New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-11
THE STGiP SCHEDULE.


The decisions of the Committee of Ways ana
Means. so far as they are known, have been 80
generally and heartily approved by Protection
lists that 1t Is no surprise TO find proposed an
eminently satisfactory arrangement OF the sugar
schedule. Until the public revenue has been
sufficiently increased 10 insure maintenance or
a sound currency and OF public credit, ana until
such an increased revenue has been realized
long enough to insure its permarence. a removal
Of the duty on sugar cannot be contemplated.
Moreover, the bounty system was in the nature
of an experiment to ascertain whether the pro-
duction Of beet sugar in this country could prob
ably be so far developed as to render the people
reasonably Independent Of foreign supplies and
to provide another profitable field for agriculture.
The experiment resulted as satisfactorily rs any
one anticipated. 1t Is now fairly determined
that duties on sugar so adjusted as TO protect
and develop sugar production can therefore be
justified.
The committee proposes duty which would
yield about S5O.OOO.O00 revenue. This Is little
more than the Democratic tariff was intended
to realize for Secretary Carlisle estimated that
Its sugar duties would yield nearly $44,cOo,OOO,
but the suicidal ad valOrem policy. with the fall
In cost Of raw sugar in other countries. made the
40 per cent duty yield no more than $15.OOO,O0O
in 1895 and $3O,OOO.OO0 in the last fiscal year.
BY return to sensible specific duties revenue
definitely proportional to the quantity of foreign
sugar consumed can be secured whether the
foreign price rises or falls. and the measure OF
protection for the home producer can also be
held Independent Of such fuctuation. The pro-
posed duty based upon pOlarlscope test will DO
equivalent to CPS cents on the highest grade
of unrefned sugar, with d6ssential provision
on bounty-paid sugar imported.
The conduct of the Sugar Trust in political
matters. its extraordinary efforts for the Demo
cratic party. and its most offensive behavior In
forcing through a Democratic Congress the bill
of peridy and dishonor." by-means which the
leading men of the trust declined to disclose,
even at the risk of Imprisonment. and its sue
cess in obtaining by such means a gift of mill
ions TO itself from the Treasury. at the cost Of
the worst prOstratOn Of American industry ever
known. have not prepared The people TO regard
with any liberation whatever further favOrs 10
the monopoly. 1t would be daring step for
Republican Congress TO grant larger advan-
tage to refners than the eighth Of one cent open
ly given by the Democratic tariff now in force,
to say nothing Of the much greater advantage
concealed under the 30 per cent duty on the
higher price for refined sugar imported. Last
year raw cane imported cost , 1 cents per pound
and imported refined cost an average Of 2.S cents,
SO that the 40 per cent duty was 81 Of a cent
on crude. and 112 cents on refined besides the
eighth Of cent added the refined, making
the latter duty 1915 cents 400 Of cent higher
than the duty on crude. The House committee
does not propose to perpetuac such n bounty to
the monopoly. in view Of the testimony of Mr..
Havemeyer himself that sugar Is now refined
cheaply in this country as anywhere in the
world.
The proposed defence against bounty aided
imports has also been changed for the better. by
authorizing the Secretary Of the Treasury TO
ascertain the actual effect Of the bounty Oh sugar
from any country, and TO impose duty Of equal
amount on such sugar. The House also proposes
a new reciprocity clause, which will give n de-
cided advantage 10 countries making reciprocal
arrangements by treaty with the United States
granting favors TO American commerce While
the bill Is not said TO be finished. the accounts
published indicate that the committee has faith
fully represented the general desire OF Repub-
Leans for a tariff sugar which will protect
and encourage production of raw sugar yield
adequate revenue TO the Treasury, and give no
advantage whatever to the refining monopoly.