The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-01-15

of the situation produced by the bounty
act OF 1890. with the duty imposed therein
on refined sugar, and finally said IL a
similar provision could be made in the
prospective law, and it's permanency be
guaranteed, the sugar producers would
prefer it; but all things considered. they
asked for re-enactment OF the provis-
ions of the act of 1888. He produced fig
ures TO show the reduction in the price
of refined sugar under the operation OF
that act at the time when crops were
being marketed. 10 show the benefits TO
the country at large from home compe-
tition.
In answer to a question by Johnson OF
North Dakota, Colonel Hill expressed the
opinion that with the protection asked
the cane and beet sugar Industries of the
United States could produce enough sugar
to supply the consumption OF this coun-
try He further declared that he had not
the slightest doubt. If the bounty OF 1890
had been continued during the term of
years provided for. the sugar growers
would have supplied the consumption by
the time the bounty period expired.
The cane growers asked:
F'irst-That specific duties dependent on
both polariscopic test and color standard
be imposed in lieu of ad valorem duties
Second-That, commencing with lao cts.
for sugar testing 10 and under 16 Dutch
standard, the rate be proportionately in
creased.
Third-That duties equal to export boun-
ties be imposed TO offset them.
Fourth-A proporionate duty on mo-
laSses.
F'ifth-That the new law have effect
from the passage of the act.
SiXth-That reciprocity treaties, IL they
are adopted, be without injury to the do
nestle sugar industry, on lines which rec
ognize the overshadowing Importance OF
developing sugar production in the United
States, and by such methods insure "A
protection equivalent to that suggested.
j. II. Sypher of this city was called by
Chairman Dingley, and gave il his
opinion that the cost of refining by the
Sugar Trust was not to exceed one-fourth
of L cent while the cost of refining in
Louisiana would perhaps reach three
eighths of l cent.
Mr.. Humphreys was recalled and asked
the cost of refining sugar, but he said he
did not care to set his opinion against
actual refiners. He thought, however, in
a general way, that the cost of refining
sugars testing SO degrees was about as
stated by Mr. Sypher. but sugar of lower
grade, with more impurities, would, OF
course, be much higher. For instance, IL
would cost L cent to refine sugar of 10
degrees.
Henry T. Oxnard of Grand Island, Neb.,
president of the American Beet Sugar
Society, in behalf of the industry, charg-
ed that the present tariff not only failed
to give protection to the sugar raisers.
but discouraged the investment of adj
ditional capital. 1t has been predicted
that under the Mckinley law the beet
sugar industry would grow rapidly, and
three refinerieS had been built in the adj
of that law, but since then
the change had deferred new Investments.
Any schedule on sugar which had been
in force since 1860, except that of the VIII
son tariff, would permit the increase OF
beet sugar growing. Beet sugar could be
produced in twenty States, and under
proper tariff the United States could in
fifteen years raise all the sugar necessary
for home consumption. The beet industry
protested against rates lower than from
/ "a to 1-2 cents pound.
OXnard delivered an argument In favor
of a bounty, and proceeded to quote de-
partmental reports and other authorities
to show that the country had the climate
and the capital required for the produc-
ton of all it's sugar. Every other
nation even Sweden, which could supply
itself with sugar. had taken every meas
ure to do 50. Even little Bulgaria had
liberal duties and bounties enforced for
this purpose.
The cost of labor, uncertainty as to
legislation export bounties In other coun-
tries, and the decline in prices were all
operating to keep capital out of invest
ment in beet sugar. Germany now pays
q. 30 1-2 and 30 $40 cents per hundred
pounds export bounties, according to the
quality of the sugar, and could afford to
sell sugar in New York at IL IL cents
per 100 pounds less than the American
and occasionally to sell surplus
products below the cost Give Americans
4 reasonable bounty, guaranteed TO con-
tinue for reasonable time, and it would
work wonders. The American was now
obliged to compete with African cheap
abor as Egypt in the last fiscal year had
sent 49, 257 900 worth of sugar to the United
States in British bottoms, which carried
10 return cargo. With war in Cuba and
he Philippines, cutting off supplies from
hose islands, Germany was endeavoring
% capture the American market For
reasons supposedly commercial, Congress
mad in 1876 legiSlated for the free entry of
sugar from Hawaii. The treaty had never
net with favor with the people had cost
AS 100000, and had not greatly increased
our exports to that country. The esti-
mated duties RENTED by the United
states on Hawaiian sugar are SCI, 900 900.
He thought it was unjust to encourage
hese importers at the expense of revenue
md our home producers He urged the
,brogation of the agreement.
Speaking of the conflicting interests in
7olved in giving adequate protection TO
he sugar growers, he pointed to the su-
EAR refiners who bought and refined the
'oreign product, and to the millers of
lour and others who desired to use sugar
n reciprocity agreements to obtain con-
.essionS for themselves. The refineries
wanted the lowest possible duties on raw
md the highest on refined. While, owing
o the condition of the treasury, IL might
lot be feasible to re-enact the bounty
scheme of 1890 he thought the dual sys-
EN- proposed by the Senate amendments
o the Mills bill in 1855, which imposed
luty and also gave a bounty, was now
.ntreIy practicable.
Oxnard took strong grounds against any
He thought a dual policy
both duty and bounty would be fair to
III interests and jeopardize none. Such
policy, he said, would increase the rev.
nue. out of which the bounty could be
aid, and would encourage the sugar in
usJry. The schedule he proposed was a
luty of / cent per pound on all sugars
esting IS degrees or less, 3 cents per
hundred pounds additional for each de-
rec between 90 and 100. with one-fourth
T 1 per cent differentiaI on sugars above
s. Dutch standard He asked for the
IcKinley duty on molasses. The bounty