The sun., 1909-12-09
sugar Notes.

sugar Notes.
1T would seem to me, says President
TAFT in the message printed yesterday
that an investigation OF the Isugarl
( frauds be Congress at present, pending
the probing by the Treasury Depart
ment and the Department Of Justice az
proposed, might by giving immunity
and otherwise prove an embarrassment
in securing conviction Of the guilty
parties.
Might Observe that cautious and
temperate potential. The opinion pre-
sumably of SO acute and learned a
lawyer as the Hon. GEORGE W. WICK
ERsHAM, whether corroborated or di-
luted by other advisers of the President
or by the President himself, is entitled
to all respect. II reaches Congress,
however. in this shape Of mere pOssi-
bility.
Simply as another instance OF the
potential mood, an airy might have
been" after practised lawyers might,
we take from the Washington CORE
spondence OF yesterdays Trib~ac, a
journal subject TO inspiration. this
doubtless romantic passage:
:" That the President had practically completec
his message, and that t contained strong recon
mendsIIons on lhe subjects he has now omitted
when be called TO the white House last Thurs
day a number OF his advisers, including member
OF the Cabinet and the junior senator from New
Exactly what occurred at that nnal conference
has never been revealed. hut ii ls known that .
lis conclusion a forceful and drastic Indictmen
Of the sugar trust FOR its part In ccrrup,lng pubii'
of,clsis and defrsudink the Government OF Gus
toms duties had been stricken out"
Returning from fairyland to the firm
official soil, we find In the report Of ths
Hon. FRANKLIN MACVEAaH, Secretary
of the Treasury, some unedited and un'
expurgated remarks which come neal
the causing cause, the real and danger.
GUS source Of the corruption in the Gus
toms service here:
The study of thu causes OF the dsmorsnzasior
which has been revealed 10 still incomplete. bu
the main causes arc evident. II is clear. for In
stance. that the influence Of local politics and po
ticians upon the customs service has been mos
deletcrtous and has promoted shat lsxity Anc
I0w tone which prepare and furnish an inviting
sol for dishonesty and fraud. Unless the Gus
toms service can be released from the paymsn
Of political debts and exacsions and from meet
ing tho supposed exigcncies OF political orsAnlza
tions big and little. Il win be impossible 70 have
an honest service for any length Of time.
Any considerable share Of the present oos
Of this demorafisafion 10 the pubic revenues. "a
the efnciency Of the service. and 20 public and pri
vste morality IL . Tremendous amount 70 pay 10
mere Mausdsuen OF the small debts Of pouu ca
leaders.
The local connections Of the Ameri.
can Sugar Refining Company with the
local Republican machine Of this town
are only too notorious, but the politica
or financial relations and obligations
entered upon have reached into M.
tional politics. VINO granted q long
unchecked immunity to the American
Sugar Refining Company Who, Il
anybody. has sold or suspended Law
for the benefit OF a thicving corporation
and q party or Administration that
loved to thunder against corporations
not properly introduced? What hand
at Washington protected these master
thieves, stayed justice or waved ava,
the inconvenient, tactless, occasiona
honest official who didn't know OF
which side his bread was buttered
Tho machine OF politics and the ma
1 - a.. wt.N
their long Harmonious interplay ant
cooperation?
These questions not only might" b
but are Of the keenest interest and high
est importance to the American people
Meanwhile the wise heads at Washing
ton may be able to temporize, shilly
shally, and with sublime confidence il
popular stupidity wait for the troubl,
to blow over.