The herald., 1896-12-31
The SUGAR MAKERS
WANT PROTECTION
But Do Not Agree at All on
Schedules
REF|yERS ASk FREE RAW MATER|ILS
Producers Want Duty All Along
the Line
EACH TAKES HIS INNINGS
And Pleads for Prosperity at the Peoples
Expense
Louisiana Cane Growers Express . Prefer
esce for Bounty
.
Oxnard Of Nebraska and Chino Wants
the United States to Produce Her
Own Sugar-A Tariff
the Thing
And Pleads for Prosperity at the Peoples
Expense
Louisiana Cane Growers Express . Prefer
esce for q Bounty
pre.s Special wire

schedule was the subject for hearing
before the ways and means committee
today and it was the most interesting
as we'll as the most important schedule
so far considered. The conflicting in
terests of the producers, refners and
importers were brought out in sharp
contrast The producers wanted higher
duties all along the line, and the refiners
pressed for high duties on refined and not
so high on raw sugars. The latter were
especially anxious that in imposing
countervailing duties against export
bounty countries, the additional duty
should be levied only against the refined
article. The importers, the cane growers,
the refiners and the beet growers were
each given innings by the committee.
John Farr of New York. Solon Humph-
reys of New York and p. J. Smith of New
York represented the importers; Col.
J. D. Hill of New Orleans represented
the cane sugar growers; W. ]. McCann
of Philadelphia the refiners and Henry
T. Oxnard of Grand Island, Neb., and
Herbert Myrick the beet sugar interests.
Francis Thurber, New York mer-
chant, and J. H. Sypher of this city,
Bishop Thomas r. Cutler of Utah and
r. M. Allen of Nebraska, also made ar
guments. while Senator Perkins of CAL
ifornia submitted printed brief.
The importers were heard first, John
Farr of New York opening the argument.
Their recommendation presented by Mr..
Farr were: First, on all sugar testing
rs degrees, duty of cent pound, ad-
ding cents per degree to 100 degrees.
Second, additional duty OF about one
fourth of a cent differenial on all sugars
above 16 Dutch standard in color. to pre-
vent refiners entering refined sugars at
same duties as raw sugars of the same
test.
Third, additional discriminating duty
on all sugars from bounty paying coun-
tries, with authority to the president
to raise or lower duties on goods from
these countries as bounties We're raised
or lowered. This scheme the importers
estimated would yield the government
a revenue of $50 900, 900 a year, the amount
of sugar paying duty being about 1,500,-
900 tons, the average polariscope test
being 90 degrees In reply to question
Farr declared there was no undervalua-
ton of sugars not imported, but owing
to the strict Interpretation of law by
customs officials the tendency was to
pay more duty than the law called for.
Appraisals were made on basis of es-
timated values at Trinidad and other
countries where there were no market
values.
Solon Humphreys. chairman Of the
committee appointed by the sugar trade.
made a plea for specific instead of ad
valorem duties. Higher prices for raw
sugar would result, but the advance
would not be felt by the average family.
There should be additional duty equal to
the bounty on sugar imported.
Col. Hill, representing the Cane Grow
ers' association of Louisiana, argued for
the restoration of the duty of the act
of 1898, although he said if the bounty
provided in the act of 1890 could be per-
manently guaranteed, producers would
prefer such provisions.
Henry T. Oxnard of Grand Island.
Neb., president OF the American Beet
Sugar society, in behalf of the industry.
charged that the present tariff not only
failed to give protection to the sugar
raisers, but discouraged the investment
of additional capital. 1t had been pre-
dicted that under the Mckinley law the
beet sugar industry would grow rapidly
and three refineries had been built under
the administration of that law, but since
then the change had deferred new invest
ments. Any schedule on sugar which
had been in force since 1860. except that
of the Wilson tariff, would permit the
spread Of sugar beet growing. Beet SUI
gar could be produced in twenty states
under a proper tariff, and the United
States could in fifteen years raise all the
sugar necessary for the consumption.
The sugar beet industry protested
against less than from 12z to 24s cents
per pound. Mr.. Oxnard delivered an ar
gument in behalf Of a mounty, and pro-
ceeded to quote departmental reports
and other authorities to show that this
country had the climate and capital re-
quired for the production of it's own su-
gar Every other nation, even Sweden,
which could supply itself with sugar.
had taken every measure to do so.
Cost of labor, uncertainty as to iegig-
lation, export bounties in other countries,
We're all operating to keep capital out Of
investment in beet sugar. Germany
now pays 1895 and 1873 cents per 100
pounds export bounties, according to the
quality of the sugar, and could sfford to
sell sugar in New York at 131s cents per
100 pounds less than American produce
ers. and occasionally to sell surplus
products below the costs. Give AIneri-
cans reasonable bounty, guaranteed to
continue for a reasonable time, ana
they would work wonders. The Ameri-
can was now obliged to compete with
African cheap labor, as Egypt IT. the last
fiscal year had gent $2e57 900 worth of
sugar to the United tes In British
bottoms. which carriedNM &urn cargo.
With war in Cuba and th0 NilibAtn6x.
cutting of supplies from thG4S 6Ion1a.