The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-03-16
BLUNDER IN THE TARIFF BILL.

The Senate Sugar Amendments do not Alb
roento tho Reciprocity Treaties BAD
Break by the Senate Committee Which
Makes u Farce OF the Sugar Duties.
WASHINGTON, D. G.. March l5.-A CO.
losal bluuicr has been discovered in the
new tariff as amended by the senate in
regard TO sugar. Those who supposed
that duty OF one cent per pound had
been imposed by tho senate amend.
men,s on raw sugar imported into the
United States, with agraduatod scale up
10 one and iour-tenths cents per pound
on refined sugar, were somewhat star
tied 10 read interviews with Senator
Voorhees, and Senator Vest declaring
that the senate amendments did not ab-
rosate the reciprocity arrangements uu-
der tho old Mckinley law. Tho bill rs
1t passed the house provided that the
third section oi tho Mckinley law
should be repealed, "but tho repeal Of
existing laws or notifications thereof
embraced in this nc! shall not affect any
act done or any right accruing or ac-
crued, or any suit or proceedings had or
commenced in any ciyilcause before the
said repePl or notifications, but all
rights and liabilities under said laws
shall continue and may be enforced in
the s1lne manner rs il said repeal or
notifications had not been made"
Senator Vest ioll back upon this quail
flying clause as leaving in force all tho
reciprocity arrangements made under
the Mckinley Law, and as going no fur.
ther than prohibiting tho making OF
additional arrangements Of tho came
sort.
Senator Voorhees, concurred with this
view go far as to say that the reciprocity
arrangements wonld not be abroca,ed
except by notice on tho part OF the
United States. When asked il he was
aware that sugar from Cuba, Germany
and Brazil would continue TO en-
ter the United States free OF duty un-
der this view Of tho cNse, he refused to
continue the discussion.
The suggestion that the supreme
court had declared legislation para
mount to treaties was met by the reply:
You mr't 20 10 the supreme court
then tor your information"
The effect OF thil view, that the trea-
ties arc not abrogated BY tho tariff bill,
is 10 make the sugar duty OF very little
account. The imports OF sugar into the
United States during the fiscal year
1893 reached value OF SlO2, los, ISL Z.
Cuba sent TO this country 500. .O37, ,03l OF
this amount; Porto Rico, Siag7 ,592;
Germany, SO,i75.Gl5; Brazil, S2,O POI.
and tho British West Indies, Sg,ISI I;l
All these countries have reciprocity
arrangements with tho United States.
and II these arrangements continue in
force and their sugar remains free OF
duty, the amount snbec, 10 duty under
the tariff! bill will be about Is per cent
Of the gross imports.
Another singular feature OF the bill is
that the Hawaiian treaty, which was
formally ratified by the senate, IL ain
glet out for nbrogation by the senate
bill. This fac. Is cited by the senators
as proof that the other reciprocity ar
rangemcn,s arc no. abro.ated but, on
the other hand, It seems remarkable
that sugar should be made dutiable
from the Hawaiian Islands while Ii re.
mains free from Cuba, Germany and
Brazil. The suspicion prevails In somc
quarters that the senators who mako
these statements do no. know the real
effects OF the BILL themselves, aud wore