The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1897-01-08
BEET G GROWERS.
Their Arguments for an Increase OF
Duty In the New Tariff Bill.

WAsHINGToN, Jan. before the
House ways and means commit.
tee Henry II. Oxnard of Grand
Island, Neb., president of the AmerI-
can Beet Sugar society, in behalf oil
the beet sugar industry, charged that
the present tariff not only failed to
give protection to the sugar r~aisers,
but discouraged the investment of adj
dltional capital. 1t had been pre-
dicted hat under the Mckinley law
the beet sugar industry would grow
rapidly and three refineries had been
built in the administration of that law,
but since then fear of change had de-
tered new Investments. Any schedule
On sugar which had been in force since
1860, except that of the Wilson law,
would permit the spread of beet sugar
growing. Beet sugar could be pro
duced in twenty states and under 4
proper tariff the United States could,
IN fifteen years, raise all the sugar
necessary for home consumption.
Mr.. OXnard delivered al argument
in favor of a bounty and proceeded to
quote departmental reports and other
authorities to show that the country
had sufficient climates and capital
iSIulSlCc W JhC pTOluCIlOu Vi dlI us
w sugar. Every other nation. even
Sweden, which could supply itself with
sugar had taken every measure to do
so. Even little Bulgaria had liberal
duties and bounties enforced for this
purpose.
Mr.. OXnard took strong grounds
against any reciprocity. He thought
a dual policy both duty and bounty
would be fair to all interests and
jeopardize none. Such a policy, he
said. would increase the revenue out
of which the bounty could be paid, and
would encourage the sugar industry.
The schedule he proposed was a duty
of one cent per pound on all sugars
testing = degrees or less; 3 cents per
100 pounds additional for every addi-
tional degree between 96 and 100. with
4 of / per cent differential on sugars
above 16 Dutch standard. He asked
for the Mckinley duty on molaSses and
contravailing duties against bounty
paying countries on both raw and re-
fined sugars. The bounty he proposed
was 3 cent per pound; 4 to go off az
the end of each Jour years, the whole
bounty to cease in twelve years.
Herbert Myrlck, president of the
Orange Judd Company, spoke in the
interests of the farmer. His argu-
ment was exhaustive and was largely
devoted to showing the advantage OF
the production in this country of the
sugar consumed here. 1t was ar
economic crime. he said, to compel
American farmers to raise staples IN
competition with the cheap land and
labor countries, with which to pay Tor
imported sugar, besides standing tho
freight and commission both WAYS.
What stands in the way of American
beet sugar industry, he said, is mainly
European competition. What is need
ed. he says, is a reasonable specific du-
ty on all imported sugar, with an ad-
ditional discriminating duty for
tries paying an export bounty equal to
that bounty. Then with such aid as
the various states and territories in
terested may offer to secure sugar fac
tories, the beet industry could be put
on its feet in this country within a
very few years.
Mr.. r. NJ. Allen of Ames. Neb.. spoke
in behalf of the farmers Of the trans
Mississippi country. Low prices OF
wheat for years and corn at II cents.
Mr.. Allen said. had turned the thoughts
of the Western farmers to beets. Beets
We're almost as desirable for cattle
feeding as for sugar.