New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-09-13
THE STG4R QUESTION.

The action of the Republican senators n "
sugar duties has been grossly mSrepre'ch'cd
Nv opponents. THE TRIBrNE has not hech
.l,lc 10 agree entirely with the majority III the
Corotc but the reasons submitted by senator
Ntr;cb late in the night session Of Mon
dav. were sufficiently strong to influence tho
votes of many, including some Democratic
Senators, and certainly merit candid conSId-
Grafton. Only by SrpprcSSing th2>" reasons
can the Democratic press represent the kc-
publican majority as incompetent lea by Inc
uosc or controlled by the sugar Trust
The two houses arc agreed as to admission
of raw sucar free. rs To the bounty to do
nestle producers. and as to the propricty OF
duties on the higher grades of refined sugar
The point of difference j. simply this: the
Uousc proposes no duty. and the Senate duty
Of thrcc-tcnths of n cent per pound, on sugar
in color No. IL to No. 1G Dutch Standard.
The intention of the House was to admit fro
the lower grades OF refined sugar. which colld
he widely used in place of TIE higher Gfau"s
if any cxtortonaie price should be demanded
by rciinerS
l,rt Mr. AlLrIch showed, first, that there
are grades of refined sugar. whit" ana excel
lent in quality, which arc now sold M as low
or lower prices than so-cillcd raw sugar OF
\o ~ in color: that Cuba MuScovado, III
color ~. Is or below. which would he al
mittod free under the Senate bill AMI can
with difficulty be distinguished from Tn" highcr
grades. could hc used in place Of any refined
sugar: that the sugar made by the centrifugal
process. which is now intentionally kept
shade below No. Is in color. though contain
inc 9S per cent pure sugar. if admitted Tree
M f. No. 1G in Color would completely driv"
ONT and DESTROY the trade in other cane sugar
from Cuba and Drmarara lccau>" iii IN" other
canc-rasing countries the costly machinery
roouircd for the centrifugal process is not used
i,u, the chief point raised hy Mr. Aldrich
WAS tina, the export houniic' pad hy various
Europcan Governments would enable Inc pro-
ducors Of those countries Ia send hither III"
lower grades Of refined hcrt sugar IN cn"r-
mou, quantities. completely crushing ont "i
exist nee here. not "n'y III" rriilinS pI"'c>S
,s ,o .uch grades. bur that very production at
cane. beet and sorghum i'll this country "hl'h
il i, proposed Ia encourage hy bounty we
have L. protect. i" reasons NOT against I"i
elm ministries hut against German ana
French huunticS For these foreign h"'inii'>'
Mr.. ,ld.ich argues. are sufficient now - ra"'"
,rc,t,v increasing imports Of beet >ucar INTO
tb;s country in spite of tho present duty
AVERAGING . cents por pound. II there wcr"
no duty on the grades IL t. 1G. i""' sugar
would be forced into the American market 10y
German aud French hounticN IN such I'''h'''!
As 70 rcnG"r the proposed American h"uh'!'
cents. to home producers Of no Us" or value
# i, argurd. further, that III" present com
biuation oi 60 per c'nt of the >'i-ar r"'iii'TN
in this country i a temporary c"hhl'i"h hl'
the tlrff will be- permanent Long aIr'r u"
tu,>, hi, been crashed by the na,ula! growth
of home competition. or by III" fore" "i IN"
\u,i.Trl,t laws the adjustment of duties VIII
remain Ia cncuIIag" or Ia destroy III" Industry
IN ,hi, country Il would not b. proper, II i
ARMED To sublnc, the home industry both oi
/ growers and rclncrs Ia permanent disability
because Of tho prc>"n, conduct OF ,oin" rein
| cr, which the Antitrust laws or the laws OF
| trade will surely correct and punish
II will lie conceded. even b, th"~" who dis
| son, mos, strongly from Senator \ldrith. that
his rcl>onings. particularly with respect Ia IN"
| cG'c, Of German AMI French h0rIn'ic> have
mnch force. TnE THlHNE. not entirely
agreeing with him, still does not doubt the
good faith or the earnest patriotism Of IN"
| EcpubIIcin senators WHO, on HHch Er"uI"i> ~
| these. were led 10 dissent from Tie ll"is"
| In the conference the differing views will be
frankly compared. and possibly som" modica-
| ton or ground for compromise may hc sought
| All will agree that the speedy pas>ag" Of tho
| best Tariff bill the country has ever seen
| should not be- endangered hy differences Re-
>pccllng relatively unimportant details. hut
| there should, nevertheless, be an earnest effort
| to clear the measure as far aS possible from the
few weak point, or defects that may yet re-
| main.