Evening star., 1894-03-20
THE SUGAR SCHEDULE
Senator Jones Explains the Action Of the
Committee.

Senator Jones Of Arkansas This afternoon
gave the following explanation of the COM
mittee's reasons for making the changes in
the sugar schedule: THE bill is changed
in making the increase at the rate of 2-ioo
of a cent for each degree apply to all sugar
testing from 10 to 9s degrees. instead of
from 90 TO 9G degrees. The reason for this
is that,on account of the improved methods
of sugar-making by vacuum pans. a great
deal of sugar now imported for the purpose
of being refined is above a6 degrees and is
in fact a raw sugar, 20 which ii would be
ineQuitable to apply the tax on refined
sugar. The reason for putting the color
test in the schedule is that there are con-
siderable quantities of sugar which are i'm
proved in color, made in fact, almost white,
which really contain a low percentage Of
saccharine matter, which might be imported
and enter into consumption refined
sugar. easily deceiving the .Lblic by reason
Of their high color.
To Encourage High Grades.
THE Introduction and sale of such sugar
would be fraud on consumers, and as il has
the appearance Of being a refined sugar
the proposition is that the tax paid on this
class shall be the same as the tax paid
on sugars which is really refined. II is true
that the quantity OF such sugar would be
but a small percentage of the whole i'm
portation and this change in the schedule
really doesn't amount to a great deal. but
as / have no doubt the best sugar is the
cheapest sugar, think il well to so frame
the law to encourage the production
of the highest grade Of sugar in this coun-
try.
This schedule will give the refiners is
of one per cent margin between the tariff
on the raw material and the finished pro-
duct. 1 very much doubt whether they
need any protection at all, but as many
Senators claiming to be familiar with this
matter assert that TO give them no pro-
lection would close up the rehneries and
compel them 10 leave this country, ! think
II wise to leave the margin as We have put
1t.
This is really a great reduction from their
present protection. They now get one-hal II
of one cent on all sugar and siX-teuths of a
cent on sugar coming from countries pay
Ing bounties. and the proposed schedule will
be a reduction of more than three -fourths
of the protection they now have: IL this Is
found to be too large Congress can easily
rearrange it,"
As to the Reciprocity Treaties.
Asked as to the reasons OF the committee
for inserting an explicit provision for the
abrogation of the reciprocity agreements
made under the Mckinley law and for strik-
ing out the original amendment for the alb
rogation of the Hawaiian treaty. Mr.. Jones
said:
THE provision for the abrogation of the
commercial agreements under the Mckinley
law Is entirely unnecessary, as the repeal
Of section of that act certainly carries
with II everything that rested upon It. and
these agreements had no vitality exceut
under that section. The relations between
this country and the Sandwich Islands are,
however. on quite a different footing, ms
they rest upon treaty regularly negotf-
ated and ratified by the Senate. We did not
propose TO take up the question of the abro-
cation of this treaty under this bill, hence
il was left out"