The Delta independent., 1895-01-09
EMBITTERED BY SUGAR.
TROUBLESOME FOREIGN RELA-
TONS.
Cabinet Oncers Exercised Over the Pros
pect Of Serious Complications With
European Powers Which Are Affected
by tho Sugar Schedule.

Washington, D. c., Jan. 0.-The pro-
test of Austria against the American
discriminating duty on sugar supple
menting as it does similar action by
Germany is giving the administration
grave concern. An evidence of this
was conference yesterday lasting
about an hour between Secretary
Gresham, Secretary Carlisle and Attor-
ney General Olney.
| Secretary Gresham Is concerned in
the subject from n diplomatic point of
view, Secretary Carlisle is Interested
in the possible effect upon the revenues
Of the government and upon Attorney
General Olney devolves the legality of
amy proposed movement of the govern
ment.
The Austrian minister undertakes to
show in the first place that the impoSi
| ton Of a differential duty of 1-1O of l
per cent. per pound on Austrian sugar
| Is in violation of article of the treaty
Of 1899 between the United States and
| AuStria-Hungary. There it is assert
| ed that the exchange Of notes pre-
ccding the reciprocity agreement un-
der the Mckinley act established new
basis OF commercial relations and that
! Austria Hungary conceded to the Unit
ed States the same reduction Of duties
| that is granted to other countries under
what is known as the most favored ma
| ton clause.
The Austrian minister also shows
that the assessment of bounty on sugar
produced in Austria is not the act of
the imperial government but is entirely
n provincial affair and so corresponds
to the Independent action of any of our
states.
InaSmuch as the bounty system of
Austria differs from Germany it was
contended thai the same construction
which put the dilferential tariff on
German sugar did not apply to Aus
trian sugar. But when this question
came formally before Secretary Carlisle
upon an inquiry from the collectors of
customs at Baltimore the secretary dis
posed of the contention of these words
in letter dated Aug. 81 last: ''The de-
partment is in receipt of your letter OF
the 18th inst. in which your request to
be informed what foreign countries
grant direct or indirect bounty on su-
gar. In reply have to state that Ger
many and Austria Hungary grant by
law direct bOuntieS on sugar and that
under the operations Of the laws Of
France, Belgium, Denmark and Meth
erland, providing for remission of the
internal revenue taxes on beetS used
in the production of exported sugar,
indirect bountics may apparently be
earned by the exporters. Respectfully
signed, J. G. CARLISLE"
This letter not only disposed Of
Germany and Austria but held subject
to additional tax sugars coming from
four other European countries. 1t may
INn tIny a.
Of these four countries have begun the
application of restrictions upon the i'm
portation of American cattle or other
food products. The whole situation is
made more grave by the belief which
Is entertained by the administration
that Is well-nigh hopeless to appeal to
Congress for aid. If it Is finally held
by the administration that the sugar
duty Is a discrimination duty there will
probably be another appeal to Congress
to repeal it, but If it is held to be
fair tax and not in controvention of IA
vored nations clause, the case prob
ably will be one requiring simple eXecu-
tive action.
The figures collected by the treasury
department bearing upon the subject
show that during the past fiscal year
the imports of beet root sugar into the
United States from Europe amounted
in value to S15,791 900. Germany
stands first in the list with S1O,OG3, 900;
Belgium comes next with S2,317 600;
| Austria third with SLAP, ,795; France
fourth with S422,O42 and the Neither
lands fifth with S33S, 100. All Of this
| sugar came into the United States last
year duty free and it is contended that
| the effect of the differential of 1-lO
| of per cent. per pound in addition to
| the duty Of 40 per cent levied on all
| sugar will be to prohibit the traffic.
There are, it is learned, other dis
| turbing elements entering into our re-
| lation with the continental European
| powers which undoubtedly have had
| the effect to stimulate the retaliatory
| policy adopted by them. One of these
| discussed at this mornings conference
| was the status of the agents of this
| government stationed in Europe 10
| carry out the quarantine laws. When
there seemed to be great danger of the
| introduction of cholera into the United
States last summer, medical officers
were placed at the principal European
| ports and under the terms of the act
of 1893, they were required to make
sure that the vessels cleared for the
| United States were free from all traces
of disease. Naturally the require
l
welcome to the steamship companies
and finally the French government pro-
tested against the presence OF our
medical representatives. The Germans
| did not 20 SO FAR at that time but they
resented the operations on their soil
of the agents of foreign governments
who were not clothed with diplomatic
| powers. In the end they protested
strongly and now have gone so far as
to intimate that If the provisions Of
pending legislation which contemplate
| n still further extension of the inspec-
ton principle to immigrants is carried
out, they will not permit them to oper-
ate.
| As this threat was to absolutely null
lfy any effort that the United States
government may make to exclude emf
grants of the most dangerous class and
also to expose the people of the United
States to infection from cholera. the
matter Is regarded rs full of gravity.
In fact, the turn affairs have taken
makes It evident our relations with
continental Europe are likely to get en-
tirely beyond executive control If we
once recognize the right of these cOun-
| tries to dictate in matters of legiSla-