The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-01-24
REPEAL OF rHB SUGAR BOUNTY.


In committee of the whole the house
has amended the tariff bill so as to
strike out that portion Of it which pro-
vided for the payment OF a bounty on
sugar produced in the United States.
This was effected by coalition of Re-
publicsns with Democrats who were OPP
posed to bounties in any shape. The
committee OF ways and means had re-
ported the bill with provision that
would gradually repeal the bounty. but
it seems that there was a majority in
the house opposed to the retention of
the bounty feature in any shape.
We may therefore assume that the
bill, if it finally psss both houses at all,
will become law with the bounty pro-
vision eliminated. This is of course a
discoursging oatlook for'the sugar beet
industry, which was becoming one of
the important industries of this state,
and especially in Southern California.
II the production of native sugar had
been encouraged for a few years the
United States would find itself inde-
pendent of the rest of the world for q
supply of this very indispensable article
OF universal consumption. Sugar beet
factories would have multiplied indef-
nitely, and the farmers would nave been
enabled to raise another profitable crop.
Whilst we must all regret that con-
gress has seen fit to abolish this very
helpful bounty, it is not likely that the
tariff bill will ultimately pass without
providing compensation which will
still enable our sugar beet factories to
live. The government must be sup
ported, and the expenditures have now
become so great that it is necessary that
all articles of import that can with pro-
priety be taxed must be placed on the
tariff list. There is no article of impor-
tation upon which duty can be placed
that will yield more revenue and at the
same time fall with greater equality
upon all the people than sugar. The
average duty on sugar before the pas
sage of the Mckinley bill was about two
cents pound, or about the equivalent
that was paid in bounty to the Ameri-
can producers of sugar. If the old duty
is placed upon the imported article, the
necessary advance that will take place
in the price OF sugar will recoup the
American manufacturer for the loss sus-
tanned by the repeal of the bounty. The
people will have to pay more than they
do now for their sugar, and the increase
will go to the beet sugar industry and
ought to insure its continued prosperity.
In this connection it is proper to re-
mind our readers that all thu arrange
at Chino were entered into before it was
known that congress was going to pass a
bill granting bounty to American pro-
duced sugar. The price at which sugar
sold at that time was high enough to
ensure the success OF sugar beet fac
tory, and the enterprising gentlemen
who started the industry were satisfied
with the situation. OF course they were
highly pleased when congress allowed
them liberal bounty on their produc-
ton. 1t gave them an assured income
over and above the possible fluctuations
of the sugar market, and was therefore
a very acceptable boon.
We had hoped that this bounty would
stand, because it is in line with oar
views that new and infant industries
should receive the utmost aid that the
government can give them until they
have become strong enough to stand on
their own feet. Besides, there was an
other principle in this concession to the
sugar industry. 1t was that OF encourag-
ing an effort to make the United States
independent of the sugar-producing
countries, and insofar adding to our
national strength and increasing our
national wealth.