The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-09
THE SUGAR QUESTION
Importers nnd Hehners Having n Hearing
Before the Ways and Means Committee.

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-The Ways and
Means Committee to-day began tho series Of
meetings to hear the representatives OF tho
sugar importing sugar producing. and sugar
refining interests OF tho country with respect to
n modification Of tho sugar tariff. Tho deputa-
ton from Baltimore was tho first heard. Mr..
Henry NJ. Warncld of that city presented n pc
tition. signed by the leading sugar firms OF New
York and Baltimore. asking that n competent
expert bo sent to Domerara 10 examine person
ally the manufacture Of sugars in that island.
and see whether they are. as alleged by the
Government. artilcially colored.
John W. Gambler Of Boston spoke in favor OF
tho Boston plan OF classified duties. As a proof
of tho reliability OF tho polariscope test he
mentioned the fact that. out OF twenty-six car
goes Of sugar imported by Boston house dur
ing the last year. aggregatlng over % 100000
pounds OF sugar. the variation between the test
at Cuba ton the part on tho sellerl and the test
ut boston Ton the part OF the .purchnserl repre-
scntcd only a difference Of sl35 on the whole
amount Of the duty. which was some s525 600
and which would, under the proposed scheme
With respect to tho alleged ndultoration Of
sugar by the refining houses Dir. Gambler said
sugar, and that it wns but fair to the New York
and Philadelphia reilners TO say. from the gem
eral intormntion which II was necessary Tor
sugar merchants TO have, that the statement
was false. He knew that II WAS Illogical that
II was not consistent with business generally
for any lnrge concern to 80 on for any length of
time manufacturing poisons. Not satisfied,
however with that general belief. ho had
gone 70 some OF the Boston rcilners particular
izing Mr. Spaldingl. and Dir. Spalling said that
he had for eighteen months tested Havcmeyer
Elders sugars in every possible way, and
that no had never found an ounce OF adultcratcd
sugar. Another Boston rollner had told him
that he had tested IN the same way the sugar Of
the New York and Philadelphia reilnerles. anu
had never found an ounce OF Adulterlted sugar.
He believed that the statements which had been
published ~ to the aduteration of sugar were
not only q great injustice to the firms named.
but were highly unpatriOtic
Mr. Spalding Of Boston endorsed Mr.. Gambler.
both IN regard to the reliability of the polar
iscopc and to the testing for aduitordted sugar.
and gave specific Information to tho Committee
as to the details of the sugar trade. lie argued
that in view Of the fact that British rclncrs got
their raw material free Of duty. while American
relners had 10 pay n tax ON the raw material
(cven including the dirt which II cOnta nod. the
rates existing and those proposed on the
higher qualities of sugar were only fair. and
lott but very small margin 10 tho American re-
liner. III all duties on sugar We're removed. tho
American rcilners could compete with the whole
world; but tho American sugar producers would
he crushed He said that at the present time
English sugar is sold in this country Mt less
than II ever was sold before in the history Of the
trade