The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-02-05
MAPLE SUGAR BOUNTY.


Gen. Grout is receiving hundreds of
letters from the farmers of Vermont in
relation to the latS decision of
of the attorney general that the
maple sugar bounty does not begin to
accrue until July L.
To Burlington Free Pressrepresenta-
tive he said: 1.-The farmers are very
much puzzled, and their interest is not
to be wondered at, for there is money in
it. But when the regulations are issued
all will be made plain. The attorney
generals opinion denying bounty to
maple sugar next spring will cause a
great disappointment to the farmers Of
our State who have been led by the rul-
ing of Commissioner Mason to expect it.
On the strength of that ruling lalge mum
bers have contracted debts for the outfit
requisite to an increased production next
spring relying upon the promised bounty
to help in payment. Besides this special
embarrassment in some cases. it will
make total difference of at lor1t quar-
ter Of million dollars to the sugar
makers of Vermont next spring, quite a
snug little sum, and which they really
ought to have for the reason that the
free sugar clause takes effect April l.,
1891. Now this is what the maple sugar
men tried to secure from the committee
on conference but at the time understood
that they had not succeeded"
Commissioner Mason's ruling must
have been surprise to you?'
at was, of course, but was glad of
| it, for it promised to give just what we
had failed to get from the conference
committee, though | must confess
feared from the first that it would not
bring the bounty next spring. A bounty
on next springs crop would make ncces-
sary an item in the deficiency bill for the
present fiscal year, to pay the inspectors
for the work of inspecting and weighing
it, and what feared was that should the
committee on appropriations be persuad
ed to provide for it, when the matter
came up in the House the members OF
the conference committee would antago
nize it on the ground that it it was moi
the intention of the law to pay bounty
on sugar produced before July |, 1891
and very likely turn the item for an APP
preparation into a clause constituting thS
law to that effect"
"You think the view taken by the at
torney general correct?'
81 have no doubt it is the sound lega
view thought have not seen the opinion
The misfortune about this business il
that the commissioner should have beei
hurried to u conclusion by the impOrtu
nifty OF the people before lie had time t.
look the matter through in all its bear
ings."
"Do you know when the regulations
relating for the production of sugar vii
be promulgated?'
"Soon after April first, when the Law
takes effect There is really no law Oi
the subject till then. We know what i
will be then but in the meantime it is il
allegiance. | think the commissions
saw this after his ruling and that h
, could not accept legal bond or issue
, legal license under the act, before Apri
, /, as he had contemplated doing tina
producers might have the bounty on al
made after April /; since to be entitlc,
to the bounty the sugar must be pro
duced under n license"
DO you know anything of the charaC
ter of the regulations to be issucd?'
81 have seen draft of them and ca
! say they are of liberal character; and
/, believe Commissioner Mason will admin
, lister the law in a liberal way with as fe,
, technical requirements and as little re-
! tape us possible. know he expects tina
all maple sugar will receive bounty an
, can say that the regulations will be sue
that small producers can form cO-part
nership and present their product in tn
, required quantity for bounty"