The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-06-21

However much Senators Nelson and
Spooner may have thought they knew
of the influences that control the ma
jority Of their colleagues in the senate
and shape legislation, they know more
than they did. It is presumable that
they went back to Washington really
believing that their party in that body,
as a whole. was sincere in its opposi-
ton to legislation that would transfer
money from either the treasury or the
pockets Of consumers to the Golfers of
trusts and combinations. 1t is fair to
grant that, in the campaign of
1888, Senator Nelson, then retiring from
congress because he was not in SYM
pathy, as he SAID, with his party on
tariff legislation, was sincere when he
declared that Eve will down Grover
Cleveland first, and then we will go
for the trusts and combinations" But.
If this is all true, then the senators
know more today than they ever did,
and must feel chagrined at the failure
pectations. Senator Nelson may have
lingering hope that his latest amend
ment aimed at the sugar trust, offered
IN place Of the one against all trusts.
viii not meet the fate Of the Pettigrew
amendment. that put into the presi-
dents hands the most effective imple-
ment for their discontinue; but if is
safe to say that that hope will be ex-
tinguished
But Senator SpoOner must be chew
Ing the bitter cud Of reflection as he
ponders on the fate Of his caucus propo-
sition to continue the present rates on
sugar until next January in order that
the trust, which has imported at least
six months supply Of raw sugar NAV
not take from consumers the advance
made by the senate bill in the sugar
tax. The senator was sincere in his
motive, and evidently relied upon the
pronouncements of his party's plat
forms against trusts. It is impossible
20 prevent anticipatOry imports of arti-
Giles on which duty is to be raised. the
retroactive clause of the Dine1nv hill
Icing plainly Illegal, and the gain that
VIII be made by the increased price
after the duty falls, goes, of course. into
the pockets of the importers. If how
ever, the period at which the duty will
+all is placed far enough ahead to COM
Pei the consumption of the material
thus imported, it is plain that, while
the treasury viii gain nothing, neither
VIII the importers, nor will the consum-
crS be taxed for private emolument. So
the senator acted, and we agree with
cur contemporary, the milwaukee, Sem
uEel that this plan has only to be
stated for its merits to be seen" Its
merits may be better appreciated when
e Is Known that his amendment would
have saved to sugar consumers SIP, o0O.-
$50 according 20 Spreclkels and S.. OOO. OOO
as estimated ~ others.
Eut the majority in the Republican
caucus rejected Z, and the reason as
signed completely unmasks the infer
nal greed OF TIE whole policy OF protec-
ton. Senator SOONER was confronted
the Washington correspondents of Re-
publican papers state, by the PROPOSE
ton that, if this were done to sugar
the same would have to be done with
VOL, immense iI;IUortations Of 1t hay
iAg Gcen made IN order 70 reap the cd
vance IN wool and wooIcns anticipated
to follow the lax On wool and the com
pensatcry duties OF woolcns. Were mis-
proposition adapted to the wooden
schedule, wool would rcmnin free until
thc aZcess OK supply WIS exhausted and
pay the prcsent 80 Pc, cent 1t was "the
friends of the WOODEN manufacturers, -
10 arc tod, n'hc opposed the senator's
sugar plan, .:cC@.I1&e its 4 'option would
kav@ T. DC f.;;5N.cd by ii similar one
scr 'v::o!, ord *os We're unwilling "to
s.. a. ;.a.:,enan,s Expectations of
We sii &c. !sI :" legislation which