consumption
of others than manufacturer within the
meaning of the act, was, he said, in
tended to prevent INSCRIPTIONS deal.
ers. hotel proprictors, restaurants and
boarding houses from coloring. the
manufactured article
Wadsworth( N. ". chairman of the
agricultural committee. followed Henry
in opposition to the bill. Haskins (Vt.)
! successor of Grout, the author of tha
original bill. supported the measure in an
extended speech. Foster Ull) character
lied the majority bill as unjust and
vicious, Burleson Texas) opposed the
| bill. which. he contended, would serious
| ly injure the cattle and cotton interests
of his state. Graft Ulll supported the
bill. answering volley of questions from
its opponents.
day with a speech against this bill. While
the latter arguing against the constitu-
| tionality of the measure, Hepburn ua.]
interrupted to ask whether Clayton be.
licved the present law was constitutional
II do not
1T was passed by Democratic
House" suggested Hepburn. Would the
gentleman like a list of the distinguished
| Democrats who voted for it,
| II prefer not to be interrupted fur
ther," replied clayton. amid laughter.
| The House at $50 p. NJ. adjourned