San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-04-29
A NEEDLESS FEAR.

disregarded by future congress
does not seem to be we'll grounded. II
is true that they have no guarantee OF
the perpetuity of the bounty clause
beyond what the circumstances
afford, but those, upon mature retlec-
ton, seem to be ample for all purposes
of assurance. The clause in the
sugar schedule of the tariff bill grant
ing bounties for certain term of
years is in the nature of moral obi
CATION, if not a legal one. 1t is NOR
ally contract Oh the part of the gov
eminent, pledging the sugar men of
the country bounty of certain
sum for all sugar made in
this country, that under the ::stimulus
of that bounty the sugar-growers
might enter earnestly into that in
dustry and make it a profitable one
for Americans to engage in. The fear
that this promise, or unwritten con-
tract, or moral obligation, or whatev-
will not be kept, it strikes the LIGHT,
is a groundless one. There are only
two parties to the transaction. The
republican party and the democratic
party, and it does seem that both of
these are barred from interfering with
this bounty. The republican party is
barred because the bounty clause is
their own substitution for the exist
ing tariff, and it would be breach of
good faith to go back of their votes
and vitiate their own record, as they
would do by repeating the bounty be-
fore the time expires during it
which it will remain operative.
The other party is the democratic
party, and while it is true that this
bounty proposition did not emanate
from them, it is true that the great |
sugar districts are in democratic dis
tricts and the sugar planters are dem
ocratic partisans, voters and leaders, |
as rule. This very fact bars the |
democratic party from any movement |
in the future abrogating the bounty |
which is now proposed. If the sugar |
men will look at this matter carefully |
and all around, it seems reasonable to |
conclude that if their only fear is that |
the bounty will be removed before |
the term of years mentioned in the !
schedule expires, that fear need not |
stand in the way of accepting the |
bill as it comes from the committee |
of ways and means. The people of |
this country for many have |
paid a high tariff on sugar !
in the hope of
fostering the industry and making it !
profitable. So far this has not been |
accomplished, bat strenuous efforts |
are being made to overcome the diff |
culties and demonstrate the possibiII- !
ty of successful and profitable sugar
culture and manufacture in this cOun- |
try. Now comes the ways and means |
committee saying to the sugar grow
ers; We appreciate your difficulty; |
We cannot continue this tariff, il is |
too DurdensOme, but We will pay |
you a bounty for a term of years |
while your experiments are being |
conducted to a definite conclusion. |
1t Is fair and equitable proposition, |
directly IN line with protection prin-
ciples and should be accepted III as
good faith as it is made. The LIGHT |
advocated reduction of sugar duty |
and bounty while the Mills bill was
under discussion ana believes to- |
day that this the real solution of the |
problem. Within ten years the eX-
pertinent will be worked out and it |
will then DO in order to take such |
other steps as the condition Of the
sugar industry and our relations to |
our sugar growing neighbors HAY re- |
Quire.
EAEnEN,S MAGAZLNE for Nov cum-