Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-04-23
THE SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
AMERICAN BEET SUGAR.

last ten years attention mas been directed
to this wasteful method of conducting
business, and signs are multiplying that
the proper remedies will be applied. Last
year every pound of wheat and flour ex-
ported was required to pay for the sugar
imported Our exports of Gotten were
only double the value of the sugar i'm
ported. The value of all exports of live
and dressed beef, beef products and lard
just about balanced that of the sugar
bought abroad. 1t is now known beyond
question that the sugar beet can be
grown in many of our states and of
quality unsurpassed anywhere. Sugar
cane also is adapted to a larger area in
this country than is generally supposed,
but taking the world at large the yield
of beet sugar is increasing twice as fast
as cane sugar production.
Beet sugar has become of such impor-
lance to the farmers, manufacturers
and merchants OF Germany and France
that the two governments are engaged
in a sort of protective duel over the first
place In its expectation, for which both
countries pay a bounty. Some time ago
Germany proposed to gradually extn-
gush the sugar bounty, out the popular
pressure against this step has been too
strong to be resisted. The German eX-
port bounty on sugar is nearly half a
cent pound, and France has advanced
It's export bounty in order to keep even.
Supplying sugar to the world must be
profitable business. Our own average
cash payment for foreign sugar of about
enough that there is great deal of mon
ey in it from one customer alone. This
stream of treasure should be diverted to
our own farmers and factory workers,
and in the course of time this country
should reach secure place as a heavy
exporter of sugar.
Our production of beet sugar between
1850 and 1896 increased from 800 tons to
10000 tons. This is not much. but it is
beginning. One important point to be
pit in mind is that an American con-
sumes two or three times as much sugar
As a German or Frenchman Sugar
here is considered necessity, not lux
ury. and our abundant and varied crops
of fruit require Its free use. The culture
of he sugar beet will be quickly master
ed by our farmers. 1t is an extensive
form of horticulture. Sipshod methods
on large areas will not answer in this
& 81.
successful with any crop. Something of
the high farming of the market gardener
is demanded by the sugar beet. 1t is
profitable, and our farmers are looking
for harvests of this kind. The genius of
Americans in the use of machinery is an
assurance that the sugar beet factories
will return good dividends. What meas
ure of protection should be granted by
the government is subject to be con-
sidered with care. Meantime. states
and localities are disposed to encourage
the new industry with so many millions
In it ST. Louis Globe-Democlat.
HAS THE SENATE DEGENERATED.
The widespread criticism of the nation
al senate, which generally includes the
assertion that that branch of congress
has sadly and rapidly degenerated, has
moved Senator Hoar of Massachusetts,
to undertake a defense of the body of
which he is so conspicuous and influen-
tial member, in an article which is
published in the April number of The
Forum. No other senator is so well
qualified for the task Mr.. Hoar has ac-
cepted. His long experience, his ability
and his character all fit him for the work,
and what he says will he taken as the
sum total of all that can be said on his
side of the question. He is not content
with maintaining that the senate has not
degenerated. lie insists that it has
greatly improved. In proof of this he
recalls the times when most of the
senators were greatly addicted to the
use of Intoxicating drinks and some
were notorious drunkards: when a vice
president was inaugurated in a state of
beastly intoxication; when coarse and
ribald language was heard in the cham
Der; when Sumner was struck down in
his seat by bully; when Foote of Miss
issipi drew pistol in debate and warned
John p. Hale that he would be hanged
If he ever visited Mississippl; and when
other similar scenes illustrated the in
temperance, cOarseness and brutality of
considerable number of the upper
house. He says too that senators work
much harder now than they did formerly,
and remarks that they no longer use the
government patronage for their own
personal advantage, for which fact he is
probably indebted to a confidential COM
munication from Lodge.
In answering the general complaint
that measures of Importance are often
defeated by obstructive motions and use