Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-20
KILL re rAwNEY Bill.

/
Capt. r. ]. Redding. superintendent Of the
Georgia Experiment Station, in which he
criticises an editorial that appeared re-
! Gently In this paper.
Capt Redding is an ardent advocate of
the Tawney bill. AS we see 1t.
this bill has no other object
than the destruction OF the manufac-
ture and sale OF oleomargarine by the
prostitution OF the taxing power Of the
federal government. He is of the opinion
that the solid Georgia delegation in con-
gress which stands arrayed against this
bill and fits ilk do not represent their con-
stituents on the question OF destroying
one industry in order TO boost another.
Capt. Redding. like all the other advo-
Gates and apologists of the Tawney bill,
starts with the assumption that the oleo-
margarine Industry is disreputable and
that the people should rise in their might
to demand its suppression.
1t is conceded that oleomargarine can
not be arraigned under our pure food
laws. for it has been proved to be quite as
chemically pure as butter and is probably
great deal better than the average but
ter that goes to market
But Capt. Redding presumes that oleo-
I margarine has gained its great popularity
| by masquerading as butter and that the
federal government should therefore pass
a law whose effect would be to put oleo-
margarine out OF business.
We have had for years law that i'm
poses a tax upon this article and imposes
restrictions upon its sale that we consid-
er one OF the worst enforcements Of class
legislation ever perpetrated' in this coun-
try. Not satisfied with this, the anti
oleomargarine agitators propose to go
further and prohibit the use of that whole
some article at all.
They do not dare to attack oleomarga-
rine on its merits. but they resort to the
equally effective but less honest device Of
taxing 1t to death.
II the real purpose OF the Tawney bill is
to prevent the palming of OF oleomarga-
rine upon the public as butter, why does
that measure after prescribing every pos
sible precaution against such deception
also provide for a tax Of 10 cents a pound
upon an article that is pure and digestible
and in great favor with the millions Of
our people who cannot afford to buy but
ter even while oleomargarine is Compel
ing with it?
Pass the Tawney bill and butter will
move beyond the reach Of the poor peo-
pie OF the country. We use the word
move" because butter has frequently
been known to exhibit symptoms Of in
cipient locomotion.
The real design OF the Tawney bill was
brought out clearly several times during
the recent debate upon It in the house Of
representatives, especially when it was
proposed TO place the working-over Of
butter under federal regulation. Every
body who has ever witnessed that process
has looked upon a sickening mass Of rem
nants OF butter OF all sorts and qualities
and OF varying degrees OF longevity be-
ing worked into an apparently homogen-
Gus and coeval identity. colored up to the
most approved hue, to be sent forth as
frst-class butter.
Capt. Redding has no protest TO make
against this deception of the public and
many OF the Tawney billites considered
II such "a highly honorable practive that
they fought ferociously against the prop
osition to even inspect it.
Those who have looked upon worked
over butter once never do so again as a
matter Of choice. and the internal revenue
officials that viii be required to oversee it
should be well paid, for they will surely
have tough work to do.
1t Is safe to say that the great bulk Of
the commercial butter in this country is
colored 70 make ii appear richer or fresh
er than II really is.
But according to the Tawneyites who
are lineal descendants Of the Grouters. It
is infamous to color oleomargarine. One
OF the statesmen in this aggregation in a
moment OF especially brilliant illumination
flashed forth a scheme to command that
all oleomargarine should be green. The
particular shade OF green he was good
enough to leave to the mercy Of the In
ternal Revenue Bureau.
Why this discrimination OF colors against
the sentimental violet, the lovely laven-
der. the gorgeous. red, the sober brown
and the ultra-conservative black?
When Capt. Redding refers TO the 'hour
OF victory which the Tawney billers now
enjoy he should remember that their
scheme has yet to be approved by ma
jority OF the senator's who viii pass upon
it and that it is too transparent to endure
much further discussion.
We are happy in the assurance that
Georgia's record will be kept straight and
purely Democratic on this question. Geor-
gia presented a solid front ~gainst the
Tawney bin in the house and has an
equally solid one to resist its passage
through the senate.
May the Georgia senators find them
selves in a company strong enough, to
smash the life out of this very bad bill!