Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1882-10-28
AMERICAN DUTIES on SUGAR.


Our readers are probably aware that the
"TariH Commission" appointed by President
Arthur, are now in session investigating the
operation of the high duties under the present
tariff with view to their reduction where it
can be effected with advantage Among these
are the duties on sugar, which, as an article
largely consumed by all classes, it is proposed
to reduce to the uniform rate Of fiOo cents per
pound, for every pound that will polarizc 100.
1t now seems probable that the change will be
made, as the people are calling loudly for it.
Should it be effected, it will help very much TO
ensure the indefinite continuance of our treaty,
the loss of revenue under il would be re-
duced largely, perhaps one-half The follow.
ing report of the argument made by one Of the
New York merchants before the commission
ers, will be read with interest, as furnishing
the basis Of the proposed change in the rate Of
duties on sugars, and the mode of assessing
them.
"At the afternoon session Of the commission
Mr., Danford Knowlton, of New York, OBJ
tanned hearing on the sugar question. He
presumed the sugar refiners and importers
who would come before the commission would
be in favor of reducing the duty on sugar,
while the sugar growers of Louisiana would
consider the present duty too low. But an ar
ticle which enters into the consumption Of
every man, woman and child was taxed too
.kha IN is. hat, ctx
and seventy per cent al yaio,fni, while articles
of luxury were not taxed so much. What he
particularly wished to present was his views as
to the proper method of levyng the duty. He
the Government as to the order of the secre.
tay OF the treasury, changing the mode OF de-
termining the value Of sugar from the Dutch
standard to the poariscope-t position taken
by the importers being that the secretary was
not authorized to set aside the terms OF the
law. The matter had ended in the supreme
court over-ruling the secretary and sustaining
the importers.
Nevertheless, he asked that the duty should
be levied on the polariscope test, which would
be at once both specific and al ruioysm on
home valuations. The polariseope was an in.
s,rument by which the crystalizable quality Of
sugar was determined with the creates, ac.
accuracy. II was applied to-day in collecting
the sugar tax in France. lie proposed fixed
OF specific duty OF two cents a pound on all
sugar, melada, concentrated melada, or other
hat A
Of sugar shall be deemed pound OF 100 OF
erysiali1able sugar, as shown by direct polari.
scope test, in the condition in which Il is i'm,
ported. The commission might make the duty
three cents pound to please the people OF
Louisiana, OF one cent pound TO please the
consumers OF sugar; bu, he took two cents a
pound As the test, and would show by an illus
lration how easily the duty could be calculated
100 pounds Of sugar, polariring 100 would pay
a duty Of Sa; ioopoqnds, p9lariling 90, would
pay SIos; 100 pounds polarising 9s', would
pay Stoo, and so on. Each degree less Of po-
lari4ation would reduce the duty on 100 pounds
oi sugar two cents. In reply to questions, he
stated that in the polariscope tests made by the
Government, under Secretary Shermans circu-
lar order and those made BY his own lesiers,
there Was the very slightest deviation. They
always agreed within the half Of one point.
"speaking for the consumer he said-Fily.
Two millions Of people hass greater interests
Iha, fifteen or eighteen re6ners Of sugar all
that there are in the United States to-day. by
the system suggested refnss would be placed
on panty with the English re6ners. Our Ie-
hnen would pay an al ta!s,sm duty on rae
sugar. The English re6neis &c, theirs free
Of duty. II the English sehnen do no, sslIss