The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-07
DUTY ON SUGAR AND SILK
BOTH CRY FOR a HIGH TARIFF IN
ORDER TO LIVE.

test Against Any Reduction, ana
Says a Bounty Would be Ruinous
to All.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 6.--The time Of the
ways and means committee to-day was de-
voted to hearing representatives of the silk
and sugar industries. The first gentleman
TO appear was F. w. Cheney of South Man.
chester, Conn, president Of the Silk Asso-
citation Of America. While the Senate bill,
he said, made an average reduction of 10
per cent. on the duty on silk, it was accept
aule to him.
Britton Richardson, secretary Of the same
association, advocated the imposition Of a
compound duty on silk. He said that about
one-haf of the silk consumed in this country
was Of American manufacture. The great
obstacle which the American manufacturer
had to contend against was differentiation
OF imports. He did not believe that any
duty could be mad on raw silk high enough
to protect the silk growers of this country
without Gripping the manufacturer.
LETTING THEIR PURSES TALK.
Several manufacturers of different vari-
cites Of silk goods advocated high duties on
their particular wares; and California
producer of cocoons favored the imposition
OF duty on raw silk
Philip Walker, chief of the silk bureau of
the department of agriculture, submitted
specimens Of cocoons and silk produced from
these raised in the United States. He dwelt
upon the Importance of building up the silk
industry in the United States, and stated
that the agricultural department had come
Co the conclusion that all the raw silk
needed in this country could be produced If
there was duty of 81 per pound on raw
silk, which duty would not increase the cost
OF silk goods more than cent per yard.
THE SUGAR GROWERS HEARD.
After recess the Sugar Planters' Associ-
alton of Louisiana had hearing, the first
speaker being John Dymond, president of
the association. He read memorial ad-
dressed to the committee, which concludes
by asking if it is not wise and just that one
industry should be protected to an extent
that will enable us to produce our own
sugar. In the course Of his remarks Mr..
Dymond said the cost Of labor in Louisiana
is four times as great as labor in Cuba-$1
a day in Louisiana.
How does the cost of labor compare
with slave laborl" asked Mr.. Gear.
"There are no means Of determining
that,
"The sugar plantations were run by slave
labor"
80, yes" responded the witness, "but
there is not a member of the delegation
here who operated slave labor. There are
very few owners of Louisiana plantations
now who owned them before the war;
Mr.. Dymond said the industry is being
extended in Louisiana, sugar-makers leas-
ing more land every year for the growth Of
cane. Louisiana, he said, produces one
eight Of allthe sugar consumed in the
United States.
SCIENTIFIC FEATURES.
Prof. w. G. Stubs of the Louisiana
sugar experiment station spoke on the
scientific features of sugar production. He
said that no industry has ever made such
progress as has the sugar industry within
the past five years At the beginning of
that term yield of 100 pounds of sugar
from ton Of cane was considered phenome-
nal. Now 1t is common, and the witness
had in the past year extracted $50 pounds
of sugar from a single ton. Prof. Stubbs
said that almost every dollar Of income re-
ceived by the sugar planters of Louisiana
for the past five years had been invested in
improvements. louisiana has l, 100 sugar
planters who support nearly half a million
people, in addition to large numbers of
laborers imported for the harvesting season
only, from Mississippi and Alabama. Sugar
lands find ready sale now TO northern men /;
in fact, the witness said, he was the
only southern man in the delegation before
the committee. The best and most success
ful planters are northern men. In the be-
lief of the witness, the planters have not
made any money in the past five years, If
the cost Of the improvements to their plant
is counted out.
GOV. wARMoTH HEARD.
Gov. Warmoth, wno was introduced by
Mr. DUpnpn1 81 etfba TnOqf antnrnriefrtag
planter in our state" was the next witness.
He said he had but little to add to
what had been said by those who
had preceded him. That little was that, in
his opinion, it is strange to find the repre-
sentatives of a protected interest In the
north and west CRYING aloud for "a free
breakfast t. ble,n which does not mean free
pork TO us. 81 speak feehngly upon this sub
ject," continued the witness, because j
have conducted some political cam
paigns in my state. Everywhere /
went was met with representa-
tive so and SOS speech from Pen sylvania,
and Ohio and Michigan in favor of a reduc-
tion of so per cent. of the tariff on sugar. l
say that in the face Of these speeches l have
not been as successful in converting my
democratic friends as could have been de-
sired. Excuse me for indulging in this
lecture. Laughter
A BOUNTY WOULD BE RUINoUs.
Mr.. La Follette-WoulG not bounty suit
youg
Gov. Warmoth--The effect Of a bounty
after a years. experiment would be the de-
struction Of the sugar industry.
Mr.. LaFollette-Why so?
Gov. Warmoth-Fof the reason that the
country can see that bounty is tariff and
If we are singled out for the receipt of a
bounty demadd will arise for its abolition
that cannot be resisted.
MIR. McKinley-Is the sugar crop of
Louisiana lncreasingl
Gov. Warmoth-Yes; it was $4,000 tens
heavier last year than before. If you want
friends in Louisiana you must not touch the
sugar tariff. We cannot stand a reduction
of one-haf cent a pound. 1t would be
ruinous TO the industry, and without sugar
the city of New Orleans would he depopu-
lated and its streets grown with grass.
Mr.. McKinley-WIll you increase your
acreage If we reduce the tariff per cent?
Gov. Warmoth-Yes, sir.
MIR. McKinley--For how long?-
Gov. Warmoth-Until | am busted.
Mr.. McKinley-And how long will that
bef
Gov. Warmoth-Not a great while,
assure you
REPRESENTATIVE PETERS HEARD.
Representative Peters of Kansas said his
constituents were interested in the produce
ton of silk. sugar (frcm sorghum and beets)
and salt, and he wanted protection for each
Of these industries He also objected to the