New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-30
MP AJDRICHS DECLARATION

Senator Aldrich has acted wisely III RESENT
Ing and unequivocally denying the insinuatlohs
Of Mr. Timan. While nobody credited them.
/. Is the fact that the sugar schedule by It's
nature. afforded occasion for criticism. MI
Aldrich has deemed II just 10 himself and his
associates on the committee TO state that no
person outside the committee suggested the
schedule or knew anything OF It's nature De-
fore it was presented to the Senate anu
that no one except Senator Jones knew us
nature before 1t was submitted 10y the Kepuo-
lean members to the full committee. The hgh
reputation of Senator Aldrich for honor ana
good faith entities his statement to commence
and it Is gratifying that the Republlcans
of the committee and of the Senate can act on the
subject without regard to the imputatlons whlcn
have been seen in many journals, and when
found expression in the abusive speech of the
Populist from South Carolina.
The question at issue is one which ought 10
be decided without passion or prejudice. The
Tribune suspects that the sugar schedule ought
rot TO be adopted without modification. and that
its substitution Of an ad yalorem for SPECIFIC
duty does injustice to American producers OF
heot SUGAR and confers an excessive benefit
upon the refining interest. Mr.. Aldrich says
we'll as any other is entitled TO consideration.
But his statement in the Senate so completely
overlooked the effect Of the provision imposing
an extra duty, equivalent TO the bounties pald on
exnorts from other countries. as to suggest the
thought that he may have expected the defeat
or omission Of that clause If it We're omitted
and the revocation of the Hawaiian treaty aiso
rho question would stand on very different
footing.
But II is not the purpose at this time to exam
inc in detail the Senator's reasons FOR the sched-
ule proposed The point 10 be first consldered
in Justice TO the Senate and the Republicans OF
the Senate, Is that the four Republican mem
hers of the committee are alone responsible TOT
the proposal, and that it was not dictated 10
them or suggested by any outside interest. III
the light of this statement the schedule ma!
without iniusticc be considered as the proposal
of Senator Aldrich himself, since he Is the mem
bor Of the committee who has for years gwen
especial attention to that subject. III Is uhior'-
nnate for him that his declared Judgment III
1894 regarding an al valorem duty can DE
ouoted against the measure he now faVors' anu
public opinion almost unanimously sustains MS
ornostion 10 such duties. 1t is the right OF every
man TO change his opinion in the presence or
new facts and In the light Of new information,
b,t the Senate and the people will have 10 judge
whether i'm this instance the change has been
warranted.
On one point the evidence is decisively III IA
vor of the Senator and his Republican asso-
cia,es. II is the fact that nothing was known OK
the sugar schedule in the sharpest speculative
circles in Wall Street before lis adoption
There was not as in 1894, Il stock operation 10
excite suspicion The price of Sugar STOCK
was 1887 on Wednesday and Friday. before
the schedule was first submitted TO the Rcpub-
lican members of the committee. and only lli.oo
ON Monday. after 1t had been adopted by the
committed though It rose rapidly the next day,
when the bill was publicly submitted 10 the Sen
ate Throughout tho labors Of the Republican
members Of the committee their counsel has
been so private and their secrets so well kept
that no opportunity was given for scandalous OPP
eratiOns based on their action and for that
fact the Republican majority owes them credit,
though II may dissent from some Of their con
cllisOnS.