Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-10-16
follows:


Commenting upon this, John E.Sesrles.
Jr., of New York, who is treasurer of
the sugar trust, and who undoubtedly
speaks intelligeutly for that organization,
says.
Concerning the effect OF the new sugar
tariff on the business Of the trust, / have
no doubt that the Ell, ct OF the bill will be
very largely to increase its business, mas
much as the removal OF the duty on raw
sugars will reduce the cost of sugar to
the consumer very nearly or quite two
cents per pound, and the tendency will
be to stimulate consumption.
With free raw sugar today, graGUl sted
sugar OF the best quality would sell at
three-quarter cents per pound 70 the job
bers.
The fixing of the free line at No. IS
instead Of No. -. ID. 5, is not Of so
much consequence to the refiners as TO
the consumers. The refincTs. especially
those in the trust. will be able to adapt
themselves without any difficulty to the
change in the character of the raw sugars
which will be imported under the new
tariff. al of which, or at least 80 per cent
inasmuch as the consumers Of this coup-
try have been educated during the last
fifteen years to the use of higher grades
OF refined sugar than No. Is raw. and
will never return to that grade of sugar,
especially in view OF the fact that the
cheaper grades of refined sugar, far su-
perior to No. 16 raw. are actually sold ny
the retiners at u less price than the latter
can be imported for.
The fact is that the change of the
standard from IS to IS was pure dema-
gogy; the trainers of the bill in the house
who raised the cry of free sugar for the
consumer as well as the refiner," had
themselves no idea that No 10 raw su-
gars would go into direct consumption.
Samples OF the raw and refined, showing
the relative price of each, were exhibited
to the members of the WAYS and means
committee. and they were forced 10 admit
that there was nothing in their pretended
claim OF free sugar for the consumer.
But It furnished cheap campaign cry
with which to deceive their constituents.
and, as they believed, make political can.
ital for themselves.
The senate committee, who invests
gated the matter very thoroughly and
carefully, saw the fallacy OF the claim.
and also that the raising of the standard
OF raw sugars, 80 far from benefitting the
consumer, will only open our markets TO
the immense crop of raw beet sugars
(which can only be used for refining) dis
placirS 10 the same extent the lower
grades OF raw cane sugars, from which
the cheaper grades of refined used by the
masses OF the people are made, thereby
enhancing the cost of these grades. which
cannot be made from beet sugars.
For this reason the senate conferrea s
persistently refused TO yield the No ~
line, but the house conferrees were intim.
ldated By the threats OF some of the
western delegates, who were chiefly in
terested IN this campaign thunder and
who threatened TO defeat the tariff bill
II No. is line was not maintained.
The protection on refined sugar ahove
NO. 10 Is adequate as manufactured
protection, the only danger to the refins
ing interest being the export boupties IN
Europe. 1t was, howeve, agreed nv tho
representatives of both houses of congress-
that should the protection of the bill
prove insufficient rs against these boup,
ties, additional legislation in the shane of
bounty provision will be readily adonted
TO protect the American industry aoains,
European bounties.
With free raw sugars the facilities of
refners within the trust will enable them
TO do an enormous business at a small