Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-16
REMOVAL OF THE SUGAR BoUNT


What Congreesnen Hatch, Haxmcr and Hun
Say About II.
Secretary Rusk and party, including Con-
grsssmen Hatch Of Missouri and Hammer and
HUFF Of Pennsylvania, left Jacksonville. Fla,
vest srday for Warrington, on their return from
their inspection Of the drainage operations
Of the Disston Companies. where they have
been guests Of Mr.. Hamilton Disston Of Phila-
dolphin. To q reporter Gen. Hatch, who II
chairman Of the House committee on agricul-
tnre and prominently mentioned in connection
with the Agricultural portfolio in Cleveland's
cabinet. talked very freely on the proposed
tariff legislation Of the democratic party.
especially with reference to sugar.
II feel sure" said he, 'that tho tariff policy
into full possession Of all three branches Of the
government will be q wise aud conservative
one. The people demand tariff reform, and
the democratic party ia pledged to carry out .
policy Of that kind The sugar bounty is bound
to be taken of. There IL no question in my
mind about that It IL distas teful to the
masses Of people and undemocratio. II IL the
worst kind Of class legisation, for it takes money
from the pockets Of many classes Of producers
In order to put it into the pockets Of the sugar
planters and manufacturers So, say, the
sugar bounty seems doomed"
As to the restoration of the duty on sugar
Gen. Hatch said: "When the Cleveland admin
istrstion comes into power ii will, / believe.
find an empty treasury and will be confronted
with the necessity Of raising $500 900 to meet
the expenses of the govern ment during the
next fiscal year. Where is the money to come
from?
I'm my opinion, taking democratic precedent
basis for II, sugar will be called upon TO pay
Its proportional part Of this money in the form
Of tariff tax. To what extent am not pre-
pared right now to say, but 1 can say this
much: The democratic party will restore the
duty on sugar with sole view Of making it pay
a revenue to the government with the least pos
sible burden to the people. Party leaders will
have to look the field over carefully, and in a
general readjustment Of the tariff tax only those
articles which will take the least from the
pockets of the masses. In other words the duty
on sugar will be one for revenue, and it will be
kept down to the lowest possible point con-
sistent with existing conditions. l think we
can trust the democratic party to keep faith with
the people on sugar."
ut looks to me-" said Mr. Disston, .'as if the
Harter bill had been offered in the interest Of
sugar refners wholly. A duty Of l cent per
pound on all grades would enable refners to
import raw sugar probably and still keep the
refined article at a reasonable price to con-
sumers. But 1t would be ruinous to the pro-
ducers In this country"
'In your opinion, MIR. Disston, how low
duty will sugar bear in order to yield good
revenue to the government and at the same
time incidentally protect the sugar producers
IN THIS country
Zone and half cents a pound will do it,
nothing less
DR.. H. W. Wiley, chemist Of the Agricul-
tural Department, said: "a duty Of only half
q cent q pound would be bonanza to the
foreign sugar producers and to the American
sugar trust as well. In my opinion the passage
Of the Harter bill would close up every sugar
mill in the country"
Congressman Harmer thought that the
bounty would be taken of, but that Cleveland
would not sign any bill that did not protect
sugar producers in this country.
Congressman Huff said: Hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars, perhaps millions, have been
invested in sugar growing by men who could
not have done this had there been no bounty
on their product. No, can't bring myself to
believe that the democratic party is going to
legislate for the financial ruin of these men.
The bounty ought to stand for few years at
least. My opinion is that Mr.. Cleveland will
not approve legislation that would bring fnan-
cial ruin upon men who have invested their
capital in American enterprises"