The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1890-04-08
CUR AMERICAN LETTER.
abr H,ugnr bnty.- Action OF Cham
der 0r Commerce .Smcr!caa Tie.
fincry StiII EIosems- More Eerip-
rocity.

but somehow the auti-sugar.duty-
men have Lad the car OF the Com
miltee on Ways and Means. The
late election was carried by an APP
peal TO the farmers on the tariff.
They were promised, rs were the
workiDgmen, prosperity sud riches
under high tariff if the Republi'
can ticket prevailed. Harrison was
elected, Morton was sent to preside
over the Senate, and Republicans
succeeded Democrats at every cross
roads postoilice in the country. But
prosperity did not materialize. The
farmers are worse off than ever, and
workingmen are certainly no better
off than they were under Clcveland's
regime. Something had to be done,
therefore, or the G.. o. II. might be
wrecked. Congress is Republican
and has the remedy in its own hands.
wherefore it proposes to increase the
pension list, making the Republicans
solid with the Grand Army men,
their relatives and dependents, and,
by way Of sop to the farmers. the
duty on sugar is to he reduced one
half, while the duty on wool, fruit,
and other farm products is to be in
creased. Thus, the Republican
party hope to make things safe in
Ohio, Indiana, the North West and
New England States, while dcpress.
ing Louisiana, Texas, Florida and
California where the sugar industry
has been established. Cane sugar
is produced in the three Southern
States, but rs they are straight De-
mocratic they are not TO be consid-
cred. California has only six votes
in the Electoral College and there
fore is not Of much account. This
is the way the Tariff Bill has been
"put up" and from strictly patty
standpoint there Is good deal of
political skill in it but not particle
of craftsmanship.
The San Francisco Chamber of
Commerce held special meeting
last Monday to consider the sugar
duty question in its bearing upon
the beet sugar industry. 1 am sorry
to say it did not stop to consider,
but jumped at conclusions. Captain
Merry moved 4 series of resolutions
which first declared ABSOLUTELY against
reduction and then requested the
Pacific Coast delegation to oppose
any reduction beyond 20 percent.
In the other words, \ reduction Of
20 percent on the sugar duty was
accepted rs a fair proposition in a
tariff bill which raises the duty upon
every other domestic product touched
by it just how the Chamber ar
rived at this inconsistent and incon-
seQuent conclusion was not explain
ed, but it is calculated to do n great
deal of mischief.
The possibility of defeating the
sugar cut is quite within reach of a
capable and intelligent opposition,
but no interest except that of the
reiiners so far has been represented,
and it is not to be expected that
they would do more than present the
facts and endeavor 10 protect theil
investments. American sugar pro.
ducers, with whom the Hawaiian
planters have interests in common
IN preserving the tariff, have not
been represented, nor have the
farmers who grow beets. If tho
tariff bill passes with cut in the
sugar duty of even % percent il
will destroy the beet sugar industry
and proportionately reduce the pro-
fits of sugar-growing on the la.
waiian Islands. Old established
plantations may stand such rcduc.
ton of profits, but how will it affect
the prospects of new plantation en-
terprises? This is for your people
to consider. Intimately connected
with that proposition is the labor
question, but this being purely q
Hawaiian domestic affair does moi
further concern your correspondent
1t is to be noted, however, tina,
the Committee on Agriculture ant
Forestry has reported a bill giving
bounty of 81 per ton for bcets
raised in the United States and de.
livcred to factory and made into
merchantable sugar. The bill like
wise proposed bounty of 81 pei
100 pounds of sugar made from
beets. The proposed bounty is only
to be for three years, which of course
would do no good, even If pass
cd and the money were appropriate
ed, except To keep the Alvaradc
and jacksonville factories going fol
three seasons, but fresh capita
would not Ee invested in beet fac
tories in the face of low tariff on :
three years guarantee of bounty.
The bounty proposals are not likely
TO carry, as the country has beer
educated up to intense hostility tc
that form of aid to domestic indus
try, and if the duty be removed, Of
lowered, it will be very difficult tt
restore it. The beet sugar industry
being in an experimental stage, can
not command votes like the WOO
industry; hence it would 60 by tn,
board were cry for cheap sugar go
up, which is not improbable.
The American refinery remain
closed. There is little likelihood o