The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1902-01-09
A BOUNTY FOR oxNARD.
Easiest Way out OF the Cuban Sugar
Tariff Controversy.

Easiest Way Out OF the Cuban Sugar
Tariff Controversy.
| Out of the ingenious mind of Mr.. Ok
nard, president of the American Beet
Sugar company, there issues the pro-
tocol Of modus vivendi In the Cuban
sugar tariff controversy. Having a
human soul and kind heart, Mr.. Ok
nard recognizes the necessity of giving
immediate help to the prostrate sugar
industry ond the impoverished sugar
planters of Cuba. Having also large
personal investments in the American
beet sugar industry he views with
alarm the proposed reductions Of duty
which would bring Cuban sugar into
competition with his own product.
Mr.. Oxnard therefore proposes that
out of the funds received from the du-
ty on sugar a bounty of, say, one half
q cent per pound be paid to the Cuban
planters for all the sugar they produce.
The estimated production of sugar in
Cuba for the present year Is 100000
tons. A bounty of one-half cent a
pound would call for the distribution
of $6,400000 among the Cuban sugar
planters
The sublime beauty Of this concep-
tion which reconciles the interests Of
Cuba with the interests of OXnard win
evoke the enthusiastic plaudits Of ev-
cry worshiper of the American tariff.
| Nevertheless, we offer an alternative
plan which we have the hardihood to
believe is economically more sound
and constitutionally more justifiable
than the Oxnard plan.
Let an act be passed declaring that
out of any funds lying loose in the
treasury there shall forthwith be paid
to Mr.. Oxnard the sum of $6,400,000.
| If necessary, congress could do this
annually, but probably it would be
necessary to make it habitual. This
would provide for him comfortably
and amply or at least sufficiently re-
ward his gigantic efforts to establish
the beet sugar on the basis of great
national industry. Willett and Gray
estimated the beet sugar production
of the United States for the year 1899
at SS,S92 tons. Call it 100000 tons
now In prospectus addressed to
investors two years ago Mr.. Oxnard,
on an estimated output of $50, 900 tons
annually, figured out profits of $1,24S,-
600. This of course was a vision of
the future. We can see an advantage
in discounting these roseate expecta-
tions for cash, the more properly as
after receiving the sum named Mr.
Oxnard, free from the cares of busi-
ness and relieved from sordid ankle
ties, could devote his life to the study
of art and literature.
Our plan is better than Mr.. Oxnard's,
because it keeps the money in the
country. Having quieted the Oxnard
opposition by this slight douceur, con-
gress would be in a position to reduce
or abolish the duties on Cuban sugar,
thus accomplishing our "plain duty"
in respect to that island. She is our
ward, an infant in our guardianship.
We must not starve and crush her.
1t would be cruel, horrible. But starve
she must unless a way is found to
satisfy Mr.. Oxnard. While admitting
the academic elegance of his Cuban
bounty plan, we foresee objections
sure to be raised that might be fatal.
The Oxnard bounty plan is in every
way superior. We appeal to congress
to give it early and candid examina-
tion.-New York Times.