The San Francisco call., 1897-06-12
Increase in the Duty on
Sugar Sustained by
80 to 80.
Caffery Makes a Statement
Bearing on the Profits of
the Sugar Trust.
Hoar Gives Notice of a Resolution
to Appoint d Commission to Re.
port at the Next Session.

WASHINGTON. D. c., June 1.-THE
closest and most exciting vote vet in the
Senate on ;he tariff bill was taken to-day,
when after nearly five hours discussion
the Republican caucus scored a victory
which came very near being defeat. l.
was the proposition to increase the duty
on refined sugar from 1.7S5 cents a pound,
as in the Dingey bill. to 195 cents. The
vote was: Ayes 81, noes 80.
If the Democrat who voted with the Re-
publicans (McEnerny) had voted with his
party the result would have been a tie,
and if the Populist who always votes with
the Democrats (AIlen) had been present
the amendment would have been defeated
While its success appears to be an ad-
vantage to the sugar-refining interest that
advantage will be offset, according to no.
tice given, by the omission OF the clause
| imposing an additional duty ON sugar
coming from countries paying an export
duty.
When the bill was taken up, Jones of
Arkansas submitted tables as to the effect
OF the sugar schedule on the profit of the
trust as compared with profits under the
existing act and under the Dingley BILL
The presiding officer (Frye) stated the
ing the duty on sugar above No. 16 Dutch
Standard in color and all sugar which has
gone through the process of refining" from
L S75 cents to LBS cents a pound, and was
proceeding to put the question, when ayes
and noes were demanded and ordered.
Before the vote was taken Caffery made
further statement bearing on the profits
of the sugar trust. He asserted that tn t
sugar trust held the market practically
for all cane sugar, and its only fear or
competition came from German beet
sugar. That fear was overcome by reason
of the differential duty ON foreign bounty
paid sugar.
The pending bill, he added, carried
more profit TO the trust than the Wilson
bill. Continuing to arraign the sugar
trust CaffeTy said; at is tie only gi.
gantic trust in the world that rests en-
tirely on legislation for support. In every
quarter OF the globe where it gets its sup
ply the trust fixes its prices and the ques-
tion is whether the Senate is going to
give II further lease of power to raise or
reduce prices at its own sweet will"
German spoke of the Republicans as be-
ing com PEELED by conditions of the Treas
u5y 10 abandon their theory as 10 'free
breakfast table," He said the sugar
schedule was illogical, unfair and destruc-
tive of commercial interests. The verdict
of the people, he predicted, would be
against the Republicans in the next
Presidential election.
Senator Hoar drew from Allison a state
ment to the effect that the destruction of
the sugar-refning business would bring
the ruin of the sugarcane and beet-proW-
ing interests, and he remarked tnat the
struggle over the sugar schedule between
the Democrats and Republicans of the
Senate was struggle on the part of the
Republicans to establish one of the great
est and most valuable agricultural inter-
ests of the country.
After speeches by Stewart and Caffery
the vote was taken.
Jones of Arkansas offered an amend
ment to strike out certain words in the
clause just voted on, the effect OF which
would be a slight dimiu ution of the ad-
vantage TO the sugar reineries. 1t went
over till tomorrow.
Hoar gave notice Of a resolution for the
appointment of a com mmission of five, not
more than three to belong to one political
party, to report at the next session of
! Congress what policy is best adapt d for
procuring sufficient supply of sugar for
the people at the least cost, and to en-
| courage the raising of the amount needed ;
also what amount of duty is necessary to
enable the refinery business to be con-
Quoted at a reasonable profit so as not to
enable persons interested therein to exer-
else an improper control over the market.