The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-09-15
THE SUGAR TAX.
Why tho Republicans Stick So Closely "a
the Mckinley Dill.

Why tho Republicans Stick So Closely 70
the Mckinley Dill.
It is obvious that the nlluring shib.
boleth. "a free breakfast table," is the
influencing cause of much of the Oppo.
sitioi to the sugar tax in the pending
tariff bill. There is Il fascination in
the idea that the essential elements OF
the poor mans matutinal meal shall
be exempt from all elements that might
add to its cost. and there is a more or
less widely diffused delusion that un-
der the present law sugar is free from
taxation. But. as a matter of fact. it
is taxed to an extent without parallel.
The two cents Il pound bounty to tho
growers of raw sugar and the five
tcntlis of Il cent tariff on all the prod
hcts of the sugar trust combine to
create an enormous levy. and. though
it Is collected on the clothing and
blankets Of the people, and is present.
ed bodily to the beheflciarics. does not
in tho least degree alter the facts in
the case. 1t is a tax just che same, and
tax that is criminal because it is an
unconstitutional robbery.
The plain truth of the matter is that
because of republican profllgacy and
the incfficiency of the Mckinley bill
as Il revenue law. the country is con-
fronted by an impending treasury de-
icicncy. To avoid such a calamity it
is necessary to discover new sources of
revenue. With that idea in view, tho
pending bill provides for withdrawing
the unconstitutional gratuity to tho
sugar growers and the sugar trust and
divert an equal amount Of the money
that is taken from the pockets OF the
people into the treasury. The bounty
to the sugar growers will amount this
year to about S25, 100000. The PRO
tection'' to the trust is S2O,OO0,O 900,
making a total of $45, 200, 600 of taxa
ton on sugar, comparatively little OF
which goes into the treasury. The
pending bill will draw about an equal
amount from the people, but every
cent of it except that which goes for
expenses of collection will go into the
treasury and be available for the ordi-
nary expenses of the government. re-
lieving the people of taxes on other
necessaries to that amount.
We would be glad If it were possible
to secure this reform in the revenue
system without affordinE protection
to the sugar trust, but the de nlocratic
ma ority in the senate is SO meager
that the detection of a single vote
would put the whole measure in jeop-
ardy. The sugar trust, like all other
trusts, is obnoxious to the demOcrl tic
party, and any legislation that would
destroy it would be welcome to the
democratic people. But according to
the best information attainable it is
not possible to accomplish this result
One or two senators who hold title to
their seats through democratic suf-
frage declare their intentions to bolt
unless the odious concessions are made
to them. The consequence would be
the continuance of the Mckinley bill,
which is what the sugar trust and the
republican party desires. The late
Gov. Moses once said, by way OF en-
couragcment to his carpet-bag asso-
ciates in the south: There are a
couple OF years good stealing in the
.soutl, yet 1t is an analogous senti-
ment that influences the repub lcans to
adhere to the Mckinley bill with
such marvellous tenacity.-Kansas City