New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-03-15

upon separate branches of the subject which
present only the simplest questions.
Years ago the commercial value of sugar was
tested by color. Long ago that test has been
in commerce quite abandoned. In old times
sugar was graded according TO certain stand
ards of color, which, having been derived from
the Dutch. were known as No. 7, or 10, or
20, Dutch Standard The American tariif, III
those days, was framed upon the idea that this
test of the actual commercial value OF sugar
was correct. Duties were levied upon different
grades according to color, and not according to
proportion OF saccharine quality, or real value
in commerce. In time, however, the centriiu-
gal process of manufacture came into use.
Sugar of very high quality, prepared by this
process, might retain II very dark color so that
it would come in under the Dutch standards as
of low grade. Commerce at once recognized
this revolution in methods, and devised sclcn-
tific tests to determine the actual value OF the
sugar irrespective of its color. These tests
have now been in general use for long time,
and successive Secretaries of the Treasury
have repeatedly appealed to Congress to so
modify the law as to authorize the use OF such
tests Again and again they have explained
the matter, with the patience of good teacher
irving to get rudimcntal knowledge into the
head of dull scholar. But Congress has
never been able to understand it.
Perceiving that the Government was losing
millions through this defect in its laws, Secre-
tary Sherman tried to apply remedy without
waiting for the slow process of Congressional
education. On the theory that the intent OF
the law was to tax certain qualities OF sugar,
colo a
quality no directed officials to use the test most
commonly employed in commerce. The I'M
porters resisted. They claimed that the law
taxed sugar by color only, and that they had a
perfect right to find, if they could, high grades
with low color, and to import these at low
duties. Again and again the Secretary eX-
planned what he had done and the reason, in
reports to Congress, and asked Tor law to
meet the difficulty which 1t was uncertain
whether lie had the power to meet under the
law as it stood. Some individual members
studied the subject and earnestly supported the
recommendation, but all i'll vain. Congress
was too busy, had too many speeches to make,
could not understand the matter, and did not
believe it was of any consequence anyway. so
it has gone on for years, and now, under a
decision of the Supreme Court, the Govern
ment is forced to refund several millions
which, it is heu, have been improperly taken
from importers. They had a right, it is held.
to assume that Congress would not have been
so stupid as to leave the law unchanged, if it
really meant to tax quality and not color.
Now nobody has the slightest doubt as to the
real intent of the act. 1t was to impose the
higher tax upon the higher grades of sugar
upon those which contained the greater proper
ton of saccharine quality, and were therefore
of higher commercial value. A commission
composed, not of experts, but of PLAIN farmers
or practical storekeepers, would have found
no difficulty in modifying the law without
weeks delay. But the Government loses mill
ions because its Congress as body has been
too stupid to understand this simple matter, or
too Indifferent to apply simple remedy.
In view OF this short chapter of history, mem
bers cannot wonder that the public would like
to have few men of sense look into the
tariff question. They might at least recon-
mend some plan for saving the country from
the consequences of Congressional incapacity.
Then if members refused to apply the remedies
indicated, the country would know what 10 do
about it,