Omaha daily bee., 1896-12-19
TIE SUGAR ScHEnrLE.

According TO the arrangement Of the
tariff hearings the sugar schedule will
be taken up on December 80. There is
great deal of interest felt regarding
what the committee shall determine to
do with this schedule, rs the future con
dition of the sugar industry in this
country will very largely depend upon
the treatment it receives in the new
tariff law.
There is at present Il nearly universal
interest in the sugar industry. In every
sugar growing country there is more
or less solicitude respecting the future
of the industry. This is very marked in
Germany, where, according to Il report
TO the State department from the Ameri-
can consul at Frankfort, the sugar pro-
ducerS are preparing to organize Il
gigantic trust for their self-protection
should the government fail TO give them
the relief they ask. 1t appears that the
law enacted some months ago increaS-
ing the export bounty has failed to
accomplish what was expected of it
and those who asked for the law are
now appealing to the government to
rescue the sugar-producing interests
from its consequences. Instead of limit
ing production the act has had the
opposite effect, while the increase of
the export bounty has also reduced the
price of sugar in foreign markets and
the German producer receives no more
than he did before the increase, while
the government loses heavily. The
British government has been impelled
to appoint Il commission to investigate
the condition of the sugar industry in
its West India colonies, which is rep
resented to be on the verge of ruin.
Sugar production in France and Austria
has been growing less profitable for
several years. Still there has been Il
large increase in production, particularly
of beet sugar, the annual supply of
which has nearly doubled in the last tif-
teen years, the worlds product for 1895
having been nearly 5,OOO,O00 tons.
In view of the general condition of the
sugar industry. il is obviously of very
great importance that in framing Il new
tariff law the sugar interest in the
United States shall be safeguarded
against disaster. The sugar schedule
of the present tariff was concession
to the trust. 1t was not made with refer
ence to the interests or welfare of Amer
lean sugar growers. 1t has not benefited
II.
great advantage TO the sugar-retining
monopoly. What the trust will endeayor
to have done with this schedule it is i'm
possible to say. 1t would probably be
we'll satisfied to have ii retained. but it
is entirely safe to say that the ways and
means committee will not continue it.
The serious question Is, What Is the best
policy to pursue, giving due cOnsidera-
ton to the interests OF both consumers
and producers? There is not reaSOna-
ment the production of beet sugar in the
United States can in II few years he
made to supply the home demand. The
American people now pay for foreign
sugar about $100,00O,0OO n year. If we
can in time produce sufficient sugar foc
our own wants and distribute among
our own people the money that now
goes abroad to pay for this necessary,
the wisdom and eXpediency of doing so
will hardly be questioned. The benefits
to be derived from building up this in
dustry are apparent, but it cannot be
built up without government encourage
ment and there are but two effective
ways in which this can be extended.
one Is by placing "A protective duty on
sugar and the other is to pay direct
bounty on its production one of these
plans 1t is safe 10 assume, the ways
and means committee will adopt, and
In view of the fact that duty would
give both revenue anu protection 1t is