The morning times., 1895-08-12
WILLIAM LAWRENCE.
Bellefoutaine, Ohio, August 7 $50.
Judge Lawrence is an cx-First Comp.
tro.lcr OF the Treasury ED

Editor Times: The hearing before Comp
troiier Bowler on tie sugar bounty question
was certainly a remarkable ard most un-
usual proceeding. The question at isF ue
was the construction of The act Of Congress
appropriaung So ,UGO 900, claimed bysugar
producers upon the crop of 1894, manu-
factured after the repeal of the Mckinley
law. The greater Part Of this anCunt is
claimed by the sugar nenOf Louisiana. TIE
parties who appeared on behalf of the
claimants were: Ex-senator AaEderson, OF
Nebraska; Senators Blanchard ard Caffrey,
and Judge Thomas ] SCmmes, OF Louis
lana. Mcssrs. Price aid Meyer, RopreFen-
tatives in tie House from Louisiana, were
also present.
when tae legislative branch OF the gov
crnmeut allows its appropriate department
To invade the executive department OF the
government it requires strong reasons to
condoue the offenSe. Are tAe Louisiana
Senators and Representatives i'll Congress
here to intinliGate aud coerce the Comp
trollcr into paying this vast sum of money,
which he does not consider that he has the
right and power TO do uEder ais oath of
office? To say the very least it does not seem
fit ard appropriate for honorable Sena-
tors to appear ass attorneys before the
executive departments Of the government
and with arguments ard threats demand
the delivery to claimants OF S5,CCO,0C0
under statute lObbed thrOuga Congress
by a narrow majority, OF five votes, and
which is doubtful validity and upon alleged
accounts aud statements wholly ex-parte.
If the people were interested in this mat
ter, Congressman might have some excuse
for appearing as clain-agents and attorneys
to further deRete the public treasury of
So 900 600, but since that SUM is claimed
by only few individuals residing almost
wholly in single STATE, their conduct is
unwarrantcd.
Theattorneys forthe claimants made argu
nlentS To show hattkis appropriation was
for a public purpose" but, feeling that
theywere weakinthat contention, theywere
driven to the untcnable position that even
II it was a glft-a gratuity, Congress was
warranted In ma king such an appropriation.
Congress may vote donations for charitable
purposes and objects Of humanity, and has
done so in numerous cases, but no suca
reasons can be set up in behalf of the
sugar bounty beggars. There was no
public purpose in this appropriation
II is not an act for the common defense or
the general welfare It Is the most odioUs
of class legislation, appropriating public
funds out OF the general treasury for the
sole benefit OF a few individuals. 1t is
little short OF public robbery, and II
Comptroller Bowler can find authority for
Withholding pay.nent he will place the
country ryunderobigationst to him forso doing
If these claimants have legal claims the
courts are open to them; let them go there
like other Htgants, and when Judgments
are formed upon proper evidence it Will
be time for Congress to appropriate for
their payment congressman as claim
agents must notinvade co-ordinateb branches
of the government to dcplete the treasury.
II is both unwarFanted and indecent.
A BOWLER FOLLOWER.