The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-19
VERY SWEET FACTS
Total Consumption of Sugar Last
Year 900 Pounds.
Those Who Have Been Growing Fat Off
the Bounty Want an Interview
with the Senators.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Some interest
ing statistics in connection with the sugar
production and consumption will be laid
before the Senate when the tariff bill comes
up for consideration. They will all tend in
the direction, Of course, of encouragement
Of the domestic sugar industry. and argue
in favor OF developing the beet and cane
sugar industries by the bounty system If
possible. and a protective duty if the boun-
ty cannot be secured.
In 1893 the domestic production Of sugar
in this country was 645, O0O, 900 pounds, the
foreign importations 3.651. 900. 600 pounds. MAX
ing the total consumption 4, 296, 100000 pounds.
The duty Of i cent. a pound proposed by
the Senate finance committee upon our
consumption last year would have been
$3.50 900. 1t is estimated that the per
capita consumption Is sixty-five pounds an
Dually, and it is figured that the imposition
Of / cent duty would cause this to fall off
to sixty pounds annually and the price OF
sugar to increase disproportionately large.
The increase Of population during the past
five decades has been % per cent. per dec
ade, while the increase in the production of
sugar in this country has been rs per cent.
per annum since attention has been directly
"a lOnaIo II n O0il VI Il OChl ptA
pound and a duty upon imported sugar of
the same amount, 1t is estimated, would
give a revenue to the government of $685.
$4,000, While the bounty would be 50, 2SS.0O0
next year, leaving a net sugar revenue OF
$24. 524, 900 in favor of the government, while
the result to the domestic sugar producer
would be the same as the present sugar
1900 the domestic sugar production at the
present rate OF increase would be 2,l62, 100000
pounds, or about one-half of the amount
required for consumption: Then the reve-
nue. OF the government from lmportatlons
would have Increased to SGT, $4,000, and the
nave Increased to 81. go, 900. leaving a net
revenue to the government of $6,36O,0OO. By
the account of the government, when there
would be paid out more bounty than was re-
ceived by a 1-cent duty from importations,
to a point where we would be Independent
on a sugar basis, and could, IL necessary,
produce enough sugar to supply our own
veloped to a point where there would not
be required either a bounty or a duty to
encourage the home PRODUCER.
Henry T. Oxnard, of Nebraska, president
Of the American Beet Sugar Association,
has addressed a letter to senator Vest, of
mittee on the tariff bill, and TO Senator
Voorhees,. Of Indiana. chairman OF the
finance COMMITTEES, asking them to give him
u hearing before the tariff bill is reported
to the Senate. IN order that he may give
the committee direct Information Which
will enable them TO act advisedly concern
ing the rights, equities, the situation and
necessities of the beet sugar producers and
their industry. He states that if there is
to be no protection provided in the bill
there should be some saving clause in
serted to prevent very considerable losses
upon the part. Of beet sugar producers.
which are likely TO ensue by any modih-
cation of the present law. lie does not ask
for a full equivalent Of the present law,
but says there should be some recognition
Of the promises in the existing tariff law.
Among other things Mr.. Oxnard says to
the committee:
Relying upon the duration of the law to
penses and lessen The cost of sugar. we
have made contracts with farmers extend
ing into the future. embracing the years 1894
for beets, which is from 81 to $40 more
than is given abroad by our rivals. Unless
an equivalent for a repeal of the bounty is
all others similarly situated, very serious
loss. For instance, 1 am called on by my
contracts to pay 50 per ton for beets at the
Chino, CAL, factory, which is a loss of $780,
900, and a similar loss next year of SO. 900;
at Norfolk. Neb., $4,000; at Grand Island,
Neb., $4,000; total loss. $lS0,OOO.
"These contracts with farmers were made
on the basis of my receiving the bounty
promised by law and my offers of 50 per
ton for beets could not and would not nave
equivalent. At but 1 cent duty, for instance,
II would have brought the actual cost Of
sugar above the selling price. plus that duty.
and / would have been compelled to close
my factories and the profitable occupation
Of the beet farmers would have gone. For
instance, under the bounty law of 1890 it is
calculated that in 1898 the average per cap
tia consumption of sugar was siXty-fve
pounds; the average yield OF sugar per ton
OF beets, 165 pounds. For that / receive, If
refined. 4 cents per pound, Sc. go, and 2 cents
bounty. $3.50: total, $3.50; out of which the
farmer gets So, giving him one-half of the
bounty and over one-half of the total finan-
cial result"