Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-02-01
a Bounty on Sugar.

The proposition in the Senate Tariff
bill to pay bounty on sugar Of home
production, while reducing the duties on
imported sugar, was one Of those sug-
gested in many Of the letters from farm
ers to the Tribune a year ago. and
was approved by the committee who con-
sidered and reported upon those letters.
Il was derided by some and strongly
criticised by others, aud yet il appeared
10 meet the wishes Of most Of those who,
while unwilling to take away encourage
meut from any department Of home pro-
lnction, desired to secure cheaper sup
plies Of sugar for American consumers
The situation was exc, ptional. Protec-
tive duties had been maintained for
twenty-seven years, and yet bad failed
to develop the home industry so that
about As pounds out of So per capita
consumed were Of foreign origin. Yet
there seems to be good reason for believ-
ing that bounties not greater han those
paid by Germany would speedily stimu-
late production in this country as in
Germany and France.
1t was rightly argued in the Senate
that the payment Of bounties, though un-
familiar to people Of this generation, had
been sanctioned by the practice of the
fathers Of the Republic. The objection
that practice approved by Washington
and the trainers of the Constitution would
now be unconstitutional came with char
acieristic unreason from men who sought
to overthrow the Constitution and the
Union by rebellion. When the Demo-
cratic statesman of to-day attain high
er reputation for patriotic devotion, and
for scrupulous fidelity to their oaths of
Office or of loyalty, than the early patri-
OTIS enjoyed, they may with less impro-
priety challenge the integrity or the wis
dom of the heroes Of the Revolution
There is natural difference of Opin-
ion in regard To the effects Of this meas
urO. if it should be adopted. Some
doubt whether the proposed bounty
would be sufficient to encourage to any
appreciable extent an industry which
high duties on imports have scarcely
kept alive. Against them may be quo
ted the predictions Of ether Democratic
directors, who solemnly affirm that with
in few years the sums paid in boun-
ties would take out of the Treasury
more than the duties on imported sugar
would put into it. This was the predic-
ton of Mr. Gibson, of Louisiana, who
possibly may not seriously intend to
affirm that in FIVE years this county
would be producing over two thousand
million pounds Of sugar. With half the
present duty, the imports and the home
production must be equal before the
bounty can exceed the amount paid in
duties, and the quantity required for the
population of 1894 will not be far from
four thousand million pounds. If the
lsson = .u lpposess' the he
people Of this country will produce at
home quantity Of sugar for which they
would nov pay about $50, 900, 600 year
ly to foreigners. and the increased de-
mand for American LABOR woad be
lasting benefit to the Nation.
1t is certain that a bounty on domes-
tic production will not help the Sugar
Trust, but will make its task decidedly
more difficult. Whatever is accomplish
es will be clear gain, while if it accom-
plishes nothing no money will be taken
out of the Treasury.-N. Y. Tribune.