The Colfax chronicle., 1897-07-10

sugar Trust Exists No Longer.
We are assured by the Sugar Trade
Journal of May 13-organ of the sugar
trust-that "if ever monopoly existed
in the sugar refining business it exists
no longer, and it is not likely that it
will ever be renewed" This is delight
full news. The journal was discussing
an amendment to the senate bill to have
refined sugars pay the same duties as
raw sugars in cases where the manufac-
ture is controlled by monopoly. Ifthis
visionary proposal" should pass the
senate, it will jeopardize the tariff
bill and the sugar trusts tens of mil
lions of surplus profits, which are so
near at hand that the mouths of Have
meyer and Searles are watering for
them. The sugar trust trembles at the
prospect, and tries to keep up its cour-
age by having its organ inform the
world that "a lot of such visionary pro-
posals will, no doubt. be introduced
while the bill is under discussion, but
in the end the sound Judgment men will
control and a tariff bill be passed with
out very much change from the senate
schedule"
The trust may be right. 1t usually is,
for it can predict what will happen to
the sugar schedule of the senate bill. It
knows what demands will be made by
its agents and tools in the senate, and
it also knows the power of those who
make demands to enforce them 1t puts
$70,000,000 against the interests of TO-
100000 people, and it knows from ex-
perience which has most weight in the
senate, where two or three hold the bal
ance of power
No, there is no sugar trust, and never
was one. and in the end the sound judg-
lnent will prevail. when the devil was
sick the devil saint would be-"
Perpetual Motion by Protection.
The California argument for high
er fruit duties is sort of perpetual mo
tion- The only disadvantage the Cali
fornia fruit raiser is at is to be found |
in the cost of his land, but the only
thing that makes his land expensive is |
the profitableness of fruit culture.
So the matter works out in this way:
The great profits of fruit raising sent
The value of Land up to hundreds cf dol
ars an acre. The interest on the value
If the land makes large item in
ruit raiser's balance sheet, and he feels
he need of high price for his fruit.
This Senator Jones procures for him by
citing it be known that he will not vote
or the tariff bill unless it contains du-
les on hides and increased duties on
ruits and the cheapest sorts of wool.
The increased duties adds to the prof
is of fruit culture, and the price of land
axes another rise, whereupon the fruit
rover complains. that the interest ON
lis land investment is so great or the
entail he has to pay for his land is so
Ugh that there is an insufficient profit
4 the business for him, and the only
hing that will save him from disaster
J more duty.
Logically this process can be carried
n indefinitely. Practically it cannot,
ecause with the increase in the price
fruit the consumption of fruit will
ecline. The consumer will be worse
4 for the change. The grower, so far
J he is not to be considered as a land
wner will be no better off, but the
ilue of the land will be as high as the
rofits of fruit culture will permit
,urnal OF Commerce and Commercial
ulletin.