Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-21
SUGAR PRODUCERS TO PROSE-
CUTE,

Acting upon the advice of ex-senator
George F. Fdmunds, number of the IL
censed maple sugar producers of Yer
mont propose to unite in instituting a
prosecution against the United States
Government for earned bounties on the
crop of 1894 the payment of which has
been refused by the secretary of the
Treasury.
Several claims of licensed producers
have already been placed in the hands of
Harvey Spa.ding & Sons of Washington,
d. c., who will bring suit for the pay
ment of unpaid bOunties before the Unit
ed States Court of claims. Concerning
this subject, ex-senator Edmunds said
to press representative:
"The refusal of the Secretary of the
Treasury to pay the bounty to licensed
producers on the crop of 1894, which was
accepted and tested by the Government,
cannot be justified in law or equity. Ev-
cry cent of bounty due under the McKin-
ley law is collectable, and can be recover
ed in tue United States courts in suits
brought for that purpose. The Vermont
sugar makers should combine to bring
action in the courts to obtain judgment {
in this matter. The licensed sugar max
ers in Vermont for the season of 1894
numbered upwards of 1000.
"These producers made application on
forms prescribed by the department., and
executed their papers and filed the nec-
essary bonds, and they were accepted by
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue,
who duly forwarded licenses on the form
of elaborate engraved certificates to the
sugar makers who had applied for the
bounty.
These licenses authorized the pro =
ducets to have their product weighed
and tested by the Deputy Collector ap-
pointed for that purpose. These Depu-
ties numbered over 100 in this State, in
addition to which force dozen or more
officials were employed for testing sugar
and recording the tLsts made at the Coy
nment laboratory in the Federal Build
ing at Montpelier, from March 1st to May
1st, 1894. Over four and one-half mil
lion pounds of maple sugar produced by
licensed makers was received and under
went the polariscopic test at the labora.
tory.
"Tho sugar makers were reqired to
keep daily record of their production
and to send sworn statements of the
amount made to the Collector of Internal
Revenue at the close of the season. Full
ly 90 per cent. of the sugar product last
season under the Mckinley act parsed
inspection above the so per cent. require
ment, which made about 4 ,0O0,0 ,0CO pounds
entitled to receive the bounty of II cents
a pound. the product of something like
$500 makers.
''Few, if any, checks in payment of the
earned bounty were received by pro-
ducers prior to the passage of the Wilson
bill, under the provision of which Secre-
tary Carlisle seeks to deprive the sugar
makers of the bounty. In many instances
the sugar producers went TO considerable
expense in purchasing new and improved
evaporatOrs and apparatus so as to pro-
duce better quality of sugar, and
which would pass the Government test
and receive the bounty.
'The licensed producers consider the
execution of the papers and their accept
auCe by the Government and the subse-
quent testing of the sugar by Federal Of
ticers in the nature of a contract. They
believe they have just and legal claim
against the government. The amount of
the claims involved exceed $60,OO0."