Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-14
THE SUGAR QUANDARY
Uncertain as to the Effect in the Reel
procity Treaties.

The publication of the fact that by the
retention Of the reciprocity treaties already
existing, made under the Mckinley law,
about two-thirds OF the sugar imported in
to this country will come in free of DUTY,
regardless of what rate of duty is fixed by
general provision, has caused a great stir
in Congress. and given the finance COM
mittee considerable embarrassment. The
sugar lobby and all those interested in
preserving the duty on sugar are at work
with all their might today to improve the
position from their point of view. They
are trying to induce the committee on
finance to recast the whole provisions with
relation to sugar, SO to secure the abro-
cation of the reciprocity treaties and COM
pei the collection OF duty on all sugars.
Thus far they have received no assurances
from the committee, and there are reasons
to doubt the ab:ogation OF existing treaties.
No Intention to Interfere With Exist
Ing Treaties.
1t has been repeatedly made apparent
that it was not the intention of either the
House or Senate committee to interfere
with the existing treaties by anything with
in this BILL but apparently the consequence
OF the retention of the treaties was over
looked. whether by the committee or not,
certainly by the sugar men. There Is a
great deal of embarrassment involved in
the question, for the reason that If a tax
OF l cent 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 of Ger
many and Spain. The abrogation of the
other treaties will be of apparently little con-
sequence. as no great benefit TO the United
States has come from them. But the treat
les with Germany md Spain, under which
most or 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 a pound more for their
sugar but at the same time would be de-
prived OF the Cuban market for their flour
and the German market for their pork.
The Present Figures Explained.
The sacrifice of these two markets for
American agricultural products is regarded
as very serious thing to contemplate
Yet, II the treaties are not abrogated very
little revenue will be derived from the duty
placed on sugar, and no protection will be
given to the sugar producers of this coun-
try whatever. 1t is suggested that II NAV
nave been in consideration of this circum-
stance which led the committee on finance
or the Senate to provide a sufficient revenue
from other sources to meet the require
ments or the situation, leaving the sugar
tax practically at a surplus revenue
Those interested in securing a duty on
sugar are fearful that the phrase in the
provision for the repeal of the reciprocity
clause which states that the repeal shall
not AFFECT any act done or any right ac-
cruinS or accrued before the said repeal
may operate to continue the agreements
in operation or to render 1t question
which will lead to misunderstanding and
dispute. Senators Cafery and Blanchard
both agree with the position taken by Sena-
tor Vest
a statement has been published TO the
effect that Mr.. Caffery had given the rep
resentatives of the beet sugar industry
in Kansas and Nebraska the assurance
that he would introduce an amendment to
the Senate bill directing the President of
the United States to notify those countries
with whom there are reciprocity treaties
that all such treaties will be abrogated
three months after the date on which the
new tartn law goes into effect
Louisiana Senator'S Views,
Senator Caffery was asked if he contem-
plated such a course. and replied that he
did not. as he did not consider it would be
necessary. THE proposed law said he
''repeals the reciprocity clause Of The Nc
Kinley law pro tonic. and any further pro-
ceedngs would be useless"
Senator Blanchard said that tho Wilson
bill would put the sugar busin ass on an en-
tirely different basis from what i. had &C.
cupied 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 it shall become a law
as a repeal of the reciprocity clause
The United States has reciprocity asree-
ments made under the Mckinley law with
Brazil, Spain, for the colonies AMI Cuba and
Porto Rico, San Domingo. GermHny, Saliva
dor the British West India colonies. Mica
ragua. Qua temala, Costa Rica, Honduras
France and her colonies and Aust-ia Hun
gary.