Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-25
57TH CONGRESS-.
Senate Starts Consideration Of
the 0leomargarine Bill.
Boreing, KY, Tries to Work In the
Goebel Election Case
But Rhea Calmly Tells Him That He
Is Not Posted.

Washington, March 24-Considera-
ton was begun by the Senate, today,
of what is popularity known as the
Ioleomargarine bill. The measure places
tax of 10 cents pound on oleomar-
garine colored in imitation of butter
and reduces the present tax of 2 cents
per pound on oleomargarine to one
quarter of ! cent a pound in it's un-
cOloIed form. Proctor of Vermont
chairman of the committee on agricul-
ture, made the opening statement in
support of the measure.
SOM after the Senate convened, Hale,
Me-, offered resolution which was
adopted, directing the committee on
fisheries to inquire into the destruction
by dynamite of sea fish along the east
ern coast of the United States and to
report by bill or otherwise a remedy
for the trouble. By resolution of
Lodge, Mass, which was adopted, the
attorney general was directed to trans
nit to the Senate list of the claims he
is defending before the Spanish treaty
ticulars as to each claim and the gross
diDOuHl VI all TIE CldlIllS.
Dubois, Idaho, presented a petition
from the American Chamber Of Com
nerce at Manila, saying 1t was "sig-
nificant fact" that this was the second
petition from that organization urging
that the restriction on Chinese collie
labor be removed. Dubois added that
testimony before the Philippine COM
mittee indicated that the Philippine Is
lands could not be developed without
Chinese labor.
Hoar, Mass, inquired if the petition
ers were American citizens.
Dubois replied that he understood
they were.
Hoar pointed out that under it's rules,
the Senate could not receive petitions
from people of a foreign power. The
acceptance of the memorial seemed to
him on admission on the part of the
United States that it was not at war in
the Philippines. The memorial was re-
ferred to the Philippine committee.
The river and harbor bill was re-
| ceived from the House and referred to
the committee on commerce.
Frye, chairman of that committee,
gave notice that hearings on the bill
| would be given to senators for four
days, beginning tomorrow morning and
| that there would be no further hear
ings.
Bills were passed as follows:
Authorizing the secretary of war to
negotiate with John T. Dolan of Port
land, Ore, for purchase of the original
manuscript copy of "Order Book of
General Arthur Saint Clair; appro-
priating $4,000 to inclose and beautify
the monument of Moore's Creek battle
| field, North Carolina; appropriating
$125, 900 for a marine hospital at Pitts
burg, Pa; providing that the statutes
Of limitations of the several states shall
apply as defence to actions brought
in any courts for the recovery of lands
patented under the treaty of May 10,
1854, between the United States and the
Shawnee tribe of Indians.
The Senate agreed to a conference
upon the war revenue reduction bill
named as it's conferees Messrs. Aldrich,
Allison and Vest.
At 2 o'clock the unfinished business
the oleomargarine bill--was laid before
the Senate. The measure was read at
length.
The bill makes oleomargarine and
other imitation dairy products subject
to the laws of any state or territory or
the District OF Columbia into which
they are transported; fixes a tax of 10
cents pound upon oleomargarine color
ed to resemble butter the tax to be paid
by the manufacturer.
Proctor. VT, chairman of the COM
mittee on agriculture, explained the
measure to the Senate.
He said there was no disposition on
the part of the advocates of the meas
ure to tax a legitimate industry out of
existence. He was satisfied that the
measure was constructed along the
lines Of fairness and was entirely Just
to all interested persons.
He said the evidence showed that the
bulk of the oleomargarine manufactured
reaches the consumer as pure butter
One of the objects of the bill was to pre-
vent this deception and to insure the de-
lection of any frauds attempted on the
consumers of butter.
Culberson inquired what the necessity
of the bill, admittedly revenue meas
ure," was, and whether there We're any
statistics showing the amount of money
the bill would produce.
Proctor replied that he had not deemed
it necessary to go into that phase of the
question.
In conclusion, Proctor said: This Is 4
measure to protect an honest product
against n fraud
In response to an inquiry by Vest.
Proctor said he believed Congress had
ample authority to legislate on the sub
ject of fraudulent food products, whether
they were subjects of interstate com
merce or not.
The majority and minority reports on
the bill were read in full and the Senate
then, at 40, went into executive session
and at AS p. NJ. adjourned.