Evening star., 1897-05-07
The Amended Tariff Bill Gives It
Over go Per Cent Protection.
PECULIAR CONDITIONS IN THE SENATE
A Blow at the Proposed Annexa-
ton of Hawaii.
BIG FIGHT TO BE MADE

The power OF the sugar trust In the SEN
ate is still apparent. Among men in Con-
gress who have looked to the tariff legisla-
ticn as an instrument to lift the country
out of the depths of depression into which
II was plunged by the Wilson law and other
features of the Cleveland administration
the presence of the sugar trust influence
to bring discredit to the tariff measure is
offensive to the extreme. They are de-
termined that there shall not be a repeti-
ticn Of the sclndalous conditions which at
tended the enactment of the Wilson BILL
and that. If possible. the bill shall be re-
heved from the charge of subscribing the
sugar trust interests. 1t is figured out that
the Senate committee substitute for the
House sugar schedule would give the trust
protection of over 10 per cent. Not salts
hed with that, they demand and get the
abrogation of the Hawaiian treaty by
stealth With the sugar schedule as the
SENATE committee has put 1t and the abro-
CATION of the Hawaiian treaty, through
the striking out of the clause exempting
importations from the duties imposed the
sugar trust gets all it could possibly ask
for its benefit.
Framing the Schedule Quietly.
The framing Of the sugar schedule In this
bill was not attended with the gen .ral and
the progress of the Wilson bill through the
Senate But the reason for this was that
the knowledge of what was to be done was
confined to so few persons that there was
not the general Information on which spec
ulation might be based
The sugar trust, however is not the less
benented. The sugar trust representa-
tives have been on the ground all the while
Worklns according to their peculiar
methods. and their influence has been felt
at every turn They were unable to ac-
complish what they wanted in the House
committee The trainers of the bill there
We're too independent and had the support
OF reliable majority in the House.
But in the Senate the situation was diff
ferent- With friendly interest in certain
quarters there to start with, they had the
tremendous advantage of a condition of af-
Ialrs Wnere the control of but one or two
votes would place them in a position to die
tate terms The absence of party RESPONSE
bility, no party being in absolute control
rendered their task easier. Practically the
same influences which held up the Wilson
bill until the desired concessions were made
to the trust are still there and they were
rendered still more powerful by the party
CONDITIONS In the Senate, SO far as getting
a report from the committee was concern
ed They found additional strength in the
fact that revenue must be had to make up
for the deficiency of the Wilson bill, and
that if protective duties were to be main
tained where they were needed the surest
way or getting revenue from a customs
duty was to increase the rate on sugar.
Disgusting the Crab.
To disguise the enor1nity of their grab
they insisted upon the ad valorem additions
of duty. which defy accurate computation
when combined with the specific.
II, In addition to this extremely favor
able schedule, they could prevent the free
importation Of sugar from Hawaii there
was nothing left that their hearts could
desire or their pockets profit from.
Heretofore the Spreckels' interests have
come in conflict with the sugar trust in
respect to the Hawaiian treaty. Now their
interests are the same. The Oxnard, the
Spreckels and the trust are one in the de-
sire to have the Hawaiian treaty abro-
gated Letters received by senators pro-
testing against the abrogation Of the treaty
declare that the Spreckels interest is to
place the producers in Hawaii at their
mercy. pending the making of new con-
tracts for term of years. Deprived of
free entry into the United States it is
calculated that the Hawaiians would have
to make the best terms they could with
Spreckles and would be at his mercy to
accept what he might give.
In this respect the indirect abrogation
through the failure to provide for the ex-
emption OF Hawaiian imports from duty
would be more to the interest of Spreckles
than would the direct abrogation of the
treaty.
Blow at Annexation.
But still more far-sighted move for the
plan is apparently to prejudice the pros
poets OF annexation 1t Is known to those
who have means of getting inside iI.for-
ration and whose interest it is to keep
well posted. that steps are now being
taken for the annexation Of Hawaii which
seems to promise the speedy conclusion of
treaty for that purpose. The matter has
progressed so far that annexation is felt
by some of the best informed to be on the
verge OF accomplishment.
The abrogation of the reciprocity treaty
by either direct or indirect methods. would
do as much as anything can to hinder nego-
uations or to defeat their object In this
way the sugar trust people and those who
oppose annexation of Hawaii without be-
ing interested in sugar find themselves in
accord. and the trust gets the benefit of
the combination.
On both the propositions which the trust
~ants-the Senate sugar schedule and the
aorogation of the treaty-there will be a
determined fight In the Senate, and, IL the
trust should win there, In the House where
there exists a fixed purpose to keep a sugar
trust job out of the tariff measure which
shall pass through this Congress
Ihe House may go so far as to sav .ha+
the Senate will have to take responsibiIitI,
for the defeat of tariff legislation ~ ths
Senate committee bill Is insisted upon in ali
its features " OH