The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-04-11
THE OLEOsIARCARINE BILL.

THE OLEOEIARGARINE BILL.
The senate last week passed the ole
omargarine bill, and the press com
aent, both republican and democratic,
on the bill has been uniformly unfavOr-
able to the measure, especially so in the
west and south. That fair under
standing of all the bearings of the bill
on agriculture, stock raising and dairy
farming may be had some quotations
are given
The st. Joe Gazette HeraId--''Sen-
atOr Vest made a vigorous protest
against the cleo bill, but without effect.
The bill compels the manufacturer to
pay a tax of ten cents a pound on cleo
margarine that is colored to resemble
butter. Hence the consumer of this
substitute will soon get it white. The
oleo bill is an Ubiquitous measure, for
its purpose is to drive the manufactur-
ers of the commodity out of business
in the interests Of the creamery in
dustry. Senator Vest declared it was
unconstitutional, and that he would
not vote for it if the entire population
Of Missouri commanded him.
"The champions of the bill put forth
the usual pTO-bono-publico plea that
cOlored cleo was unwhOlesome, and
that it was fraudulent, because people
consumed it for butter. 1t developed
during the debate, however, that most
of the output of the creameries was
colored with the same material that
was used in cleo, and it gradually de-
veloped that instead of a pro-bono-
rublico measure the bill was nothing
more than class legislation in behalf
of the butter trust"
The Topeka Capital.-"The bill pass
ed this week by the senate taxing cleo
margarine, and the bill passed by the
house last February substantially to
the same effect, are essentially class
legislation; that is to say, they tax one
industry, the making of OleOmargarine
for the benefit of another industry,
the making of butter. Whatever the
arguments in behalf of the legislation
passed by both houses, this essential
fact cannot be escaped. 1t is distinct
lively class legislation. Furthermore,
there are reasons for agreeing with the
democrats, who opposed the bill, Sen
ator Harris being the only democrat
who voted for it, that the bill is in
violation of the constitutional taxing
powers of congress, which according to
the uniform decisions of the supreme
court can be exercised only for the
purpose Of raising revenue. The anti
oleomargarine bill is not framed for
revenue, but for the protection of the
creamery and dairy interests"
Besides these considerations, as
above set forth, the bill deprives the
poorer and Iaboring classes of a cheap
and wholesome food substitute for the
higher-priced creamery butter. 1t
takes away the poor mans butter. 1t
is also a serious blow to livestock in
terests. According to estimates of
stock men, the bill will cause loss of
= head on cattle and % cents head
on hogs sent to market. The dairy
products of Kansas are worth $780,
coo, and the livestock marketed is
worth 100000 annually. Some years
ago cotton seed was a refuse; but now
because Of the use of cotton-seed oil in
the manufacture Of oIeomargarine the
annual product is worth 100000. /
The creamery industry is IN a very
hourishing condition now, In spite Of
any and all cOmpetion; and cannot in
any event supply the butter market, at
even the most exorbitant price, If oleo
we're entirely crowded out. It is a
butter trust scheme to amass millions
at the expense Of the people and the
ruination Of other industries, and with
no reasonable presumption that the
men that furnish the milk and cream
viii share proportionately in the bene-
at. The stock raiser and the cotton
planter must sufFer-to the extent of
millions, to say nothing Of the cleo
margarine manufacturer. Congress
has run amuek on protection.
Great Britain and the United States.