Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1884-12-26

the tariff tax on sugar and some other srti.
cles from these islands, in consideration OF
the repeal or reduction Of the tariff duties
levied by Spain rpon products ofthe United
States exported to these islands At pres
emit they buy from us about fifteen or twenty
million dollars worth Of our products. while
we buy from them about SIO,o0O,oOo all
told.
Now, If the abolition Of our tariffon sugar
from Cuba and Porto Rico would lessen the
cost of it to the consumer in the United
States BY the amount of the tax, We would
get saving of about $50. 100000 to the
consumer, though the treasury would
lose that much revenue. The
money would still be in the
country. But would the price OF sugar be-
lowered to the consumer By no posaolr
ity: for the reason that we consume $780,
100000 worth of sugar annually, which we
have 10 get from other countries than Cuoa
and Porto Rico. This extra quantity can
not be put on the market in this country
without paying the tariff tax Of TWO cents
per pound. The Cuba. sugar would come
in without paying the tax, and would De
sold at the same price as the sugar which
has Maid the tax. The Cuban will therefore
add the two cents per pound to the price OF
his sugar, and the consumer in the United
States willRot get his sugar far!hiug cheap
or than ii there were no treaty. But the
Cuban viii be getting two cents per pound,
or $30,O0O,000 a year more for his sugar
than he gets now, with no dement, 10 US;
The consumer still pays the tax, but It Will
60 to Cuba instead Of into the United States
treasury.
II strikes me that the United States have
a big enough job on hand to pay their own
debt without assisting Spain to pay hers IN
this indirect way. For if this treaty Is rati-
fed there is no reason why Spain should not
lew an internal revenue tax OF | cent or ! ]
cents per pound on all sugar produced in
Cubs and Porto Rico, which she could do
without depressing the sugsr.grower, be-
cause, under the treaty, he would get 2 cents
Der pound more for his sugar than he now
does. The treaty provides that Spain shall
not levy any export duty on sugar sent to
the United States, but there IS no provision
against an internal revenue tax.
This treaty, therefore is just giving to
Spain the power to collect tax OF SI0,-'
600, 900 to SIS. 900, COCOON sugar and make
the United States pay it.
If in the progress of time, the production
of sugar in these Islands should be so
stimulated as to enable them to produce
more than the United States should require,
then the price would be lessened by the law
of competition. But the probability is that
the annual increase Of production would
not more than keep pace with the
annual increased demand from our
increasing population. So that those
who are favoring the Spanish
treaty in the fond hope that we are to have
cheaper sugar By reason of it, will find in
tie end that they have spoiled hoon but
made no spoou' In other words, we shall
have diminished the revenue but not the
taxes.
But there is smother reason why the treaty
should not be ratified and that is because
it will render still more difficult the simpli-
6cation aud reduction of our tariff system OF
taxation. On this point quote the follow
inc from a recent number OF the The Nation:
"The House, the majority Of which repre-:
sents the incoming administration and
party, is somewhat puzzled to see an out
gong duUlnlsIdttOl uuASAtohluS' VA wv
eve of its disappearance from the scene, to
institute a new commercial policy thro ugh
the Senate, which will seriously hamper the
House on the tariff, and which
is apparently designated to do so
We have already got the most complicated
tariff in the world but the tariff modified
By series of commercial treaties, might
be more complicated still In fact we can
easily conceive Of the President and the
Senate managing by such use Of the treaty
making power to nullify the wishes and
desires Of the public with regard to the
general commercial policy Of the country,
In other words. where the tariff is involved,
it seems as if the treaty-making power
ought to be resortei to with great hesita.
ton, and not until the effect of the proposed
changes is well understood, and there is
good ground to believe them to be desired
by the country; least Of oil to force treaty
through in the interest Of party retiring
from power" Yours truly,
L. NJ Turner.
Ross LAWN, W. Va, December q.