New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-06-06
INFAMY PREVAILS.

The Sugar Trust has the support OF every
Democratic Senator, except Mcssrs. Hill and
Irbv. in getting everything II has demanded.
If it bought votes the votes have been deiv-
cred If 1t enabled sundry Senators TO make
profits in speculation without risk 10 them
selves. they have paid il by voting TO bestow
upon it a gift Of S34. 100000 According to the
calculations Of Senator Adrich. If it bought
the Democratic party at wholesale, by its con-
tributions TO the campaign fund in 1892 the
Democratic Administration and Senators have
delivered everything they were asked to de-
liver. Amendments for the benefit of sugar
growers were voted down by Democratic Sen
ators from sugar-growing States. Amendments
TO lessen the plumber of consumers by the sugar
refining monopoly were voted down by every
Democrat who voted at all. Finally. and worst
of ALL the amendment which would have saved
the Treasury from losing seyen-eighths OF the
sum taken from consumers profcSscdly for the
needs of Government was voted down in the
same way, only one Democratic Senator OPP
posing the grant TO the Sugar Trust Of power
10 pocket S35OOO000 out of about S4O,oooOOO
expected to be paid by consumers.
1t will be held in the future, when the doings
Of this Congress come to he calmly and dspas
corrupt act Of which either house Of Congress
has ever been guilty is this passage Of a sched
ule dictated by the sugarrciining monopoly
Assuredly some Of the men who thus openly
sacrificed thc interests Of their constituents 10
the demands Of the Trust must have had the
most powerful motives for action politically so
fatal Nor are these the opinions held by po-
litical opponents only. II IS only day or two
RI, obi 1o-
clared that nothing less than the defeat of every
item for which the monopoly could be sup
posed 10 have paid would free the Senate from
the faint Of corruption. What the most zeal
Gus supporters Of the pending Tariff bill are
Indignantly declaring 1t Is only TOO clear VIII
be thoroughly believed by the dispassonate and
fair-minded men Of both parties. There has
never been more infamous vote than this, and
its cynical and insolent contempt OF public
opinion Is all the more offensive because the
Democratic majority FASTENED 10 record It's IN
decent votes while a committee chosen on be
half of that majority was engaged In invcSt-
eating the charges of barter and corruption In
regard 10 this very matter II Senators had
known that their sin and shame would be OK
posed, they could not have been more in haste
to snatch the price.
The open and direct charge by Senator Chand-
Ter that Senators had been specializing I'm Sugar
stock cannot be lightly passed. Neither can
the demand by Senator Plat, that certain Sen
ators should be called before the Investigating
Committee and required to divulge what infi'i-
ence changed again and again the form OF the
sugar schedule, always TO the greater advan-
tage Of the monopoly. When Senator AL
| drich bluntly asserted that the schedule was
dictated by the Trust, and that nobody knew
this better than Mr. Vest himself" lie was
quickly supported by the words OF Mr.. Vest,
which were quoted by Mr.. Plat, namely that
the changes had "bcen forced upon the commit
! tee" The country has a right to know by whom
! these changes were so forced" 1t has n right
10 believe, If Senator's will not TELL that the mo
| tivcs successfully used were such that Senators
dare not tell. Further IL has every reason TO
| believe that each and every Democratic Senator
| who refuses 10 insist upon a straight and full
answer to such an inquiry desires 10 cover mp
| an infamy which, If disclosed, he knows would
be damning to his party. Before the final vote
| is taken in the Senate on this schedule, these
! questions must be asked and answered. or the
! Democratic party will convict itself Of the most
shameless corruption ever known in the history
! Of the American Congress.