The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1902-02-14

on amendments to the oleomargarine'
bill in the house today indicated a
considerable change Of sentiment
since last congress when the bill had
106 majority and that the opposition
to the measure has gained strength.
While the passage of the bill is not
endangered, it is not likely that the
majority tomorrow when the final
vote is taken will exceed 80. The op-
position today was strong enough in
committee of the whole to adopt two
important amendments, one providing
that nothing in the act should be con-
s,rued to prevent the manufacture and
sale of oleomargarine in any state for
consumption entirely within such
state, and the other to provide for the
inspection and branding of renovated
process butter. The latter amend
ment was especially obnoxious to the
friends of the measure and when the
JAIL was lCpO1 lCu l. Liz l1OuSS d oCpd-
rate vote was demanded on it. That
vote was pending when the house ad-
journed.
Washington, Feb. 12.-The house to-
day passed the oleomargarine bill.
There was no division on the final
passage. the real test of strength hav-
ing been made on a motion to recon-
nit. which vas defeated by a majority
of "a.
The provision to require the inspec-
ton and branding Of renovated butter,
which was adopted in committee of
whole yesterday, was retained today
on an Y and nay vote.
AS finally passed, the bill is some
what moulfied from the form in which
it was reported from the committee
on agriculture. 1t makes olemargarine
or imitation butter or cheese trans
ported into any state or territory for
sale or consumption therein. sub
ject to the laws of such states or ter
ritory. Notwithstanding that it may
be introduced in original packages.
and imposes a tax of 10 cents per
pound on oleomargarine made in imi-
tation of "butter Of any shade of vel
When not made in such imita-
ton the tax is reduced to one-fourth
of one cent per pound. The sec
ond section is intended to prevent
dealers, hotel proprietors, restaurant
and boarding house keepers from col
oring the %uncolored article. by max
ing any person who colors the product
and then sells or furnishes it to others.
a manufacturer within the meaning of
the act.
Penalties for violation of the act are
a fine Of not less than $50 nor more
than $500 and imprisonment for not
less than 80 days nor more than six
months.
War claims occupied the attention
of the house after the passage CT the
oleomargarine bill and the day was
made notable for the passage of the
first bill for the payments of claims of
States citizens arising out of
the Spanish war. 1t carried something
over $4,000 for the payment of 202
claims for property taken within the
United States for the use of the army. |
An omnibus bill carrying claims ag-
creating $2.114,552 for stores and sup
plies taken from loyal citizens dur
ing the civil wal also was passed.
These claims were allowed under
the provisions of the Boman act, and
was identical with one passed by the
house at the last session. Two other
bills which have been before congress
for % years, to refer certain claims !
additional compensation by the
builders of certain monitors during
the civil war to the court of claims |
were passed.