New-York tribune., 1878-06-08
WHAT sUGAR MERCHANTS WISH.


Opposition BY THEM TO THE POLARIsCOPE AND
Color TEsT-A CHANGE IN THE LAW URGED.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.l
WAsHrNGToN, June Representatives OF the
importers and manufacturers of sugar from severai
of the larger cities, explained to Mr. Morrill, CHAIR
mon of the Senate Committee on Finance, ana
General Randall Gibson and Judge Kelley
of the Honse Ways and Means Committee, Yesterday,
the legislation they desire Mr. Brooks OF New
York, large importer, and Mr. Fuller, OF Portland
Me- were present, and represented not only 'heH
own cities, but also sugar-dealeTs IN many
ether cities. Baltimore was represented by
delegation from that city. These gentlemen
osk the Ways and Means Committee to report
hill which will bring the subject of duties on sugar
before the House for consideration. Mr.. Fisher Of
baltimore. and Mr. Brooks, Of New York, said that
a Uniform rate of duty at 212 cents a pound
on all sugars below No. 10, Dutch stand
ard. would produce a revenue of nearly
10000 900 annually, which could be collected
by simply weighing the sugar, and without the
possibility of the fraud evasion which would be
practicable under the poariscOpe and color test. 1t
s found they said that the practical effect of the
present discriminating tariff is to exclude from i'm
narration all sugars not suitable for refining pur-
noses The average rate of duty is but little
above the lowest rate which proves that three
fourths or more of the importations OF foreign
sugars paid the smallest rate of duty under the ex-
isting tariff, and proves also that no sugar can be
imnorted except that which refners Will buy. and
no sugars can be distributed except those winch Ie-
fners have Tor sale.
Professor c. F. Chandler made an argument.
against the use of the poanscope the ground that
It did not secure accuracy. Differences Of
two or three per cent, even more
may occur when different samples are
taken from the same lot of sugar
and tested by different chemists. The atmosphere
and presence of foreign substances in the sugar will
be said affect the result The Professor in closing
said "It thus appears that errors in determining
the value of raw sugar by the poarseope are liable
10 increase the duty to extent sufficient 10 rum
the refner If it is true when the samplng and test
ing rs honestly performed, what must be the
result If the doubt i Systematically turned
10 the advantage of the refners. or
Elm spffeIstb pfertber enfhts the error % in his favor
This plan of classification by the polarscope will
give the greatest opportunities for fraud; and Will,
fear IL adopted make it impossible for honest men
10 carry on the business Of refining sugar"
General Randall Gibson IS IN sympathy with the
propOsed REFORM The Secretary OF the treasury, on
whom tle delegation called, announced himself 20
be IN favor Of the change, and 1t IS Deleyed tbat
majority of the Ways and Means committee agree
with him. The great point at which these gentle
men ann is to secure the consent of Chairman Wood
to some action at once.
The bill which Secretary Sherman has submitted
10 the Ways and Means Committee on this subject
proposes to levy on sugars under No. Dutch
standard in color which shall test 81 degrees, and
not above 90 degrees in saccharihe strength
bv the polariscOpe, the duty chargeable on
sugars between Nos. and 10, and
sugar ranging between Nos. and 10 of the
Dutch standard which shall test above 81 degrees,
the duty appropriate TO sugar between Nos 10
and 13. Such a measure as this, Secretary Sher-
man saws would greatly aid the department and
its officers in their endeavor faithfully to collect the
duties sugar, according to the true intent and
meaning Of the law by which the Dutch standard
of color was prescribed the basis for the
ment Of duty To show the disadvantage of depend
ing entirely upon the color standard, the Secretary
has sent to the committee the tests made at PhIla
dephia of all the sugars imported at that port dUTs
sugars below No. Dutch standard range ia
accharne strength from so to %, and sugars above
No. and not above No. 10 range from SO
to 0861O degrees. The plan of testing su-
gars both by their color and by the amount
of saccharne matter discovered by the use
OF the polariscOpe approved by the late PrOfes
sOr Henry, in a communication which he made 20 the
Secretary of the Treasury several months ago.
The object of using the Dutch standard, as he
planned IN that letter Is to exclude by means of
higher duty sugars of light color, whicn
would be sold B the market to the detTiment of the
refining industry of the country. If the nse Of
the polarscOpe should be adopted. Professor Henry
recommended that supply of these instruments
should be obtained from Germany, and their use
taught to the appraisers by person thoroughly ac-
quanted with the theory and practice of the insTu-
ment The accuracy OF the Instruments, he said,
shOuld also be tested, and the appraisers from time
10 firna uniuad "a Ia their skill in their