The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-06-18
Senator Germans Speech.


speech, that he had no doubt that the
condition of the treasury forced the
Republicans to change the views they
had consistently expressed regarding
tariff taxation during the last eight
years. He was, therefore, sorry II see
that after having adopted the plan of
imposing adj volarem duties they should
have changed them again to specific.
The specific duties imposed upon theI
various grades Of sugar in the pending
bill, he said, are unfair, destructive toI
the commercial interests of the coun-,
try and give too great protection to the
retinrrs of sugar. The protection af-
fOrded the trust Is at least two-thirdsl
more than that given by the pending
bill. In addition 10 this, the schedule
would not only greatly increase the
burdens of the Consumers, but would
seriously interfere with commerce:
with countries south of the United
States. Unless We take the sugar FROM
these countries TO the south OF us, said
Mr.. Gormon, we cannot expect to sell
them our goods.
He argued that instead of restricting
trade il should be the aim oflegIslation
to increase it. Other markets than
those of this country are needed for
American products, and the disastrous
results OF the proposed legislation
would, therefore, be twofold, increas.
ing the burdens of taxation and de-
stroying the markets established with
the southern countries The proposed
protection 10 the sugar refiners, he con-
tended, is too high, but the prospective
benefits to be derived by the trust did
not entirely explain why the southern
trade of the country should be inter
fered with. He heard no reason as
signed for this extraordinary step. The
House bill had placed the duties on the
loW-graue sugars produced in Java
and other Southern Islands, a. a low
figure, while the Senate bill had in
creased these duties, with the avowed
purpose Of shutting them out.
NO EXPLANATION OF CURIOUS
CHANGES.
The order has gone forth, he said
from the caucus chamber not to discuss
the bill, and he therefore supposed
there would tie no explanation of the
many curious changes in the schedule
made by the Finance Committee. Lev
islation seem to have reached a point
where the Republicans ere afraid of
an open discussion of their bill. He
predicted that the result of the legisla-
ton proposed would be as certain as
that which followed the enactment of
the Mckinley law. The present bill,
he SAID, is more destructive to the com.
merclal interests of the country than
the Mckinney law, and would be
promptly rejected by the people.
The Senator then entered upon a de-
Tense of the present law, and especially
OF the sugar schedule. The duty, he
maintained, is reveue duty, and its
effect has been to bring refined sugars
from the different countries of the
world to enter into competition with
those produced here. This competi-
ton had lowered prices to a minimum
figure, and had made sugar cbeaper
than had ever been known before He
did not question the assertion that the
pending schedule would increase the
revenue This was probably true, but
while it would increase revenue if
would also increase prices and give in
creased profits to the sugar retiners.
Considering the bill as a whole. there
was not line or a provision in it that
would enable the people of the United
States to sell grain more wheat or add
70 the sale OF any American product.
1t Is simply measure that will re-
strict trade at time when attention
should be given to its extension.
he spoke of the large Increase in i'm.
portations during the last two or three
years, and said that while foreign COM
merce had increased, the prices realized
for goods are but one half as much as
they were formerly. He compared the
efforts England is making to secure
the trade which the Republicans pro-
pose to sacrifice, and said that Ger
many was outstripping every other ma
tl0n In establishing commercial rela-
tons with countries that would nat
urally turn to the q lated States but for
the policy about to be inaugurated.
Germany, with subsidies and bounties.
Is encouraging her people to increase
their export trade. She is establishing
banks all over that portion of the
American continent which the United
States is relinquishiug, from Mexico
to the southern extremity of South
America. She has invaded China and
the Orient, aud, instead of fearing the
competition of those countries. is com
peting for their trade.
IMPORTANCE OF FOREIGN TRADE
Instead of approaching the impor-
lance of foreign trade which other
nations are anxious to secure, the Re-
publicans, he said, under the whip of
party discipline, are imposing ruinous
specific duties to destroy trade, because
of party caucus and larty drill.
The Republicans have majority to
pass the bill and carry out the caucus
mandate. They have a majority that,
i'll the intensity OF party feeling, will
carry protection to the extent of exclu-
sion, but he hoped they would pause
long enough to consider the value of
the commerce they purpose t. DESTROY.
Were it not for the condition of the
country and the demand from the me-
chanic and the merchant, the laborer
and the farmer, that they should know
what legislation they are to have, he
would insist upon prolonging the de-
bate until the whole country should
understand the enormty of the propo-
sition before the Senate. He believed
however, that settlement of the ques
ton as promptly as possible is
now best for the country, and
the Democrats had, therefore, deter