New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-15
THE SUGAR DUTY BLUNDER
HARD WORK BY THE LOBBY TO REGAIN
THE GROUND LOST.
WHAT THE UNDERSTANDING on RECIPROCITY
WAS IN THE HOCsE-No INTENTION OF
DISTURBING EXISTING TREATIES.
ny TELEGRAPH 10 THE TRIBcyy.-


DISTURBING EXISTING TREATIES.
lDY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRBTSy.
WASHINGTON March 1.-THE Democratic men,
bers Of the Finance Committee of the Senate nave
been greatly upset by the publication of the fact
that by the continuance of the reciprocity
treaties made under the Mckinley law tWo-
thirds of the sugar imported into this country VIII
come in free of duty in spite of any tarin which
the Wilson bill may lay upon raw sugars. Inc
discovery that the tariff revisers OF the senate
blundered egregously in laying Il ! cent duty on
sugar and then forgetting altogether to abrogate
the existing reciprocity arrangements mas
brought all work on the bill 10 standstill again
and until something is done to repair TINS un-
accountable slip there will be little hope OF re-
porting the bill to the Senate.
The sugar lobby and all those interested in pre-
serving the duty on sugar have been at work win
All their might all day TO improve the position
from their point of view. They are trying 10 IN
duce the Committee on Finance to recast the
whole sugar schedule so as to secure the abro-
CATION Of the reciprocity treaties and compel the
collection of duty on all sugars. Thus far they
have received no assurances from the committee,
and there are reasons to doubt their success in
securing the reputation of the existing treaties.
1t has been repeatedly made apparent that II
was not the intention Of either the House or
Senate Committee to interfere with the existing
treaties by anything in this bill but apparently
the consequence of the retention of the treaties
was overlooked. whether by the committee or
not certainly by the sugar men. There Is
q p,raat deal of embarrassment involved in the
question: for the reason that If a tax Of l cent
a pound is collected on all sugars and the
treaties are abrogated this country will lose
great benefits which have accrued from two OF
these treaties. those with Germany and Spain
The abrogation Of the other treaties will be of
less consequence. as comparatively lesser beneht
to the United States has come from them But
the treaties with Germany and Spain. under
which most of the sugar would come in free,
have resulted in very great benefits. and should
these two treaties be abrogated the farmers.
whose opposition to placing duty on sugar the
Democrats already fear. would have not only
to pay cent pound more for their sugar but
at the same time would be deprived Of the Cuban
market for their -four and the German market
for their pork
The sacrifice OF these two markets for Amerl-
can agricultural products is regarded as very
serious political experiment. Yet If the
treaties are not abrogdted very little revenue
will be derived from the duty placed on sugar.
and no protection whatever will be given to
the sugar producers OF this country. 1t Is sug-
gested that it may have been consideration Of
this circumstance which led the Committee on
Finance Of the Senate TO provide sufficient
revenue from other sources 10 meet the require
monts Of the situation leaving the sugar tax
practically a surplus revenue
statement has been published to the effect
that Mr.. Caifery had given the represen tatives
OF the beet sugar industry in Kansas and Ne
braska the assurance that he would introduce
an flf,na Ii Il ffrts
President OF the United States to notify To- those
countries with whom there are reciprocity trea-
months after the date on which the new Tariff
law goes into effect
Senator Caffery asked # he contemplated
such a course and replied that he did not. as
he did not consider it would be necessary The
proposed law" said he "repeas the reciprocity
clause Of the Mckinley law pro tantO, and any
further proceedings would be useless
Senator Blanchard said that the Wilson bill
would put the sugar business an entirely diff
ferent basis from what it had occupied under the
Mckinley law, as under that sugar had come in
free. and he did not apprehend any trouble in
constituting the Wilson bill when ii shall become
law as a repeal Of the reciprocity clause.
These Senators apparently are afraid 10 ac-
knowledge the trap in which they have been
caught through the maladroitness of the Finance
Committee REVISE
The understanding ard intention Of the Senate
Committee on Finance with reference t. the r"ci-
procty arrangements is exactly the same AZ that
expressed by the members Of the committee on
the floor Of the House when the Tariff bill was
under consideration in that body. On January
% as shown by "The Congressional Record" /
Mr.. Springer offered amendment 10 the bill /
providing that all treaties heretofore made in /
pursuance Of the provisions Of said section (Sec
ton 3 shall continue in force until abrogated by /
their terms the if the said section had /
not been repealed"
Mr. Turner Of the Committee on Ways and
Means. pronounced the amendment superiuOus, |
because "the provision Is TO repeal the reciprocity
clause by express and explicit provision. but it |
does not in any way affect the existing agree
ments"
Mr. Springer replied that it was his understand |
ing, as il that Of others in the House. that !,
the repeal of the reciprocity section of the Mckin
ley act terminated all the arrangements made !
under its authority. Mr.. Breckenridge. Mr.. Tur-
ner and Mr.. Wilson all members Of the COM
mittee. assured him that It did not. that his in
depreciation was wrong, whereupon Mr. Springer |
said:
the provision proposed to be repealed the
clause authorizing these treaties to be made, but |
/ see from the reading Of the section by the
gentleman from Virginia that such Is not the
case and l will therefore withdraw my amend
ment."
Mr. Coombs Of New York. revived the inquiry
81 wing: II do not believe in letting go these
or in releasing any hold We have
upon the foreign markets The who would
be the most injured by the abrOgation Of the
section of the Mckinley law now proposed to be
repealed would be the farmers"
And then Mr.. COombs, as well Mr.. Springer, |
was quoted with assurances from Mr.. Wilson. Mr..
Turner and others that there was no intention TO
disturb the reciprocity arrangements but only
to prevent the President from making any more.
MINOR PROCEEDINGS IN THE HOUSE
Washington. March lion motion OF Mr.. Ryan
Rep y. " the bill to extend the limits Of the port