The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-12

From, Tho Journal Beoreau. Room <5. Post
Building, Washs7gtoss.
Washington, Feb.@12.-The oleomargarin
bill passed the house to-day by ma
jority of forty four votes It was mis-
managed by the committee of agriculture
Under the fire of debate, the committee
went to pieces and was unable to control
itself or the friends Of the bill nor could
it either carry out its original program
or substitute as good one in it's place
The reason for this fall down is proba-
bly, the fact that the strongest men on
the committee, including Chairman Wads-
worth, were against the bill and in favor
OF the oleo manufacturers. In the last
congress- the Grout bill passed the house
by LUG majority and last week on test
vote the bill which passed to-day minus
the several amendments, had a majority
of 1O2.
This falling off in strength will proba-
bly, mean trouble for the bill in the SEN
ate. Representative Henry of Connecti
cut. member Of the agriculture committee
who led the fight for the bill on the floor
to-day and yesterday, admits openly that
the bill will probably have hard Shedding
IN the senate. In fact, he doubts if it
can pass. The renovated butter amend
ment, he says, will defeat it there. This
amendment was put on by opponents of
the bill, who insist that if the proposed
legislation is in the interest of pure food
it ought to carry the renovated butt er
amendment.
Charles Y. knight, secretary of the Ma
tional Dairy association, does not agree
with Congressman Henry. He Is con
hdens the bill will &c through The senate.
| Diagnosed by McCleary.
Congressman McCleary said regarding
the bill as it has passed:
The bill contains all the provisions of the
old Grout bill and therefore has IN it the
| things which the dairy interests have been
demanding. The additional two paragraphs
one extending the definition Of the word
manufacturer" and the other giving the de-
/ partment of agriculture more perfect control
over reports of wholesalers, are additions
| which have been necessitated by conditions
recently discovered and they are all right
The changes in language from the Grout bill
| are not improvements. They have distinctly
| lessened the value of the bill. Last week on
| a test vote on the bill as originally reported
we had a majority Of 102. To-day after the
tinkering process had been finished, we
passed the bill by only "A. This falling of
| is due to the vacillation which the committee
has exhibited under the assaults of outside
| influences supposed to be friendly to this
Legislation. The bill Is neither so strong MOI
| so good as it would have been if there had
| been no tinkering.
Tawney's Assistance Valuable.
By "outside influences Mr.. McCleary
doubtless refers to officers of the National
| Dairy association ana especially tc
Charles Y, Knight, it's secretary These
! gentlemen have steadily favored the
Tawney bill while McCleary opposed
them, introducing copy Of the CID Grout
| bill. Each one of these interests holds
the other responsible for to-day's narrow
majority of A. Mr.. nKight said to a
Journ man:
The Wadsworth substitute received only
four more votes this year than it did last
and had there been roll call on final pas.
sage, the result would have shown over 2O(
votes for the bill. Many members were lee
astray through petitions received from theil
constituents calling for the passage of the
original Grout bill. just as it passed the house
lin the last session. The committee found il
necessary to amend the bill. and Of course
| these petitions called for congressman to op-
! pose any amendments. The committee was
much embarrassed by these petitions, as vel
| as by the Minnesota member who was re.
sponsible for their appearance, and it re-