National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-04-08
Mr.. Gays Mediation.

On the 10th of March last Representa-
tives King and Gay, Of Louisiana, accom-
panied by Messrs. Dymond, Wilkenson,
Warmoth, Mccall, and Foos ,fmembers Of
the Louisiana Sugar Planters Association,
appeared before the ways and means com
mttee in opposition TO any reduction Of the
tariff on sugar.
Gen. King, who is for tariff for revenue
with incidental protection, protested
against any change, either in sugar or
other duties, and appealed to both parties
on the committee TO let the tariff stand un-
changed for ten years. lie held that the
necessary expenses Of the government, the
increasing pensions, the new navy coast
defenses, and improvement of the water
ways, all pointed to the fact that there was
to be no diminution in the expenses of the
government. He thought his free trade
friends ought to let the tariff stand,
for the much.needed and easily-collected
revenue II itafTorded; while the protec ctlonists
should certainly favor his proposition both
as q matter of principe and expediency.
AS Mr.. Chairman Morrison remarked, he
"struck at both ends Of the table" but made
no pledges.
Mr.. Gay, claiming to be thorough pro-
teotionist, also took strong ground against
MIR. Morrison's proposed reduction Of the
sugar and other duties as matter Of princi-
pie aud fair dealing all round, making a
special appeal for protection to timber, salt,
rice, and sugar, and pledging himself un-
equivocally for protection to all industrial
interests without exception.
lie even favored an increase Of tariff rates
on all sugar imported from countries that
paid an export bounty, closing his appeal
with the following statement and pledge
And 1t seems to me that the sugar planters
of Louisiana and Texas require additional pro.
lection from the government just as much as
the manufacturers Of steel rails would require
If the English government were to give a
bounty on the expectation of steel rails.
Mr. lIlscock. Then suppose that, so far as
y0u are concerned g0u are for The protection Of Nc
other industries ofHe couniry'
Mr. Gay. certainly dn. / toW 90 hrni and
hand tcih you for their protection.
The Chairman. He is q thick.and.thin pro.
tectionist.
Mr.. Gays zeal for protection on the 10th
Of March was such MS TO extort an indlg-
nant exclamation from the ways and means
committees chairman. "lIe is a thick-and-
thin protectionist," Indignantly exclaimed
Chairman Morrison. And yet we now find
this same Mr.. Gay acting as II go.between
in bargain to throw protection overheard
in order to reduce Mr.. Morrlson's proposed
reduction on sugar.
Louisiana should reduce Mr.. Gay TO the
ranks forthwith.
The protectionists have stood by the
Louisiana sugar interests through thick and
thin, but We do not propose to stand Mr..
Gays mediation or anything of the kind.
On the contrary, we are most decidedly OPP
| posed to all such proceedings.
| Mr.. Gay is a new member, and wholly in
experienced in affairs here, but he is old
enough to know better than to get his
friends into trouble as he has done.
There is q bill now before Congress ap
propriating 100000 for sugar experiments
portion Of which is to beexpended in put.
ting diffusion plant at work on a planta-
tion owned by the president Of the Louisiana
Sugar Planters Association, but Mr.. Gays
impudence has created an opposition to its
passage that is quite likely to defeat it.
But the best possible treatment OF the
Louisiana problem is FREE SUGAR.