The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-11-15
Representatives of Sugar Producing
Districts Will Do Their Utmost to
Retain the Bounty.
NJ CONCERNING BYNUM
The "GrasS- Burner May Retire
from Congress Next Year.
General Palmer Reported to Be Willing
to Assist Senator Voorhees, i'm Flay-
ing HOke Smith.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14-OHe OF the
liveliest fights for principles the country
has seen for many years will be witnessed
when the new tariff bill comes before the
House. 1t is the intention of the majority
Of the committee on ways and means to
abolish the feature of the Mckinley tariff
law which pays a. bounty of 2 cents a pound
TO the sugar-growers Of this country. 1t
Will be proven by record testimony that
this act will be worse than robbery. Since
the Mckinley tariff law went into effect
several millions of dollars have been in
vested in sugar mills in Nebraska, Cali
fornia, Utah and a number of other sec
tons Of the country. The farmers about
those sugar mills have purchased nipple
ments with which to plant sugar beet seed
and harvest the product. A great army of
men and women have been educated in the
culture of sugar beets and their manu-
facture into sugar. All of this invest
ment and study has been upon the promise
of the law and the pledge of Congress and
the administration of the government that
this encouragement in the production of
beet sugar would be maintained, as it has
been for many years in France and Ger
many and is there at present maintained,
until the industry in this country had Sc
cured a sufficient footing TO enable it to
stand alone.
From Louisiana come statements
through her Representatives in Congress
that enormous OUTLAWS cave been made by
the cane sugar producers of that State
under the promises made in the bounty
law. Old and rundown cane sugar planta-
tons have been carefully gone over by
skilled repairerS OF worn out soil and car
penters and lnachinists, who have put the
plantations in fine condition of productive
ness, While the buildings and machinery
are in good repair. 1t is stated that not
one-fourth Of the expenditures in any of
the sugar-producing States, made since the
Mckinney law went into effect, have been
returned to the investors by profits and
bounty.
The great bulk of sugar which comes to
the United States under free trade or a
duty is produced III the Sandwich islands,
where cooley labor can be had for one
fourth the, amount which our producers
must pay labor. This is the secret of the
opposition of Claus Spreckels to the an
nexation Of the Sandwich Islands TO the
sUnited States. Under our alien laws he
would not be permitted TO work his thou
sands of Cinnamon and Malays upon his
far-off sugar plantations. Claus Spreckels
frankly admits that he can make more
profit in working cooley laborerS on the
Sandwich Islands than he could from the
present sugar bounty If he had to hire
American laborers.
Able stateSmen-not alone from the Re-
publican party-win show when the tariff bill
comes before the House that all Of these
preparations for the production of beet and
cane sugar in the United States were made
not only with the understanding that the
present bounty should be retained until the
OUTLAWS were returned and the industry had
secured sufficient footing to compete with
European producers, but with the distinct
promise IN law. The record will be pro-
duced showing that this promise was made
Dy members or the committees IN Congress
and those who spoke upon the floor when
the subject was under discussion. The law
itself, which induced the great investments
and preparations. is regarded as sufficient
promise TO hold the government to its con-
tract.
The Associated Press reporter says the new
Democratic tariff bill will probably be made
public at a much earlier date than has gen.
orally been anticipated. The notes of ap-
the late election have warned the reSolute
tariff refOrmerS OF the party that the
chances of party success and discipline de-
filming a policy and all haste consistent with
deliberation is being made by the Demo-
cratic members to complete the bin and
give 1t to the country. 1t is already def
nitely settled that the committee will not
walt for the approval of a caucus before
presenting the measure TO the people. While
some of the Democratic members of the
think that the bill might be
strengthened in the House by first gaining
the approval of the party caucus. the ma
jority feel that the submission of the bill
to caucus would only lead to interminable
wrangling and possibly create a party dis
sension which might seriously embarrass
the measure in its consideration later in the
House. Besides the Democratic leaders con-
tend that the party has sufficient confidence
liz its members OF the WAYS and means COM
mittee to be quite willing to accept as sat
isfactory the bill prepared by them after
so many weeks of elaboration and that the
report accompanying it will be OF a char
acter strong enough to silence any fastid-
ious criticism within the party. While Mr.
Bland. Mr.. Culberson and others have
openly announced their intention of oppos-
ing the free wool schedule on the floor OF
the House. they have apparently abandoned
any hope OF securing q party caucus on the
tariff bill, previous to its Introduction.