The herald., 1897-05-16
SENATORIAL SUGAR

fine Italian hand Of the trusts in the SEN
ate amendments to the Dingley bill must
be the blind man Of the proverb, who
does not want to see.
| We are told that on trough estimate
the senate schedule will yield from sugar
a revenue Of 100000 year. The fig
ure is so full one looks for confirmation
Of so great expectations. The full text
Of the sugar schedule is not given, but
from the synopsis telegraphed 1t ap-
pears that reduced to an ad valorem rate
the senate proposes to tax sugar rs per
cent as compared with 72 per cent in the
Dingley bill, and 40 to A per cent in the
Wilson bill. The Mckinley act let sugar
in free. It is also stated that the senate
bill is so drawn as to place the regular
duty on Hawaiian sugar.
The senate hardly has put an ad va
loren duty on sugar. The report IS
merely an estimate Of an ad valorem
rate. The original Dingley bill taxes
sugar not above 16 D. 8. in any shape, 1
cent per pound testing not above rs de-
grees by the polariscope, and for every
additional degree hree-hundredths of /
cent per pound. On sugar above 16 D. S.,
and on all refined sugars, the rates made
were to be 1875 cents per pound. The
highest rate possible on sugar below Ii
D. S. under the Dingley bill would be
1A cents per pound. 1t was estimated
that the revenue derived would be about
$50, 900, 900. But there was no intention
to collect duty on Hawaiian sugar.
If the senate bill is to produce $50, ,O0o,-
900 year there must be contemplated a
stiff advance over the rates provided for
under the home schedule.
The sugar trust is, of course at the
bottom. and deep down under the foun-
dation of this policy. 1t seems to have
taken the senate willing captive. The
projected abrogation of the Hawaiian
reciprocity treaty seems to be a part of
the same monopoly-inspired raid on the
rights Of the people. Sir Claus was the
original instigator Of that treaty and he
has prospered under it in the twenty
odd years Of it's operation to the tune of
many millions. His contracts with the
island sugar planters are about to ex-
pire. Some are already at an end, we
believe. Hence this pronounced interest
in American Industries demanding that
the treaty cease. If behind this little
game the heavy trump up Mr.. Spreckels
sleeve is the limiting of California beet
sugar production, why 1t would be bet
ter for the country to go on losing the
revenue on Hawaiian sugar.
But sugar is not the only sweet morsel
in the senate bill. The hand Of the
trust and of the monopoly did not grow
weary when that piece of work was done
It's skill and cunning are shown broad
cast in all the schedules, any report Of
which has reached here. Taking the re-
ported ad valorem estimates, it appears
that lead ore was raised to Data per cent
from 621a in the house bill, 49.37 in the
Wilson act and S3.73 in the Mckinley
act. When we get to WOOL product of
the farmer, and where the interest of
the eastern high tariff monopolist lies
in getting it as cheap as possible, this
trust-ridden senate committee has low
cred the rate from 1898 per cent in the
house bill, the same as in the Mckinley
act to 43.37 per cent. But spun yarn, in
which the monopolist has put some Of his
money, is raised from 40 per cent In the