The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-12-20
MR.. HATCH TALKS.
A CONSTITUTION REPRESENTATIVE
SAWHIM IN JACKSONVILLE
And he Outlines Democratic PO!icy-He Says
the Party IL Not Free Trade Party Some
Figures the Sugar Question.

Jacksonville, Fla, December 16.-(Spe-
cial )-Congressma Hatch of Missouri
chairman of the house agricultural commit
tee, and Congressman Harmer and Hull,
of Pennsylvania, passed through here today
on their way to Washington, having been
the guests of Mr.. Hamilton DisstOn In Flor
ida for the past seven days.
To a Constitution correspondent MI.
Hatch said Il feel sure that the tariff poll
cy of the democratic party, when it shall
come into full possession of the three
branches of the government, will be wise
and conservative one. The people demand
tariff reform and the democratic party Is
pledged to carry out policy OF the kind.
Nv hat will it do with the sugar bounty,
general, and what about restoring the duty
on sugar.!
II am not prepared to say just what it
will do for the plans of the party decided
al th not ao as yet clearly defined l. as
islation. But can say this much. The SUI
gar bounty is bound to be taken off; there is
no question in my mind about that. 1t is
diSiaSte1ul to the masses of the people and
it is the worst kind of class legislation, for
1T takes money from the pockets of the
many classes of producers in order to put
1t III the pockets of the sugar planters and
manufacturers. SO l say the sugar bounty
seems doomed"
free, when it would be practically by the
repeal OF the bounty?'
NO, L hardly think so; the democratic
party Is not committed TO free trade no
matter how much its enemies make charges
to that effect. Its history for nearly fifty
years-ever since the Walker tariff in the
late fortes-has been that of an advocate
OF revenue tariff. As you well know SUI
gar has always been one of the articles
Which mas yielded Immense revenue 10 the
ton. In the distribution of the tariff taxes
the democratic party has always regarded
sugar as an article which would easily
bear certain degree of taxation 1t is not
exactly an article of prime necessity so to
speak, but it certainly is one of
general and almost universal use:
so in its policy of making the
luxuries of life bear the taxes, the demo-
Gratis have always favored a low tariff on
sugar. still high enough TO yield Il large
revenue for meeting the expenses of the gen
eral government. Still the Mckinley law
swept away at n stroke of the pen the I'M
port duties on all sugar below the grade OF
16-Dutch standard. Prior to the passage
of the bill, sugar yielded the government
tariff revenue of $50, 100000. Under the
Mckinley law it has not brought over
$500, 900 into the treasury, a falling Oil OF
$60,OOO,OOO in the government revenues.
The sugar bounty paid out OF the pubic
treasury amountd to $SUOOOUO laSt year,
and $10OO000O this year.
80 the government has not only
derived no benefit from sugar,
but has gone down 91Iao oom n'o D III ~
pocket to the extent of $o.OOO,OOo. to pay
the bounty.
Now. When the Cleveland administration
comes into power it win find an empty
treasury and will be confronted with the
necessity of raising S0O0,OUW,OOo 10 meet
the expenses of the government during tue
fiscal year Where is this money to come
from? In my opinion, taking democratic
precedent as a basis for 1t, sugar VIII De
called upon to pay its proportlonate part
of the money in the form of tariff tax; to
what extent I'm not prepared now to say.
congressman Harer, of ONO. 1t was
suggested has introduced bill which
repeats the bounty act and restores the
duty on sugar to IL cent per pound. DO
you think that this bill will be likely to
find favor with the democratic majority IN
congressW
Il have not read the bill" replied Mr.
Hatch ut was introduced after we left
Washington / think. but | can say this
much-the democratic party will restore
ing it pay a revenue to the government
with the least possible burden to the pco
pie The party leaders will have to look
the field over carefully and in the general
readjustmen- of the tariff make those art
icles bear the heaviest tax, which will
take the least from the pockets of the
masses. The duty on sugar viii be one
for revenue and will be kept down to the
lowest possible point consistent with the
existing conditions. ] think we can trust
the democratic party to keep faith with the
people on sugar"
When in want of a good linimcnt buy Sal