The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-05
SPEECH BY S. D. M'ENERY
LOUISIANA SENATOR EXPLAINS HIS
POSITION ON THE TARIFF.
A Democrats Reasons for FavorinG
PrOtcctiOn-The Sugar Schedule and
Efforts of the Trust.

NEW ORLEANS, Aug. 4-The Choctaw
Club and the Democracy rendered Senator
). ID. McEnery a reception at the Grand
Opera House tonight under the presidency
OF Hon W. A. Kernaghan, to indorse his
course in Congress. The principal feature
OF the evening was lengthy speech by
Senator McEnery explaining his tariff po-
sition. He gave the history of the tariff
agitation and showed that no support of
free trade had ever been given by the
Democratic party or Democratic leaders,
the tariff for revenue only in Democratic
platfroms meaning incidental protection.
The Democrats VINO opposed the Dingley
tariff bill in Congress were mostly all in
favor of protecting some local interest, and
there were other interests besides local ones
which hopelessly divided the Democratic
members. The very interest they desired
to protect would have been hopelessiy in
jured by the defeat of the bill and he did
not intend to take any such chances. Nor
was he willing to ask for Louisiana what
he would not grant to other States. The
South is undergoing an industrial revolu-
ton and the manufacturing, agricultural
and mining interests sprnging up need pro-
lection. Opposition TO former tariffs came
because the South was exclusively agricul-
tural and depended on slave labor. 1t was
sectional opposition. Slavery has gone.
The sections greatness must spring from
the addition OF mining and manufacturing
wealth. He willingly gave up hope and ex-
pectation of future preferment to follow
line of action which he thought would
bring prosperity to Louisiana. Senator Nc
Emery concluded as follows:
Now, q few words about the Sugar
Trust great and powarful oorDor.a ffon
whose power ought to be curtailed and
whose influence in the politics of the coun-
try should be lessened. This is an admitted
fact with both political parties. At the
same time both parties agree that it is bet
ter for this country to refine the sugar that
it consumes rather than to send money
abroad and pay the German refiners and
laborers The question was as to what per-
centage the refiners SHOULD get. In the at
tempted solution of this question there was
much OF political jugglery and a great
deal OF demasoglsm for home
ost to get all They tGey could In their endeavor
they cared little about the cane and beet
sugar producers. They wanted the lowest
duty on raw sugars-coupled with an ad
Valorem duty-a composite schedule, by
which the low grades of sugar could be
fraudulently imported in false coorations.
The Wilson bill sugar schedule was, 1t
is well known, dictated Ivy he Sugar Trust.
Out of this grew all scandals winch shocl cd
the country. The Din3ley lin, as presented
to the Senate eliminated all trust influences
and gave a schedule satisfactory to the
sugar producers, but not in accordance
with the demands of the Sugar Trust. The
finance committee of the Senate presented
an amendment to the House bill giving an
ad valorem duty and small specific duty
a schedule SO arranged that II was difficult
to comprehend The impression prevailed
that the same influences which dictated to
a Democratic committee the schedule in the
Wilson bill had successfully worked upon
the Republican finance committee of the
Senate. The friends of the House bill-all
who were opposed to the power of the
trust, the sugar importers, cane and beet
sugar producers-combned to defeat this
schedule, even if 1t resulted in the defeat
of the bill. The Senate Republican caucus
ciudede to adopt the House schedule of
specific rates, and in the way Of COM
promise to give a small addition to the
differential in favor of the sugar refiners.
This differential was to some extent ad-
vantageous to the sugar producer.
The bill went to conference. The friends
of the bill continued their well-directed eff
forts to eliminate any advantage to the
Sugar Trust beyond that which was rea-
sonable and just. The features of the
House schedule were maintained. An in
creased duty was placed upon raw sugars
commencing with IS degrees at 95-100 of a
cent instead of l cent, and raising the duty
on each degree of raw sugar from three
one-hundredths TO three and one-half cne-
hundredths When the one-hundredth de-
gree is reached the duty will be 1S212 cents,
and the duty on refined 1.95 cents. The
differential at this point is precisely the
same-l2b cents-in both House and Senate
schedules. The revenue by this arrange
ment is expected to be increased 81 800. 900
on the sugar schedule The revenue will
be increased and the production of raw
sugars encouraged The calculations of the
schedule require the talent and skill of ex-
perts The government experts who have
figured out the schedules estimate the pro-
lection afforded the trust at from % to 30
per cent. less than that afforded by the
Wilson bill.
IAN amendment was offered on the Dem
ocratic side of the chamber 10 restore the
ad valorem rates of the Wilson bill. 1t re-
ceived the support of the opponents of the
bill and the Sugar Trust, yet no better
schedule could have been asked by the
trust 1t was the schedule which II die
tated and the one under which ii so rapidly
progressed TO power and influence. In
Louisiana we turn out sugar which directly
goes into consumption. Sugar beet fac
tories turn out sugar refined which goes
directly into consumption. Under the pro-
lection afforded by this law the country will
produce all the sugar IL consumes and now
imported The success Of the cane and beet
sugar industry the production Of all the
sugar we consume. viii destroy the Sugar
Trust In lighting the trust its enemies
tried to break down the sugarproducing
energies of the country. This was the best
means possible for aiding the trust, because
its interests would be greatly advanced by
destroying the cane sugar mills and the
beet factories in the country. 1t would he