Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-06-29

1t pleases us greatly to note that our
morning contemporary tells the truth
once in while. politically as well as
otherwise. Whether this Is intentional
or not, we are unable to say. Friday
morning, in one of its repentsnt spells.
it confesses the iniquity of high tariff.
and gives the lie direct to its many for
mer declarations that protection does not
breed trusts. and that reduction of the
tariff would impoverish the country.
The ARGUS INDUCES in the hope that the
republican readers of the Union will
read the article carefully. and heed its
teachings. The Union says:
Two years ago fair refining sugar sold
in New York at $4.44 per 100 pounds;
granulated. at IS "a. and crushed at
S6.12. The cost of refining then APP
peared to justify difference of 81 so
per 100 pounds between the raw sugar
and the granulated. and 81 6S between
the raw sugar and The crushed. Now
the prices are 81 06 fer fair refining 30
for graduated, and $3.50 for crushed.
The refiners now exact $1.94 per 100
pounds for their services between the
raw and granulated sugar, and 30. 40 per
100 pounds between the raw and the
crushed.
But that does not tell the whole story.
The sugar trust made its boast at the
outset that It could control the market
for raw sugar in this country, and il ap-
pears to have done so Mt times. At other
times. opponents of the trust are sup
posed to have advanced the price of raw
sugar, either in an effort to get supply
or in an endeavor to embarrass the COM
bination. In either case the real cause of
the unnatural state OF the market is the
conspiracy to extort money from con-
sumers. and the facts prove that up to
date the amount of money extorted has
been large. Roughly. the consumption
at fifty pounds per capita costs about
three cents per pound more than it for
merly did. or 81 SO for every inhabitant
$3.50 for every family, and S97, 100000
for the entire population. The Whole
revenue derived by the government from
the duties of sugar of all kinds was only
x52, 600, 900 last year. II the government
could spare the revenue. and put an end
to the sugar combinations by repeating
all duties, it would simply present to the
people sum nearly twice as large as i,
now takes from them by the duties.
When congress assemblies next winter.
if the sugar trust lives so long, one of the
most important duties before representa-.
tives Of the people will be to consider
whether the existing duties on sugar. raw
and refined. tend in any way to aid or en-
courage a combination TO extort money
from American consumers. and in that
way the duties can be so changed AZ
most effectually to defeat that combiDa'
ton. For there is no room for doubt
about the hostility of this particular trus
to the public interest. II has in fact sup.
pressed production at important works
and it has in fact increased the cost o.
sugar To consumers. Its organizers an6
defenders have asserted that the existing
duties do not help the trust in the slight
est degree. and that their repeal woult
not lessen its power. Congress will fint
itself forced by public opinion TO lool
into the matter very closely. and to maxi
it entirely clear that members do no
mean to leave any reasonable or prope
thing undone that may help to protec
the public against extortion.