Omaha daily bee., 1902-03-27
DOLLIVER FOR The OLEO BILL
Iowa Senator Arraigns the Industry as
Lawless.
SAYS IT WORKS UNDER FALSE PRETENsES
Delivers ForcefuI Argument for
Measure Providing Tax Upon Pro-
duct which He Declares f.
for Dairy Interests.

WASHINGTON, March 26.-Throughout
today's session OF the senate the oleomar-
garine bill was under discussion. The de-
bate was interesting at all times and some
phases OF Il we're amusing. Mr.. Hans
brough Of North Dakota concluded his
speech begun yesterday in support Of the
measure, maintaining that the oleomar-
garine industry had been outlawed by the
legislatures Of many states and that 1t
ought to be compelled by ongress to take
off its mask and place its product on the
market for what II really was.
Mr.. Stewart Of Nevada declared that the
proposed legislation was unnecessary and
that there was no more reason for taxing
colored oleomargarine than for taxing col
ored butter.
The principal speech of the day was de-
livered by Mr.. Deliver of Iowa. He spoke
foroefully and throughout commanded the
attention Of his colleagues and many mem
bers of the house who had come to the
senate to hear him. He scathingly de-
nounced the oleomargsrine industry, de-
claring that 1t had put itself In partnership
with lawlessness and false pretenses. Mr..
Dolliver concluded his speech with a glow
ing eulogy of farm life and of the Amer
lean farmer.
Tax on Evident Fraud.
Mr.. Hoar and Mr.. Lodge Of Massachu-
sets explained that their reason for sup
porting the bill was that 1t was a tax on an
evident fraud.
Mr.. Dolliver, in support Of the bill, said
he had been much impressed by the cheer
full way in which the senator from Missis-
sippi had stated that the pending bill would
be left with only a bare dozen OF votes
IL a secret ballot upon 1t could be taken In
the senate.
"Since 1 made that statement" said Mr..
Money, 81 have had assurances from that
side Of the chamber (the republican side)
that it is a fact"
In the course Of his speech Mr.. Dolliver
declared that the oleomargarine manufac-
turers and some Of the dealers In the ar
ticle were evading the law of 1886, which
provided that every package OF oleomar-
garine should be stamped plain.
DoIIiver a sample.
In proof OF his statement he exhibited a
| package Of oleomargarine (which he had
purchased from a famous butter dealer In
| Chicago. He said the package was marked
but 1t would tax any mans ingenuity to
find the mark. He then handed the pack
age to Mr.. Tillman and challenged him 10
find the mark required by law to be on the
wrapper Mr.. Tillman failed to discover
the imprint. Mr.. Dolliver pointed 1t out
printed In fine type in a corner OF the
wrapper. The incident excited lively In
terest and amusement.
Mr.. Dolliver referred to a well known
oleomargarine and butter dealer in Chicago
who spent more than half of his time In
the courts for violating the oleomargarine
laws. "And he never gets into the courts
he said, unless he finds there side by side
the attorneys for the oleomargarine manu-
facturers." ..
Mr.. Dolliver declared that "the only way
to break up a-nest like this was to reduce
to a minimum the profits of rascality."
He insisted that the proposed law would
not interfere with legitimate industries
which supplied raw materials to the cleo
margarine manufacturers and that the
oleomargarine industry itself should bC
wiped out, however, 1t must be borne II
mind that the American dairy INTEREST,"
represented far more than all the interests
which contribute raw material to the cleo.
margarine industry.
Mr.. Hoar said one OF the greatest danger
to the country was the establishment Of tht
principle that the taxing power OF the gov.
eminent could be used as a means of pun.
ish!ng and suppressing vice or crime or AM
form Of wrong doing. From that point o
view the pending bill could not have hi
support, but congress undoubtedly had tn,
right under its power to regulate inter
state commerce, to suppress, II need be
any deleterious article.
The senate then at 4:10 p. m. went int
executive session and a few minutes late
adjourned.