The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1897-08-13
An Interesting Chapter of Tardr
Legislation.

An Interesting Chapter of Tard1
Legislation.
published by Authority of the Ma-yIo,,
Democratic Editors Association '"''N
An honest presentation from the public RED
olus oI ti'e tfae history OF the tax on sugar, as
contalned IN the several tariff acts since the
Sugar Trust has been factor in Amcrican
politics, cannot ta to be timely and yaluabis
mo inlormaTon TO the intelligent voters OF Mary
land. The value and importance OF this in
formation is enhanced by the fact that there
mas oeen great perverson of the truth upon
this subject by certain newspapers in Mary
land: This article will therefore be devotcd
to that purpose.
ORIGIN OF THE SUGAR TRUST.
The Sugar Trust, like all the other trusts, ha,
come INTO existence since the close OF the
civil war. Prior to the war sugar re6ninc
as an American industry was practically mn,
developed. This trust is generally understood
to have owed its origin and organization to
the Mckinney aey law OF 1900, and the large special
privileges It conferred on the sugar reiinIa2
industry, although it probably owed its con.
ception and partial organization to the large
diferential dut les in favor of refined sugars
contained the act OF 1881 which was Dis
placed by the Mckinley law. The Sugar
Trust FIRST became known a completed and
law went into operation. but there arc abund.
ant evidences that it had attained sufficient Co
hesive force to take care OF its interests and
have them thoroughly protected" by the
trainers of that law
SUGAR TAX UNDER LAW OF 1883
The tariff act of 1888 was made necessary by
the redundant revenues that had begun to pile
up in the Treasury as result of continued war
taxes to which President Arthur had directed
was promoted by the report Of Mr.. Arthur's
Tariff Commission, although not much regard
was paid to the report in the makeup Of the
law. But it was essentially law to reduce
the revenues, and it was a strong manifesto
ton of the sectional discrimination of the Re
publican protectionists in the distribution of
their protective benefits for il has been shown
that nearly half of tho diminution effected in
the revenues came out OF raw cane sugars, the
exclusive product of the South. Notwithstand-
ing this heavy cut in the duty upon raw sugar.
the sugar refining interests which were then
exclusively and still chiefly confined to the
Northern States, were carefully guarded and
preserved, as will appear by the following
summary of the sugar schedule of that act;
nav 200 cents hound 3 LUZ" ''''''"'u'
Refined sugar, from - to 10 Dutch standard,
z75-ioo cents pound.
Refined sugar, from 10 TO 20 Dutch standard,
cents pound.
Refined sugar, above 20 Dutch standard so-Ioo
cents pound.
discriminating schedule and its large dfferen
tial in favor of refined sugars, as already sug.
gested. the American refining interests began
III walls, and thus was the Sugar Trust, like
the other numerous trusts, Conceived in in
guilty and born in sim, Hence when the
Trust was sufficient of an Infant industry"
and enough of combination to see that its
interests were thoroughly protected"
SUGAR TAX UNDER THE MCKINLEY
LAW.
The Mckinley law, like its predecessor, was
predicated upon the necessity of reducing the
revenue. Further pursuing the policy OF dis
eliminating against the South, it swept away
entirely the duty upon raw sugars, which were
allowed to come in free, but yielded to the stih
demands of the Western beet sugar producers,
the trainers of the law afterwards substituted
bounty to be paid to American producers
But while the duty on raw sugar was thus en-
tirely swept away and the American rehners
enabled to obtain their raw material tree,
duty OF $40 of a cent pound was placed upon
refined sugar above I6 Dutch standard thus
giving the American refiners clear beneht OF
a cent pound. 1t was under the special
stated. that the American Sugar Refining Com
pany, otherwise known as the Sugar trust, pc
came visible, tangible corporation ana reap
ed its enormous profits.
SUGAR TAX UNDER THE WILSON LAW
House by Mr.. Wilson, after several months oil
careful consideration by the Ways and Means E
Committee, OF which he was the CHAIRMAN re-
tanned raw sugar on the tree list, continued thG
bounty to domestic producers Tor designated
number of years, and reduced the Mckinney
duty on refined sugar from liz cent pound
to Ia cent a pound. In his report accompany
ing the bill blouse Rept No; z3i. SGD Seengd
I'd SESSION., Mr.. Wilson said: On Ienneu
sugars the duty is reduced one-hali, that Is,
IRON rate OF one-half to rate OF one.quarter
Of a cent a pound" Thus, 1t appears 10 nave
impressed Mr.. Wilson and his conierees OF sne
Ways and Means Committee that sugar rem
ing having become an American industry, 70
cut its profits under Republican LEGISLATION III
half would be in conformity with the otner
reform features of his bill OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ,me
trust which controlled this branch OF inons,
try had become better known to the psople
than the other trusts. They were also no uJuo'
largely influenced by the TACT (wnlcn suo ~
quentv playcd such an important paII III .ie
Senate in the consideration OF the same ms
ure) that under the operation OF a, ,ne ~" Of
proved machinery the LOUISIANA pot;tors in
cane sugar had become large com n,ere nm.
the production Of refined sugars and WEI S ~
willing TO surrender all OF the differentiai duty
ENnoRsEn Ry PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
President Cleveland, in his message to tnat
session Of Congress-. strongly endorses etsd I nv
Wilson bill in the shape 1t was pIesen a.a ND
Mr.. Wilson to the House. (See Message anu
Document, iSo3-4.)
But when the sugar schedule came up for
consideration in the House Mr.: wilson was
defeated, and not only were his temporary
bounty provisions stricken out, out the taN : VI,
refined sugar was also swept away, iea'ins
sugar absolutely on the Tree list. ms ~
oording to the Baltimore Sun OF July z3, 1903,
was effected by combination oil kepuDnGaus
and free traders In its issue OF that daie,
under the caption, "a Second Defeat Oh tpe
Ways and Means Committee" the sun nal tue
following
After a discussion that consumed nearly the
entire afternoon the Democrats OF the House oil
Representatives to-day made an emphatic oee;,
aration in opposition to the sugar bounty, anp
voted not only to abolish it, but also 10 aooi
Ism the duty on refined sugar.
AS the hour for a vote arrived the interest
became intense. Probably not since the SESSION
began has there been so large all attendance on
either side.
Chairman Wilson closed the debate with his
Characteristic ability. His words showed, how
eVer that he felt the Ways and Means Com
mttee were to suffer a second defeat, and he
Sontented himself with laying before the House
.ne reasons that had prompted the committee
70 recommend the gradual instead of the I'M
Mediate abolition of the sugar. bounty.
=, Later when Representative Warner, OF New
York, offered an amendment abolishing the
present duty on refined sugar, the Republicans
joined the free traders and aided in declaring
sugar absolutely free, by vote OF 1877 70 -