Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-30
OUR URSUCARCHAMPION
Hon. James O'Donnsl, Father Of
the Sugar Clause.
TELLSHOW TIE MEASURE SUCCEEDED
The Mill Was introduced by Him In z
Democratic Cons ress In 1856 AID Was
Buried ia 4 Commits ttee-hesorrssted
aad Made . Law by Republicans

tercay, was his colleague and warm
personal friend. Hon. James y Donneil,
Of Jackson.
al came up to attend the funeral OF
my friend Mr.. Ford" ne remarked 20 q
friend that day. "H was q favorite
when At Washington and won the es-
TEEN and admiration OF all, without
regard to party. ] desired 20 pay my
last tribute to his worth as q man by
attending his funeral" Mr.. oDonneil
spoke of the evidences OF thrift and
prosperity he noticed on every hand IN
Grand Rapids, when has attention was
called 10 the sugar question. Upon
this subject he Is enthusiastic ana
earnes. and the people OF Michigan and
the whole country are indebted 10 his
persistent efforts for the present low
price of that great staple Of the house
hold, sugar.
"When was this sugar question first
raised by you Mr.. O'Donneliy' he MAS
asked by the TELEGRAM-HERALD.
"On Saturday, March 20, 1886. The
House had under consideration \ bail
for the free coinage of silver and for
other purposes. 1t struck me as being
an opportune time TO lay before the
House the result of my researches and
inquiries into the sugar question and
securing recognition from the speaker.
gave the House a history OF sugar,
quoting a mass of Official figures. Pre-
vious to this speech and on the 9TH day
of January, 1886. | think, offered a
bill To repeal the duty on sugar and
provide for the payment of a bounty
for the cultivation of sugar in this
country.
The Bill Wont into q Trance.
The bill was read twice, referred TO
the committee on ways and means,
and there, after being printed, 1t slept
until | called it forth. In that speech
/ said wished some gentleman would
move an amendment to make the
bounty or cents per pound for raw
sugar. and extend the Dement'S for .
period of five or even ten years, in
order to encourage capitalists to make
investments, thereby giving them con-
fidence of " practical protection, which
would lead TO establishments of large
magnitude. In few years they would
be independent of the sugar growers of
the world, thereby giving us the great
y
on American soil.
NV object in introducing the bill was
to carry out, if possible, the recommen-
dations of the President of the United
States. You will remember in his first
message to that Congress ne alluded TO
the reduction of taxation. In that doc
ument he made the osiservation that
| the reduction should be made IN the
revenue derived from tax upon the
| imported necessaries Of life. We thus
| directly lessen the cost of living IN
every family Of the land, and release
tn the people in every humble home
| larger measure OF the rewards OF frugal
| industry.
He Called 1t Forth to Life.
back to its comparative oblivion. and
the House, then Democratic, being un-
friendly to reduction of taxation in that
direction, it was allowed to slumber
without interference or interruption.
"How was il again reviyedg'
GAS soon as Republican majority
was secured in Congress and the Ways
and Means Committee began considers
ton OF the now famous Mckinley bill I
pressed the sugar schedule upon their
| ton to allow the matter to 90 by the
board and make such slight changes as
| not to affect, materially, the old sched-
ule. appeared before the committee
several times, conferred with the chair
man, reasoned with and convinced the
members and the bounty clause was
finally incorporated. This was crafty
| ing. but It did not end the contest. On
1 Il
I Reed" and the Congressman's eyes
! twinkled mschieviously, 1.-The House
! having under debate the Mckinley bill,
and then spoke a. deeply and earnest
| ly rs / kew how, in favor of the pvss-
age of the bill ne a whole, but confined
myself largely to the sugar schedule.
Relief for the People.
said to the House that by the pass-
age of section 721 (the sugar
clause) of that bill they would
| relieye our people of tax of
! $50, 900 900 per year on an article neces-
.ary IN every household. Our people
consume 1000 ,O0o. 900 pounds of sugar
every year, or 81 pounds for each in
/ habitant: this costs the colossal sum of
| s2l0, 900 900 per year. I'll. necessity
| of life in universal use. Each person
pays $3.50 for sugar per annum, while
il u estimated that in the came length
of time the individual will consume .
barrel Of -four. which costs about $3.50.
| also said that with this bill we
would emerge from stsguatlon and in
/ dustrisl inactivity. We would see new
vitality IN ali branches OF trade. fol-
lowed by wealth and happiness. That
prophecy is DOW fully realized. for IN
every branch of business we
feel quickcned impetus Such
/ laws are benehcent--tney cal only
make sli the people prosperous, Undue
/ trlous sud happy. The possibilities OF
| our country are illimItable; and urged
TIC House TO aid them with advanced
| ideas and more energetic civilization.
| The bill, sugar clause and sIl, passed
and has become 4 law. snd | am very
glad that had a humble part in -
conception and passage"
n. Esecs AIr.sdy Apparent
What do you think vii be the per
1 rnanen; effect OF the biiT
"Thsts wholly coniectursl" was the
reply "But the people sre already
+ approaching the difference IN the cost
4 Of tins necessity.
The removal Of the sugar tar d sposes
( If the srestest harden the common
{ people 81 this country have bsen re-
/ suired ~ endure II g nov the duty
/ OF the people % see that sugsr remains
cheap. II can re kert down oaiy re
vigiiant vaschfulress on fhe part II TIE
1 government sna the hearty support of
/ fhe People Crest Efforts -ili be rnsee