National Republican., 1888-01-12
Hon, John j. o'Neiil on the Sugar Tax.
The New York World has the following
interview with Congressman John j.
O'Neill, of Missouri;


interview with Congressman John j..
O'Neill, Of Missouri;
1.-THE tax on sugar has got to come OIL" said
Congressman John j. O'Neill to the World cor
respondent to-day. THE demand for cheap
food and cheap clothing cannot be longer IL
nored We are PAVING so an, an an annual @ SUGAR t,N
dustry that employs but few people aud pro.
duces but an insignificant proportion OF the
amount consumed in this country. l think
Congress is beginning to sec that something
must be done on this. score, and realize that
upOn the sugar question an agreement can be
speedily reached. In this way material re-
duCtiOn in revenue can at once he effected that
will dispose Of fully Oue-hali the present an
nual surplus"
"wouId you grant bouutios to the sugar.c ane
growers ol the south ?'
"les, this plan has been successfully fol.
lowed in other countries, and do not see why
II should not prove cXpCdieut here ] do not
wish 10 iniuTe the industry. for II may be so
dCN NClOrCd i'll the future as 10 become CS-
tremeN important. We must, in fact, pro- !ct
all ouI Industries, and do not think any party
can abord to go to the people upon platform
which shall not provide for a careful guarding
of our Industries. With this principle IL
view however, | would not remove the tax
from manufactured tobacco but Would relieve
the farmer who raises the product There is
no more reason why lie should be taxed for
growing ObaCcO than for producing ANY Other
article of general consumption. To cc:ta! In
extent tobacco Is necessity. Every nation
taxes whisky and the high grades of manu-
laCtured tobacco. This is Ms il should be. and
would be the last one to vote for a reduction
of these taxes
"In what way would 80 eluce the surplus
already in the treasury
"By expending it in improving coast de-
fenses and In constructinga navy which would
be worthy of country like the United States
with its vast commercial interests. l would
gladly support bill appropriating 1000 00O
to build a navy of which we might all be
proud. To-day we not only have no war.ships
but we have no shipyards or plants capable OF
turning out on short notice such vessels as
would be necessary to the protection of oul
coast In case we should become involved III
war with foreign power. If such wal
should be declared the country would at once
| appreciate the necessity for Immediately
building heavy armored ships and gunboats
but 1t would then be too late to repair def
| cheney. With an overlooking treasury think
we are not likely ever to be in better position
to prepare for q contingency which may al
| any time arise and which this very preparation
would be likely to avert.
| ~ would also favor liberal policy in appro
priating for river and harbor Improvements
The dificuliy in the past has been that all out
| appropriations have been scaled down TO such
| point that after spending the sums allotted
| TO the various districts work has been sus-
pended for want of money, and nature ha'
| speedily undone what few thousand doilarl
more would have rendered permanent. Jus
now there is crying necessity for extensive
| improvements along the Mississippi, demand
| which this Congress cannot afford to ignore.
| al should be glad to see an approximation
made for public buildings in every large cit,
ofthe Union. They are very generally needed
| and in their construction the money nov
| boarded in the treasury vaults would be dis
| tributcd among the people, aud would at once
| reach those who stand most in need of it,"