Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-08-21
WHY COUNTERvAILING DUTIES ON
SUGAR ARE OBJECTED To
AGRICULTURAL EXPERT TALKS
EXPLAINS STATUS OF AMERICAN
MEAT INSPECTION BILL
Says Agrarian Movement Is Very
Strong and Leaders Are Turn
ing Their Attention to the
Interests of the Agrf-
cultural Classes.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 20.-Baron Won
Herman. agricultural expert of the Ger
man embassy. is Just back from a TWO
months visit to Germany, during VIII. .ch
period ne mad opportunity to observe the
progress of the meat inspection bill IN
the rechstag, and to note the DEVELOPMENT
OF the Agrarian movement, which is hav-
ing such marked influence on German
affairs, including the question of exporting
German beet sugar to the United States.
Baron Won Herman talked quite freely on
these non-political questions, to Il repIesen-
tative of the Associated Press. When
asked as to the status OF the meat inspec-
ton bill, he said:
The bill was brought before the reich
stag last spring, but a strong opposition
developed among Agrarian members on the
ground that the government measures were
too friendly to the United States. And you
VIII remember, about that time, a provis-
ion was placed in the agricultural appro-
priatton bill passed in this country, giving
the secretary of agriculture authority to
exclude such imports as he considered In
furious to health. This provision was d.
rected against certain German products,
such as toys, which, 1t was said, might be
injurious to health because of the paint on
them. AT all events, this provision caused
bad feeling in Germany, and made It
more difficult for the government to secure
the passage of the meat inspection BILL It
was referred by the reichstag to a commit
tee which had full power to determine what
course was to be adopted. The committee
reported adversely, and that was equiva-
lent to refusal by the reichstag to take
any action.
1t may be brought forward again, as
tt,arn aatI,
of the present law. but 1t Is too early to say
what the future plaLs will be. as the reichs-
tag is adjourned until November. and
everything Is at a standstill through the
summer. 1t is probable. however that the
government will consult with the leaders.
and see IL some understanding cannot be
reached on the measure"
Concerning the Agrarian movement, Ba-
ron Won Herman said:
TT is very strong, and Is turning its at
tention to the interests of the agricultural
classes of Germany. The sugar question Is
essentially an Agrarian one. Our sugar in
terests are seriously injured by the tax and
countervailing duties in the American tar
if law, and the Agrarians hold that this
not only prejudices their industry, but that
1t is a discrimination against them. They
feel 1t most because 1t touches their point
and the results of their labor, but above
this Is the consideration that the system
is not right, being a discrimination. They
contend that the question should be dealt
with on broad grounds. In the final analy-
sis it comes down to this simple question:
shall there be a development of the
cane industry of uncivilized, semi bar bar
Gus countries, or shall there be a con-
tinued use of the sugar products of civil
lized countries, which are able to buy
things in return. AS the United States
does not produce the sugar actually re-
Quired by consumers, supply must come
from outside sources. Now Is 1t not to
the interest Of this country to buy Of the
German producers. rather than turn to
the cane industries of Java, for example
when Java can give little or no return for
the purchases made of her?
Moreover. II should be understood" add
ed Baron Won Herman, that the German
government derives s30.OO0.00O out OF the
taxes on the sugar industries of the coun-
try, while 1t pays back as export bounties
only about 100000, so. as matter of fact.
the bounty comes out of the pocket of the
sugar producer, instead of the treasury,
as it is a part of the tax which the pro-
ducer has paid on his industry. 1t is some
what in line with the American revenue tax
on mixed flour, which is refunded to the
producer in case the flour Is exported
On the whole, Baron Won Herman seems
to think that those pending questions can
be solved to the satisfaction of both sides.
and that public understanding of the leg
islation involved will solve half the diff
liculty. Both nations, in his Judgment, are
too far advanced not to see that their in
terests lie in the development of their al
ready existing trade, and not, as he says.
lin building up Chinese wall against the
outside world.