The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-31

Mr.. George l.. Kimball comes up to the
support Of the Portland Herald's assertion
that Mr.. Reed allowed the shook business to
perish rather than consent to a reduction of
the duty ON sugar of ten per cent. The
Herald sadly needs support, but such as Mr..
Kmball gives it will prove of very little
value. Mr. Kimball at the outset says:
The PRESS says: "The age men be-
sought Congress for relief. either by increasing
the duty on sugar ia bags, or by reducing the
man. am prepar d TO say the first part of the
above statement Is entirely unIrue the cooper
age men never peiitioned Congress to increase
the duty on sugar imported ia bags AT meet
Ing OF the cooperage men 1t was unanimously
decided that to ask for such a measure would xiii
the whole Thing.
The language here attributed to the PRESS
belongs 10 the Portland Advertiser. But
we will waive that point and assume all the
responsibility for it. Mr.. K mball says the
cooperage men never besought Congress for
relief by raising the tariff on sugar in bags
III Mr., Klmball will turn to the Argus of
December %, 1885, he will find there circu-
lar prepared by certain leading firms in the
shook industry (which will" we quote the
language Of lhe Argus authorized und0ubt-
eddy by the authors of the circu ar, "be sent
to every member Of Congress" 1t is to all
intentS and purposes petition setting forth
the importance of the shook industry, the
causes Of its decline, and suggesting means
Of its revival. The means suggested are
three in number. And this is the language
in which the circular expresses two of them:
As there seems to be no prospect of having
commercial treaty with Spain, the only redress is
for our COVE nmtn Mt 10 IN Ike reduction IN the
present duty n sugar (when impor ed in hogs
heads) OF about one quarter cent pound, the
duty ON sugar Ia bags remaining as at present;
or 10 increase oar present duty on sugar IN bags
The circular expresses no preference as
between these two methods. Now if Mr..
Kimball is correct in saying that the cooper
age men had unanimously decided that to ask
for an increase of the duty on sugar in bags
would kill the whole thing, then the cooper
age men themselves are responsible for kill
ing the whole thing" for they asked in this
circular, which was placed in the hands Of
every Congressman, just as much for the in
crease Of the duty ON sugar in bags as they
did for reduction of the duty on sugar in
hogsheads. Mr.. Kimball, then, is clearly in
error when he says that the shook men never
besought Congress to assist the shook indus
try by increasing the duty on sugar In bags.
Again Mr., Kimball SAYS:
Mr.. Reed in talking with our cooperage commit
tee on the subject suggested that the measure
would have a better chance of success ii some
Southern Democrat should introduce the bin into
Congress, and at the last interview our Committed
had with Mr.. Reed before he lett nome for Wash
ingtun, the committee informed Mr. Reed ihar
arrangements had been made for a Democratic
Representative Fl ON Baltimore, Nd, TO INTRODUCES
bill reducing the duty on sugar imported In
hogsheads and Mr.. Reed promised to do ali he
could TO secure its passage.
This statement is lacking in ingenious
ness, inasmuch as it neglects to say that the
Maryland member failed to keep his engage
uent. The member referred to was un-
doubleday Mr.. Findlay. He, according to
Mr. Kimball, had agreed to introduce bill
reducing the duty on sugar in hogsheads,
and Mr.. Reed had agreed, according to Mr..
Kimball. to support it. Instead, however, of
introducing such bill Mr.. Findlay contented
himself with simply introducing resolu-
ton of inquiry as to the causes Of the decline
of American cooperage. This resolution was
introduced Jan. g. 1856, Immediately after
the assembling of Congress after the holiday
recess, and was referred to the ways and