Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-04
oLEoMARGARINE IN THE HOUSE
enerR Debate for and Against the
Measure, with Opponents De-
feated at FiIibuster

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.--The house de-
voted today to general debate on the oleo-
margarine bill. The oppohents OF the
measure attempted to hlibuster against it
at the opening Of the session, bat were
beaten by more than a two-thirds vote.
The speakers today were Henry of, Con-
%neticut. Haskins Of Vermont. and Graf Of
Illinois, In favor of the measured; and
Wadsworth Of New York. Foster of Illinois,
Burleson Of Texas. and Clayson Of Ala
bama, in opposition to 1t. Those who an
t~agonized the bill favored the adoption Of
the substitute, which is designed to pre-
vent the fraudulent sale OF oleomargarine
under the guise Of butter. @
Before the oleomargarine bill was taken
up Mr.. Bull Of Rhode Island, who had been
i'll since congress convened, was sworn in,
and Mr.. Payne. from the committee on
ways and means, reported the bill to re-
peal the war revenue taxes.
The opponents OF the oleomargarine bill
resisted the motion to go into committee
Of the whole to consider II, and when the
division was announced So ayes and As noes,
Mr.. Clayton of Alabama, made the point OF
no quorum. The speaker was able to
count only 152 members-not a quorum,
whereupon Mr.. Underwood Of Alabama,
moved that the house adjourn. Mr.. Henry
Of Connecticut. who was in charge OF the
oleomargarine bill, made the point that
the motion was dilatory, but the speaker
overruled the point and the roll was called
upon the motion to adjourn.
The motion to adjourn was lost, So to
1888. Another roll call followed on the
motion to go into committee OF the whole.
Il was carried, IT'S to rs, and the house
went into committee Of the whole with Mr..
Lacey in the chair.
Henry Argues for the Bill.
/ Mr.. Henry OF Connecticut, in charge Of the
measure, made the opening presentation
in its behalf, following closely the argu-
ments OF the committee which reported the
bill.
The purpose Of the bill. he said, was to
make the sale OF olemhrgarine ceIored in
imitation OF butter Improbable by impos-
ing a tax Of 10 cents per pound. 1t would
not, however. interfere with the sale Of the
uncolored product. on which the bill pur-
poses TO reduce the tax to one-fourth OF .
cent per pound. That she country was be-
hind the proposed legislation he argued was
lproyed by the fact that thirty-two states
with four-hfths OF the population of the
United States absolutely forbid the manu-
Il IdCluIO VI OACOhAaA w NbNS ~
ter. The measure was only aimed at the
fraudulent product. The new section of
the bill, making any person who sells or
furnished oleomargarine for the use or con-
sumption Of others, a manufacturer within
the meaning OF the act, he said was in
tended to prevent INSCRIPTIONS dealers.
hotel proprietors. restaurants and boarding
house keepers from eoloring the manufac-
tured article.
Mr.. Wadsworth OF New York, chairman
Of the agricultural committee, followed in
opposition 70 the bill.
Mr.. Haskins Of Vermont. successor to
Mr.. Orout, the author Of the original bill,
supported the measure in an extended
speech.
Mr.. Foster Of nlionois. characterized the
majority bill as unjust and vicious"
Mr.. Burleson Of Texas. opposed the bill
which, he contended, would seriously injurs
the cattle and cotton interests OF his state
Mr.. Gran OF Illinois. supported the bill
answering a volume Of questions from IL
opponents.
Hepburn OF Iowa surs n Laugh.
Mr.. Clayton Of Alabama closed the day
with a speech against this dill. While the
latter was arguing against the constitution
aIity OF the measure and appealing to tn
members Of the democratic side. 70 stanC
by their ancient doctrines. Mr.. Hepburn o.
Iowa, interrupted TO ask II Mr.. Clayton be
lieved the present law was constitutional
II do not" he answered.
'Tt was passed by q democratic house,
suggested Mr.. Hepburn Would the gentle
man like a list OF the distinguished demo
Gratis who voted for it,"
II prefer not to be interrupted further
replied Mr.. Clayton amid laughter.
The house At $50 p. m. adjourned.