The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1890-06-06

he expenditure in that direction, in II
which case caution will have to be n
,sed in cutting of the receipts. 1t u
s probable that the Senate, ii it d
ioes not pass the repeal Of the
sugar duty, will at least cut it down c
from thirty to fifty per cent. This ,
course seems the most probable.
But supposisg We lose the entire
benefit Of the treaty by our abso-
Lutte repeal of the duty, what
next? For us the important ques-
ton will be, what price are
we to get for our sugar? The
price will be just what the market
price in the rest of the world hap
pens to be, and that of course will
depend on the supply from time to
time. Countries which cannot
raise sugar cheaply must submit to
defeat in the business. Perhaps We
shall have something Of the same
experience which was observed in
1876.
When the Reciprocity Treaty
went into effect it was popularity
supposed that the consumer of
sugar on the Pacific Coast was 60
ing to get his coffee sweetened at
one to two cents pound cheaper.
The economist and statistician
knew differently and said that the
producer and refiner would make
the difference, and they did 1t
was the effect intended in Wash
ington, and it was known that the
benefit resulting to the United
States would, or ought to be, in
creased trade and commerce, and
that result has been attained also.
For now the United States sell us
over 70 per cent. of all of our inn
ports and carries over 80. per cent.
Of our entire carrying trade. This
is better showing than appears
for the States with any other
foreign country. Since the treaty
went into effect, our imports have
increased nearly four hundred per
cent, or from 81, 505, 900 to $685.
} 900. Most of this has gone into
the hands of merchants, mechanics,
artizans and farmers on the Pacific
Coast.
The price of sugar in the United
States will fall as soon as the
worlds production SO increases
over the demand as to bring about
that result. The Cuban or Mexican
or Chinese grower of sugar is not
going to sell to America at any
) price which would net him from s
half to a cent more than what ht
could get before, if he can get more
in London. The grower is going
: to continue to sell where he car
get the best price. But the re
. moval of duty will have this inn
a portant effect: it will stimulate tn,
. growth of sugar in those countries
= near the United States where tn,
, industry has languished and beer
\ largely ruined for the past three o.
i four years by the low price o
sugar. The low price has beef
occasioned by: sugar bounties il
Europe, but Europe is growing
weary of this system and the frs
g extensive war-and that is not "a
r off-wlll smash it. This will cut Of
o much Of the beet industry and sem
2. it back to the tropics where cane j
l. the dependence. But why ha
4, sugar growing been in such abun
g dance in the West Indies, Centra
e America, etc. ? Why it is becaus
n sugar cannot be raised at the 10,
d prices realized. That is, at $50 t
70 $50 per ton it was given up. No,
N some of. our sugar estates can iv
e at those prices and when sugar get
% SO low, they will still continue t
rs exist. But no doubt many col
At Germs will go under and we sha
< have to face j period of stagnatiol
e. Those who knew the friendly dil
IN position of the United State
9. towards us will ask with surpris
Mt why we have not provided for th
e contingency. The present Mini
lie try attempted to do SO and foun
e. the United States cordially willin
1t to enter into negotiations by whic
le we could have revised our treat
In into practical commercial unio
" Of course advantages were aske
at and we, could have granite
y the concessions desired with dil
ne nifty and honor, and an autonom
y and independence would have bee
~ | o.ourod Al fhie ;unoturo onr olo