Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-01-16
TIE SENATE SHOULD ACT.

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out his benevolent purpose.
TIE SENATE SHOULD ACT.
Now that Spain has had the good
sense to back down from her discrim-
mating tariff policy against the United
States exports to Cuba and Porto Rica,
the q nitsd States should display an equal
amount OF common sense, reason and
Justice, and repeal the discriminating
duty Of one-tsnth OF a cent on German
sugar. Everyone recognizes that this
should be done, and it is not done, only
because few Republican Senator'S
think they can make political capital
against the new tariff by obstructing
the removal of this generally recog-
nized fault. Maybe they can, but il so,
the American people have shorter mem
cries than we give them credit for
As an exchangn points out, the uni
form duty Of 40 per cent. on raw sugar.
with a discrimination OF one-eighth OF
cent pound on refined sugar, concerns
the consumers of the United States
alone. But the additional discrlmina-
tion against the sugar exports OF Ger
many and Of one or two other countries
only is different thing in effect and in
principle.
The Republican Senators make the
shallow pretense that the effort TO re-
peal this discriminative duty would open
the tariff discussion, which they affect
to dread so much, unless it be opened
BY themselves. Their refusal to per.
nit repeating amendment In the Gen
sral Deficiency bill exposes the shabbi-
ness OF their partisan plea. The
procedure would not bring
the tariff into the least
controversy. But this discriminative
duty should be repealed, not only be-
cause IL threatens q warfare of retalia-
ton on American trade, but because ii
not equitable. European nations COM
plain, with justice, OF policy which dis
eliminates against them TO the advan-
tage Of other nations. They protest
against this policy with the same pro-
priety and on the same ground that this
Government protested against the dis
elimination Of Spain in Cuba. Nor
have thsy confined themselves to mere
protests. Some OF them have responded
by prohibiting the Importation OF
American products, and the war of re-
taliatioD threatens TO be carried still
further, unless the Republicans Of the
Senate shall wisely initiate the example
of Spain toward this country.
Behind the flibustering Of the Re
publican Senators it is broadly limited
lies another than mere partisan politi-
cal reason. The Sugar Trust has a
strong interest in the maintenance of a
differential duty, which is barrier to
the com petition Of the refined beet sugar
OF Germany, France and other countries
with its monopoly. This, and not
fear Of tariff discussion, is what ac-
counts for the obstructive action Of the
Republican Senators. While loudly
protesting hostility to the Sugar
Trust, these Republican Senators have
never taken oae step in opposition
to the wishes or interests Of that
monopoly. They gave to the Sugar
Trust, in the Mckinley tariff, an an
nual subsidy of SEQ, 600. 900 out Of the
pockets Of American consumers. They
used every effort to save that enormous
spoil to the Trust; and they are again
serving the monopoly at the expense of
the commercial interests of the country
by resisting the repeal OF discrlmina.
tive duty on sugar, to the grievous cost
OF the commercial interests of the coun-
try.