The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1884-12-06
DISASTROUS SUGAR TEEA-
TIES.

1xESs
We have been surprised that so little
attention has been paid to \ newly pro
posed commercial treaty between the
Uuited Sta,es and Spain. whereby It is
proposed t. admit sugar aud mUlasses,
free Of duty. into this country from
Spain aud Porto Rico. TN tue Both Of
October. the Minis,cr Of Foreign fairs
submitted to the Spanish Cabinet Coan
Gil ut Madrid the conditions agreed NJ
on between u Minister. Mr. Foster,
aud Senior Albac",e, Slani.h Commits
si0ner, in which it wa- expressly stated
that ''America will admit sugars, molas
SEES aud raw tobacco tree vi all duty,
and the duties gu other articles import
ed from the West InGies will be reduced.
Spain will place American flour aud &c
reals imported into her colonies upon
the same footing as those imported from
Spain. and will make II large reduction
on the duties ON cattle. salt. flesh fish
and all but a very few Of American
manufactured goods. Spain will also
suppress the consular tonnage duties
which are now levied ut American ports,
aud promises further to reform the Gus
t%oml,ousr, harhor and -ani.a'y regula-
tons and fines in her c~ol"nies."
Our attention has been called to All
able article. gu this subject, published
in the Chicago Times Of the Sd inst. in
which, after it refers to the apparent
advantages Of such atreaty, it illustrates
It's disadvantages to the ,chole country
as follows:
With sugar admitted from them and,
the Sandwich Islands duty free, sugar
will he, to all intents and purposes. on
onr tree list. Not u dollar of revenue
will be derived from that source. In
the second place. we now get more rev
onue fsom this source than from any
other under our tariff laws. During the
fiscal year 1888 the sugar duties yielded
eveuue to the amount of $46, 1872 ,279.
The next largest amount was derived
from woods and wooden goods -$3l
329,538. Under the new law the pro
portions are about the sume. although
the amount derived from sugar is prob
ably somewhat less. In the third place.
the duties on sugar cost the country
comparatively little for protection. On
~ about ten per cent Of the sugar we
consume 10 produced in the country.
Consumers, therefore. pay only about
one'tenth as much tar to the producers
in Louisiana az they pay to the govern
ment. They pay the government, say
$45, 0 900 a year, while they pay the
Louisiana planters only about 81 500. !
600. 1t follows that if the interests of
taxpayers are consulted, the sugar du
ties, i"stea d of being among the frst.
should be among the last to be abolish
ed.
One point above all should not he lost
sight Of by the advocates of = du
ty, namely, that it is not a tax on the
American people to maintain 10 a few
Southern sugar planters, but to raise
revenue to support the government.
The Times charges conspiracy in this
matter, and gives its reasons as fol.
lows:
Now it will be seen at once wherein
tho conspiracy consists. The benefi-
Charles Of our system of licensed spolia
have for a loug time been seeking
tor some way Of reducing the revenues
OF the government without tightening
at all the burdens Of taxpayers. With
. view to the accomplishment Of this
purpose, they have more than once bro
posed the abolition Of the sugar dutiesI
by oct q Congress, and the. payment
to compensate than IL the ia of pro
onder the tariff .llsws. This is
9 favorite project of theirs, hsses.s if it
be carried into eAeet,s net only
would ~ mensy como iato the Aesasu
~ but more money would 20 'ostt and
they woald be provided with q. .doable
argument against any redoctisu Z tho
particular duties in which they are in
terested. There is reason 10 believ e ,
they would have carried this !