New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-03-03
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
THE CALL FOR CHEAP SUGAR.
EFvEcrs or AN ABOLITION OF THE TARIFF.

EFVECTs or AN ABOLITION OF THE TARIFF.
TO The Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: With sugar on the free list in England tho
average consumption In 1SS9 was seventy pounds
per capita. II the population OF this country IS
90. 900, 900. on the basis should have con
sumcd 1850 100000 pounds. our actual consump
ton was about 5000, 900 900 pounds. If sugar was
as cheap here a. in England. consumption per
capita would be greater than that OF England. The
per capita cost OF sugar in England on the basis OF
per capita consumption OF seventy pounds was 81 TO-
while the per capita cost here on the basis OF per
capita consumption of fifty pounds was S3 80. with
free sugar. therefore, the per capita consumption
could be increased to 116 90 pounds without ncreas
ing tho per capita cost. or. IN Othcr words WIN
free sugar 1t would not cost the consumers IN this
country farthing II they consumed il" 2'3
pounds per head than 1t now costs them I" consume
fifty pound, per head. For the cost of - pounds
Of sugar here for family of five PERSONS 5s3 ID
pounds can be purchased in England; or, If sugar
is placed on the free list here, family OF five per
sons can consume $50 pounds and then save SlO
for other nccessares OF life compared with the
average cost OF sugar in 1889. My statements are
all based upon wholesale prices in both countries.
II the per capita consumption was 100 pounds the
total consumption would be 5oooo0,ooo pounds.
tons OF freight for railway and shipping inter
csts. II In the distribution OF our sugar supply the
average haulagc from the seaboard IS 600 miles at
cent per ton per mile II would add SlOoOO,OOo
TO the earnings Of railway system annually with
any Increase whatever in the price Of sugar to
tho In addition 70 this sum, the increased
freight for ships, the storage, tansshpment and
handling and the cost of labor employed in the
manufacture OF barrels must be taken Into consdca
ton fully another $1O5OO.0O0. The entire cost
Of the labor in refining $500 600 900 pound, Of
is less than S10.ooo0Oo. The total value at cents
per pound IS $3.50 100000, and yet refining it will
not give employment to more than 1000 persons.
There are not than twenty-five in
dependent sugar refining establishments in
this country. The capital required to re
fine $500 900 900 pounds Will not exceed $4,000 600
The profit in refining at one eighth OF n cent per
pound on $500 900 pounds Is $5,l25OOO or moro
than - per cent m the capital employed. Freight
from Europe at - 80 per ton secures to the re
finer here clear profit Of Of eighth OF cent per
pound over and above the cost Of refining in England,
France Germany plus the foreign rcfner's profit.
plus the cost Of importing other than
freight. plu, the importer, profit In
England 1000 persons employed In sugar
rcinerics: 10000 employed I'm manufacturing con
fcctoncry, iclc and preserved fruits 1t Is safe TO
say that for every person thrown ont Of employ mcnt
by placing sugar the free list, twenty Will DO
added in the Manufacture of confectionery and pre-
served fruii-. With sugar the free list, more
iacturc OF confectionery and preserved fruit'
for the Mexican and South American
trade alone than now employed in all the re-
nncrics In this country. Ecyond all doubt not less
than 100000 men and women would find employ
m~nt IN refining and handling sugar and IA kindred
ildu,ific, more than HOW employed, II sugar
Is placed on the FREQ lit II tlr Republican patty
destroy, The sugar monopoly after the cow'udly
action Of the Last Democratic Congress, It will do
more To- Justify IT. claim to the support Of tho
ma-.'= thnn can ic done at the present time IN any
other Nay. Phclns sugar Oh the fire." lit, both
law ald refined VIII 60 more to popul,rle thu
Republican party than thc whole party Of spell
binder 30 from now until the clo-c Of the next
Presidential contest. II should be done in the in
t"r'-t "f ouf Industrial policy. II VIII be IN
d'llh" ohi" lr--ou IN every home In the land. not
only Ia tne father who provides. hut Ia the mother
and children. ia favor OF maintaining tine continued
I,,.,r,,f, rcycnnc r,forr prc.- and marty headers
eaiuut crA,e destroy Ito effect. Tie policy 81
puiuns -u,ar on the free lit J, one which the
Democratic party, II hv some m>hap II Is again Ia
denim revere.
If sugar H. placed upon the free list It will com
policy. refusal on the part Of Sir John Macdonald
T." d. IL would severely strain British connection. 10
s'nrrflr, 81 the United states. Placing sugar
te ffc, lit v afford am opportunity 10 deal justly
additional projections 10 Will strengthen popularrc and
Icrp'tunio our industrial policy. II VIII create an
f'formcr, NAV hunt their brains without hsrmng any
one lui hrm-cNc, for Ia come. II viii inspire
every Republican I'm the land with renewed love for
and devotion L. h- party and With determination 10
labor for H. continued success. II will dlsirm
opponents and destroy their influence with the wage
Garner ln a very marked degree. II should not Dee
half inetsur'. bat should include both
and refined sugar n Is the rcfncrs and the pro-
duecr- ~ raw sugar who combine rob the consumer
SO valid objection De offered 10 giving "a bounty
the producer II sugar I'm THIS country equal 10
the existing duty. 80 wise supporter Of the policy
q" the Republican party desires 10 cmharrass by lcgis
lafiOn the industrial development ot the southern
States. The removal 0f sugar dutir, f. I'm any
tlOna policy. tn" actual cost OF the duty
upon the required - produce 100 pounds Of
puro grarulafcd sugar f. :. 30 but for 100
round 81 refined exported the r,iiner receives
from the Government draw back or refund 81 ~ so.
or 30 cents per 100 pounds moro than the duty paid
ON the raw material. The foreign consumers Of our
refined sugars therefore pay - 80 c,, per pounds
than the home consumers Thirty cents per 100
pounds is large profit IN it~clf. on $1,000 100000
pound, n would amount 10 $1,000 900. more than
- per cent on the capital employed I'm refining II.
All sugar exported the rrfncr~ receive the usual
addition the 30 cents per 100 pounds
paid direct from the Treasury Of the United states
II j. high time that Our present sugar policy was
abolished. root and branch. and this prime necessary
~ life secured the consumers AZ IN" lowest possible
cost. FRNNtlN NAlLAND GLEN
Brooklyn, Feb -, 1880.