New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-02-15
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
r,r o,,c.p GRADE INDIGNANT.

THE SUGAR TRADE NDIdNANl'
IMPORTERS. REFINERs AND BROKERS TAKE ISSUE
WITH SECRETARY sBERMAS-kFFECr OF Tux
TREASURY DEPARTMENT oHoES-AsA'N" wv
0RgSs FOR RRLIEF.
large meetinp of importers, reiuers and brokers
of saar was held yesterday morning to CONSIDER .,e
letter of Secretary Sherman to the Chamber OF Con
nerce defining bis position 10 the mater
the question Of assessing duties by the poiar'scop
test. David III. Turnure presided Those pI .,
manifested much INDIGNATION at the made We're
referred t0 q special committee Ia report a' q" -"
journed meeting at $3.50 p. m. ,o,ro.t ever
The afternoon meeting was c;tv r.o foftytwo i'm
p0rters and refineres we're represented peS.ues ~
era brokers T. F. Butler of Maitland Phelps 3D. S"
chairman of the special committee presenSeu tne
mt,ons. which were adopted, declaring that tne
meeting approved the report OF the Chamnei y.
Commerce the subject OF the coiectoh o. r
yersy. 1t was also declared that the qnesllon az
issue was NOT one of fraud. and that the meeting
desred TO enter an emphatic protest against tne
manner in which the Secretary of the Treasury has
treated the subject; that the offensive orier was
made In defiance of the rulings OF the courts tna
the Secretarys communication does not In any way
meet the statements of the report. The real ques-
ton is Has the Department the right aud the power
70 FIX test Of import duties c,ner t reov an that
cory of the resolutions should be sent 10 tne ~
dent of the United States the Sscretary 81 t he
Treasury, and the members OF the senate anu TUG
House of Representatives.
BY many these resolutions were not cohsldeTe9
strong enough. j. T.. SeaIlcS declared tnat NC nau
met Assistant Secretary French, who announced
that tia Government was not going TO allow case
to be tried if there any danger of losing it. Mr.
French said the Government was about to make q
fest case where the colOring is below No. Dutch
standard and that il would no dOut be In favor OF
the Government When it was stated 10 him that not
more than per cent of the cases were of that char
acter, Mr.. French replied that the Government was
not going to BIO beaten in this matter. Mr. FRENCH
was then asked if decision were made against the
Government il it would be allowed rs test case, TO
which he replied, Certainly not; each case VIII
have to be tried on its own merits. but
il in favor of the Government then IL
would be allowed" Remarks were made by
Others and resolutions were adopted which declare
that the Secretary, in issuing orders for the cOec
ton of revenue. not warranted by law, has at
tempted to grasp the powers OF Congress; that Con-
gress in tamely submitting to the assumption OF
powers committed to it By an executive 0fi1cer OF
the Government derelict LII Its duty to the peoples
that in issning orders the collection of revenue,
which he had declared he could not do without
the authority Of Congress, and which had been
twice asked and refused the Secretary shows dis
regard of law and the Constitution unworthy OF his
high position, derogatory to the Government which
he represents, aud alarming to all friends OF repub-
lcan government; that this meeting calls upon
the Senators and REPRESENTATIVES. IN Congress 10
secure as early possible such action as shall re-
heye the sugar trade from the onerous and IA IS be-
leyed illegal action ofthe Secretary otthe treasury
Messrs Burdick, Searles and Knowlton were ap-
pointed committee to present the matter to Con-
greSs.