The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-20

Sugar Trust. II proposes a duty of 40 per
cent. ad valorem on all grades OF sugar. a
dinerential OF Is cent upon refined sugar,
sugar imported from countries that pay an
export bounty upon their sugar.
DIVIDED AS TO SUGAR.
There Is reasonable ground for difference
Of opinion among Democrats as to whether
any duty upon sugar should be placed in
our tariff bill or not. 1t has always been
contended by those who have been leaders
in the great tariff reform movements in
this country that of all articles yielding
large revenue sugar was the one article
upon which an ideal Democratic revenue
tariff could be placed. There would be sub
stantial agreement, 1 think. wioh that po-
sition to-day in the Democratic
party. except for the fact that
trainers of the Mckinley bill. in their
zeal, cut off taxation, the larger part of
which went into the public treasury, In
order that they might increase taxes, the
large part of which went into the pockets
of their beneficiaries Ooud applause on the
Democratic side, placed sugar upon the
free list gave half cent, or six-tenths of
cent in the case of sugar imported from
bounty-paying countries, protection on re-
fined sugar and provided bounty 10 the
producers of sugar in this country. BY
this action the people have had taste
OF untaXed sugar, and IL Is difficult for US
10 get back TO the position originally occu-
pied by the Democratic party. daughter
the Republican side) 1t is our hope
that we shall give them, If we succeed in
passing any sort OF wise and proper
tariff reform bill, a taste OF so many other
ocratic side that protection can never raise
its head again in tins country tkenewed
applause on the Democratic Side.)
at is not possible, Mr.. Speaker, for any
one to state accurately on the proposed
sugar schedule of the Senate what would
be the amount of duty upon refined sugar
great refining company OF this country. Al
though / had not fully reached that con-
clusion when the House bill was prepared,
i have no doubt mysel-. to-day, that the
business of sugar refining be carried
and other country in the world Qoud
applause on the Democratic side, and
have not the slightest doubt, although sin
cere tariff reformers differ with US on
that point, that any differential whatever
upon refined sugar is simply so much boun-
~ provided for the great monopoly of re-
filming sugar in this country. loud APP
plause on the Democratic side) If. there
fore, the House .conferees were prepaid to
agree upon some revenue taxation for sugar
they could not, without the mandate OF
this House, accept such 9 provision as that nat
which is offered in the Senate bill. Cloud
applause on the Democratic sideJ
"If il be true, as stated by the gentle
man from Ohio (Air. Johnson OF which
have seen myself some affirmations In the
press; if it be true that the great American
Sugar Trust has grown strong and pow
erful that 1t says that no tariff bill can be
its interests are not adequately guarded;
If, L say, that be true, / hope this House
VIII never consent 10 adJournment- VIeal
cheering on the Democratic side) L hope,
whatever the fate of the general tariff bill
is, that this House will not consent to an
adjournment until 1t has passed single
bill putting refined sugar on the free list
CRenewed cheers on the Democratic side)
A BURNING QUESTION.
"Mr Speaker, 1 shall not detain this
House with any argument on the other
points of dispute between the two houses
1 have, perhaps. almost beyond the limits
Of proper repetition, gone over, from time
TO time. the arguments in favor of a re-
lease of the great materials of industry
from taxation under any bill that may be
passed by Congress. will simply, there
fore, In closing, call attention to the posi-
ton in which we find ourselves to-day with
reference to tariff taxation. This great
question of tariff reform has been the
burning, dividing question of American
politics for the last three presidential cam
paigns. The American people have three
times voted for the present occupant of the
White House on the great issue or tar1f
reform. When. in 1888. we were defeated by
a narrow margin before the people of this
country, there is not a Democrat in all this
land who did not feel on the morning after
the election as enthusiastic and
termined to press forward in that fight as
he did when the hope of victory was with
him the day before. applause on the
determination; Ii was because of that grow
ing enthusiasm; it was because we felt the
spirit and the thrill of the spirit of Ameri-
can liberty melting us; II was because we
felt the Indictment of a great moral pur-
pose which multiplies men by ten, that we
took up this cause in 1883 and fought for it
in 1890 and prevailed in 1892. applause on
the Democratic Side.)
The American people have given US the
responsibility 1t remains to be seen wheth-
er we also have the power to fulfill their
mandate. The bill which passed the House
was not only approved, prepared and voted
for by those who are the Immediately
chosen servants of the taxpayers of the
country. but it has been officially Endorsed
by the President, who was chosen by them
to carry out this great reform of the tariff
applause on the Democratic side.) Thus
every part of the machinery of the United
States government to-day deriving the au
thOrity from the direct vote of the Ameri-
can people has Endorsed the scheme of
tariff reform proposed here and carried
through this House No man ir this cOun-
try has been more interested in the prog
ress and successful termination of this
great movement than the man whom the
people selected to lead them in this great
campaign. Applause on the Democratic
side) So far IL within his power,
| believe he has never spoken an uncertain
word TO his position on this question.
While the necessity OF his position has
compelled him. matter of courtesy to
the two branches of Congress. TO remain
perfectly quiet during the tendency of
these bills. he has felt il to be his duty to
let the people this country know ex-
actly what his position Is to-day. AMI Just
as we were entering on the great work of
comforting between the two houses, / had
the honor TO receive from him long per-
sonal letter. which with his consent, OBJ
tanned this morning. / will now send to the
Clerks desk to be given to the people of
this country. Great applause on the DEM
ocratic side)
The reading of the Presidents letter
which is printed elsewhere, was frequently
interrupted by enthusiastic cheers and
housekeeping on the Democratic side.
Ex-Speaker Reeds Speech.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
letter Mr.. Reed, the leader of the minority
arose For almost a minute the cheers and
shouts of his political colleagues rang
cut. II take 1t for granted, Mr.. Speaker"
he began. that the gentleman to whom the
letter was addressed to which we have just
listened has observed all the prophecies
which gentlemen ordinarily observe with
regard to their correspondence. and that
letter which is marked personal having
been addressed to him, he has not been
guilty IN any way of making ii public in
this fashion without the express consent
of the author Hence we have here to-day
the somewhat remarkable spectacle OF
message by the President of the United
| States 10 the House of Representatives
| through his faithful committee on ways
| and means. This seems TO be a just re-
! cipTocal action on his part, for the House