Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-01-07

Gay Vi Inc CdIlH uedl lIlSS given Dy the
ways and means committee was de-
voted to the sugar schedule. -Four in
terests were represented: The i'm
porters, cane growers, beet raisers
and retiners. Mr.. John FAIR of New
York presented the arguments for
the importers. His recommendations
were:
First, on all sugars testing rs de-
grees a duty of one cent pound add
ing three cents per degree to 100 de-
grees.
Second, an additional duty of about
all sugars above 16 Dutch standard in
color to prevent retiners from enter
ing refined sugars at the same as
raw sugars of the same test.
Third, an additional discriminating
duty on all sugars from bounty paying
countries, with authority to the pres
ident to raise OF lower duties ON goods
from these countries as the bounties
were raised or lowered. This
scheme the importers estimated would
yield the government revenue OF
$50,000,000 per year, the amount of
sugar paying duty being 100000 tons;
the average polariscope test being 92
degrees.
Mr.. Farr declared there was no I'M
der valuation Of sugars imported now
He considered the statement furnished
to the committee by Henry A. Brown
of Massachusetts that the invoiced
value of all sugar imported in 1893 was
an average of $40 cent pound under
the London valuation, untruthful, and
entirely theoretical.
Mr.. Farr, questioned by Mr.. Payne
Of New York on the effects of the OPP
eratiOns Of the American Sugar Re-
timing company asserted that only in
occasional bargains could the Ameri-
can Refining company buy it's goods
cheaper than other firms. Its intlu-
ence had been to reduce the price of
sugar throughout the world. Under
the present differential rate of $40 of
a cent, the importations of the last
year, had been 65,O00 900 tons larger
than ever before. A differential of Il
cent pound would enable the soft,
white sugars to compete with the CEN
trifugal refined.
Mr.. Solomon Humphreys of New
York, chairman of committee APP
pointed by the sugar trade, explained
the difficulties of an AID valorem tariff
on sugar and made a plea for a
specific system. AID valorem valua-
tons were unjust and impracticable
on account of fluctuations in prices.
The sugar schedule had given the
treasury department more trouble than
any other feature of the tariff act now
in force. 1t had been estimated by
the department that it would yield a
revenue of $43,000,000, but for the past
year the revenue had been less than
100000, 900, and under existing condi-
tions it would not exceed $4,000, 600
for the current year.
Higher prices for raw sugar I'M
dOubtedly would be the result of the
schedule asked, Mr.. Humphreys con-
tinued, but the advance would be so
small it would aot be felt by the
average family. A duty beginning at
three-fourths of cent at rs degrees
would yield S43 100000 revenue. Pro-
duction of sugar was now regulated by
consumption, and no reduction in
prices could be expected for several
years.
Speaking of bounties, Mr.. Hum
phreys declared they were a disor-
Int, fD ,11 ~
meat recently had raised the bounty to
something over 4 of a cent pound,
which enabled Germany to dispose OF
all her surplus product. The system
was working ruin to all the British
islands so that they must resort to the
same scheme or go out of the business;
instead OF ITO Of cent on bounty
sugar imported into this country the
additional duty should equal the
bounties.
=. j, Smith, another New York
importer, made brief argument
against al va!orem duties.
Col. J. ID. Hill OF New Orleans,
representing the Cane Growers associ-
alton of Louisiana, argued .or a res
toration of the duty of the act of
1883. He laid special stress on the
dangers arising from the disposition
OF all continental countries producing
sugar to give export bounties. He
expressed the opinion that with the
protection asked for the cane and beet
sugar industries of the United States
could produce enough sugar to supply
the consumption OF this country.
The cane growers asked. First
That specific duties dependent on
both polariscopic test and color
standard be imposed in lieu Of al
valorem duties.
Second-That commencing with |. 40
cents for sugar testing 70 and under
l6 Dutch standard the rate be proper
tionately increased.
Third-That duties equal to ex-
port bounties be imposed to Offset
them.
Fffth-That the new law nave effect
from the passage OF the act.
Sixth-That reciprocity treaties ii