The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-08-07
NO SUGAR BOUNTY.
Argument to Compel the
Comptroller to Issue
Warrants.
RESULT OF M'KINLEY BILh
Sugar Men Interested in the Grab
President Cleveland Wouldn't
Interfere.
Interfere.

WASHINGTON, Aug. z, 1S95.-The ex--
traordinary argument which began I'M
the offices of the Comptroller of the
Treasury today was brought about by
Air. Bowler's refusal to issue a warranE
for about $l2,500 in favor of the Oxna4d
Beet Sugar Company of Nebraska, certt-
fed to the Auditor by the Commits ssioner
OF Internal Revenue and by the Auditor
sent to the Comptroller for his action.
Mr.. Bowler was in Doubt upon looking
into the case. of the constftutionality
Of the appropriation to pay bounty on
the crop of 1894, contained in the new
tariff law. inasufach as the Court of
Appeals of the DISTRICT of Columbia
had decided that bounties themselves
were Unconstitutional. and he notified
the claimants that until he was satis-
fed of the propriety and legality of the
law he should decline to issue the war;
rant and today was fixed for hearing
argument on the question.
This determination of the Comptroller
interested the cane sugar men of Louisi-
ana far more than it did the beet sugar
men of Nebraska, as they had five mill
lions at stake to about a quarter of a
million by the Nebraskans. So Senators
Caffrey and Blanchard and Judge Semmes
son of Nebraska in the effort to satisfy
the Comptroller that the properFthing to
do was to issue the warrants. They
failed to induce either Secretary Carlisle
or President Cleveland to interfere in
behalf of their clients, both these Off
cials asserting that the Comptroller was
supreme in his sphere and beyond any
influence or direction from them.
Among those present in the s5ufy little
office of the Comptroller this morning
were the various gentlemen who were to
take part in the argument. Representa-
tives Myer and Price, of Louisiana; seF-
eral department offieials and outside at
torneys. two Louisiana sugar planters,
and representatives of the press. Ex-
Senator Aanderson was the last of the
interested parties to reach the room, and
as he entered Comptroller Bowler said
he was ready to hear whatever those in
terested had to present.
INVOLVED GREAT INTEREST.
In opening Mr. Manderson said that
he approached the matter in question
with a great degree of reluctance. The
question involved momentous interests,
interests of great promise in the State
of Nebraska-sssHe was satisfied that the
matter would have fair hearing by
Mr.. Bowler, and trusting implicitly in
him he did not despond the final out
come. No case had ever been present.
ed to any tribunal having more equity.
He reviewed the history, of legislation
regarding the bounty, and, referring to-
the Mckinley law, said that under it
the government solemnAy pledged that
if the people would embark in the in
dustry of sugar producing; if they would
OF IN
be paid bounty. The Oxnard COM
pany, for whom he specially appeared.
embarked, after a careful study, and in
good faith. Did they have the right to
rely upon this legislation approved by
the President? If not, what could they
rely upon?
The company had lost money, which
he did not believe would have been the
case had the Mckinley law been kept
upon the statute book.
AN UNRIGHTEOUS REPEAL.
Congress repealed the bounty law, leav-
ing the contract violated, the industry
destroyed, and the investments practt-
cally wiped off the face of the earth
The repeal of this law was unrighteous,
unjust and almost an unlawful exercise
of Congressional powers.
The planters had found themselves
buncoed and had appealed to Congress
for a little justice. All knew the his
tory of the Wilson bin and how it was
finally decided to allow the planters q
small part OF their dues.
"Now we come to you, who in way
holds the purse strings of the Treasury
and say, pay US what you owe US. If
this be denied" said Mr.. Manderson.
misery beyond description would fot-
low
1--WE are here to cry" he continued.
''to construe your powers as Comptroller
of the Treasury, not to limit them or
to strain the statute relative to them-
We do not belive that it is your inten-
tion to enlarge your powers beyond that
given you by the law of 1894. (the Dock
cry Act) we do not believe you are that
makeup of man.
Mr.. Manderson then passed to re-
view of the law regulating the duties OF
the Comptroller. and cited large num-
Der of judicial authorities, reading lonG
abstracts from many of them, defining
the power of courts and persons in
constituting the constitutionality of the