The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1888-08-30
NOT "PRIVATE AFFAIRS"
Mr.. Breckenridge, of Arkansas, Pro.
poses to Deal with Trusts.


WASHINGTON, August 20, l888.-Con.
gresham Breckenridge, OF Arkansas,
picked up in the House to-day the
gauntlet recently thrown down by Mr.
Blaine ia his declaration that trusts
are private concerns with which nei-
ther the President nor Congress can
properly interfere He introduced
tive bills aimed at the trusts by
amending the tariff laws, which he be-
lieyes will be effective il Congress will
embody his views in legislation. Each
OF the bills is aimed at one of the pro-
tccted trusts and proposes to put the
article on the free list temporarily or
permanently, or reduce the duty.
Each bill has similar title, embod-
ying an argument in itself The Sug.
ar bill, for instance, is entitled "a bill
to correct certain abuses arising un-
der the present Tariff law relating to
sugar, &c" Mr. Breckenridge is a
member OF the committee on Manu-
features, which has been investigating
the subject Of trusts, and he is also a
member of the committee on Ways
and Means, to which he had the bills
introduced to-day referred. He hopes
to get them considered in committee
and reported to the House at an early
day
If he succeeds in this there will be a
debate ON the tariff. in which there
will be- an opportunity for both sides
to strike home. 1t will be interesting
to see whether the republicans stand
by the position of their leader that
"trusts are private affairs not subject
to governmental interference II
they do, and the democrats stand to-
gether on the other side, the brilliant
move Of Mr. Breckenridge may be the
means Of emphasizing the victory of
Mr. Cleveland in November by ma
jority even greater than the most san.
guine have dreamed.
SUGAR.
Mr.. Breckinridge's bill to break
down the sugar trust is based on the
fact that protection is higher on refn-
ed sugar than on raw sugar. The bill
reduces the margins with a view to
leaving adequate protection to the re-
fners to continue their business, but
not enough to squeeze the public
The reductions on the margins are
from 80 cents to II cents on the 100
pounds on sugar between l3 and 1G
Dutch standard from 60 to 90 cents
on sugar between 16 and 20, and from
ri 10 to 80 cents on sugar above &c
Dutch standard. The reductions are
greatest on the lower grades of sugar
consumed by the poorer people, with a
view to Tightening as much as possible
their burdens.
COTTON BAGGING.
The bill, which strikes at the cotton
bagging trust, puts the article on the
free list until the lst of March, but
leaves jute untouched until that time
The cotton bagging trust is not organ
ized in reality by the manufacturers
but by outside parties who have
bought up all the product in the mar
ket and made contracts with the man
niacturers for the production If cot
ton bagging is put on the free list il
will squeeze the specializing pool, bu,
ought not to inflict any injury on the
manufacturing industry After The
lst of March the manufacturers are
given free jutc, while cotton bagginl
~ put at three eighths OF cent s
pound, as provided in the Mills bill
ThiS will take care OF the industry
sitter the pool is squeezed, and they
will not need it while the present con
tracts last.
COAL OIL,
The bill aimed at the coal oil trus
simply puts the article on the free list
The trust already, according to Ml
Breckinridge, has the power to charg,
twenty per cert more for oil here thar
/; ;rharppe for eynu6.t in ronsnonene,