The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1893-06-02

A Bounty to the Rich.
Governor Hogg, Of Texas. has per-
formed genuine service 10 the coun-
trv bv yctoing an act OF tho Texas leg.
isiaturc 10 enable that state TO accept
the bounty on the sugar made by her
convicts. Tho state has plantation OF
about 1000 acres on which convicts not
otherwise utilized raise cotton, sugar,
etc, the sugar product being sufficient
to entitle the state to bounty OF
about $4,000. The legislature hes
twice passed . law providing for the
acceptance of the bounty, snL In this,
his second veto, the governor discusses
the question at length. Lie nrs-&eAse
the position that the act OF Congress
granting the bounty is an usurpation OF
power, and that the acceptance or 1t
would make the state an accessory to
tn, crimo. He then points out that the
sugar raisers are no more entitled to
bounty than any other agriculturalists.
aud 10 this connection he makes . very
strong showing on one point that 10 not
generally understood-the Infant in
dustry" phrase OF sugar planting. 1t 10
las follows:
Tho authority OF Texas TO take this
money from the federal treasury demon
strates the evil Of the paternal system
into which our general government 10
drifting. 1t strongly supports tho sus-
|picion that none but those who are able
to help themselves need apply. Texas
needs no assistance In farming. Sugar.
|raisers, as q rule, are the wealthiest
planters. There are no poor ones en-
gagged In the business in this state.
NJ ost of them are vevy rich, In every re-
spect beyond the necessity OF govern
|ment aid The states farm OF 1900
acres, on which she makes sugar and
cotton, Ia worth less than many Of those
|belon sing to individuals near by, and Il
valued at S245,256 After deductiDg
expenses Of maintenance and operation
last year, without any bounty, the crop
yielded the state, according to the re-
port Of the financial agent, net profit
|of S6l.976. The report OF the superin-
tendent Of pentientiaries shows that for
the period Of The past six years the crops
have yielded the aggregate net SUN
of &228,96S. When the low prices dur
ing this period are considered in connec.
|tiOn with the further fact that the farm
lie worked by such convicts % are unfit
for use within the walls and cannot be
hired out, then some idea may be had
|of the profits Of the sugar business op.
|erated on large scale. II the congress-
was considering the general welfare oi
the United States, when II rallied to the
aid Of the rich planters engaged in the
profitable industry. In the best0wal on
them Of this liberal bounty, Il may Be
|pertinentIy asked: How far does the
|government stand committed BY this
precedent to assist those following Less
pursuits when they shal
call for help2 To the needy aims should
lgo. This is the rule Of charity. II fol.
lowed to its logical result where viii
this precedent end ?"
The sugar bounty was allowed on {
claim that It was absolutely impossible
10 raise sugar In this country Ia compe
tition with more tropical hands, and tina
as men had been induced to make large
Investments In the business under th'
tariff 1t would be unjust to remove th'
tariff without giving them aome com
pensation. On the governors statemcn
this plea is AZ rank fraud a. any made
in behalf Of the other tariff robberies
II is almost az bad as the other feature
Of the sugar tariff, under tho Mckinley
bill, which secures TO the sugar trust
greater profit than Il had before, by plac
ing duty on refined sugar. Obviousl,
tho sugar bounty ought to 60. Their
would probably be an advantage Il
placing on sugar . small tax for revenu
|purp0ses, but there certainly should b
mono for the protection Of the industry
Ind. Sentinel.