Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-03-28
"OLEO" LEGISLATION

The contest between the dalrymeI
and stockmen Of the country over th'
oleomargarIne bill now before the Con
grcss of the United States, Is not very
generally understood. Many persons
and papers have favored the measure
supported by the dalrymen, under the
impression that 1t Is designed to pre-
vent fraud, In the passing OF upon the
consumer Of an article claiming TO be
genuine butter while It IL only a greasy
imitation But It appears. on lnvestlga-
ton, that the bin known as the "Oleo
biI' proposes to place a tax Of 10 cents
per pound on oleomargarine, and pro-
hlblt the use In II Of carrot colorlng, a
harmless invention
This Is strongly objected to by the
cattlemen, who are financially interest
cd In the manufacture Of olcomargarine
from beef fat, 1t Is said to be nu-
trltlous and perfectly safe substitute for
real butter, and TO be much more whole-
some than much Of the stun that sells
for butter in the market, The only
rational objection to II appears to be in
the fraud which is perpetrated upon
the public when It is offered for sale
az genuine butter.
To meet this real objection, amend
ments to the bill have been offered UNI
der wat Is called the wadsworth sub
stitute This provides for special tax
on the manufacture and sale of ole0-
margarine, 5000 per annum to be paid by
manufacturers, $3.50 by wholesale deal
ers and AS by retail dealers. II requires
oleomargarIne TO be put up for sale In
packages of one or two pounds only in
wrappers, marked, stamped and brand
ed with the word "Oleomargarine,"
boxes containing number OF such
packages must also be 80 marked with
an internal revenue stamp affixed, and
with such other marks and brands as
may be approved by the Secretary of
the Treasury. Dealers may sell only the
original packages and from the original
boxes, under penalty OF not less than
500 nor more than 5000 and lmprlson-
ment from thirty days to six months
for the first offense, with greatly in
creased penalties for additional Of
lenses.
rms appears to cover all that Is nee
essary TO regulate the sale Of this man
utacture and protect the public from
the imposition complained Of. Every
body ought to have the privilege of
manufacturing, selling or purchasing
oleomargarlne, IL II IL not tainted with
imposition No industry that is not in
furious should be weighted down with
oppressive taxation People who like
oleomargarIne ought to be able 10 OH
tain II without paying for It an exorblt.
ant price particularly when that ia not
caused by the cost OF production.
The Wadsworth substitute seems 10
US 10 meet all the necessary require
ments In an act Of Congress regulating
this traffic, While the license or tax
upon the manufacturer and dealer in
oleomargarine Is sufficiently high, ana
the precautions required are ample to
designate what the article Is that is
offered for sale, 1t Is not oppressive on
the Industry which has become Of very
great proportions, nor is It Injurious
to the stock-growers who supply the
market with beef cattle and are thus
deeply interested in the settlement OF
this question We hope our contem.
poraries throughout the country win in
yestlgdte this matter, and not give
support to the original bill under mis-
taken ideas concerning It's purport and
It's probable disastrous effects upon
trade and manufacture.