Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-04-08
SUGAR.

call attention to the provision Of
the bill relating to the duties on sugar
BY the proposed bill the revenue
from sugar will be decreased to the
extent OF about $4,000, 900 In so
far as it will reduce the price of sugar
this is a just measure ; but | fear the
effect will be rather - increase the
profits OF sugar-rcfncrs than to de
crease the price to the consumers.
Under the existing law our largest
importalions Of sugar IRE of the class
known as sugars not above No. ~
| Dutch standard in color, which are
the raw or Muscovado sugars, and
which are generally required to pass
through the hands of the rcfincrs be-
fore they are fit for consumption.
This class OF sugars now pays 8 cents
Yer pound. The first class above
pays 81 cents per pound, a considera-
bic quantity OF which is imported.
All refined sugars now pay 5 cents
per pound, which duty is prohibi
tory one, as no refined sugars ore
imported. Thus, under the existing
law three fifths at least of all the
sugars imported pass through the
hands Of retiners. This classification
of sugar was made in 1869. Under
this classification a considerable i'm
por,a,ion was made from year to year,
known as centrifugal sugars, the
sugars passing through a cheap pro-
cess, by which the color and grade
are largely improved.
The proposed bill changes entirely
the existing classification and admits
all raw or Muscovado sugars at 9
cents per pound and then makes q
new class called clarified sugars, or
those increased in value by means of
the vacuum process or other similar
processes, thus making difference
Of cent per pound between raw
sugars and those that are fitted for
use by this process. The effect of
this will be to compel nearly a | the
sugars imported to pass through the
hands of the refners, allowing them
the profit arising from the reduction
instead of cheapening the price of
sugars. 1t is true that the duty on
refined sugars is reduced to cents
per pound, but as the raw sugars are
permitted to come in at cents per
pound a duty OF cents will be prac-
tically as prohibitory as the present
duty OF 5 cents.
am we'll aware that in what !
have said l differ from the majority
ofthe Committee OF WAYS and Means.
This | regret but it is not a ques-
ton of political partisanship. 1t is
question affecting every interest in
the country and every class, and be-
cause of the great interests involved
should receive careful! consideration
at our hands irrespective of parti-
sanship. The gentlemen on the
other side of the Chamber would,
as par,isans, be glad to have us do
nothing in the way of a reduction of
duties under the tariff, so that what
ever of odium may attach to these
excessive duties, whatever of excess
i've burdens may be imposed upon
the people, would be chargeable upon
the Republican majority in congress.
But apprehcnd they will be dlsap-
pointed if they indulge the hope that
no reduction under the the tariff laws
will be made this session, rs nearly
all agree that such reduction is
necessary and being necessary, We
should endeavor SO to accomplish it
as to cheaper commodities, relieve
unnecessary burdens upon industry,
and still raise sufficient revenue to
provide for the wants of the Govern
ment.
l believe these results can be best
brought abou: by the methods have
proposed. Other gentlemen may
have better methods ; if so shall be
quite ready to adopt them. But GER
tain it is that the pending bill is a
partial measure, and with few cx-
ccptions tends more to increase than
to diminish the cost Of commodities,
and consequently with respect to
many articles of consumption will