New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-07-01
SUGAR ROUNTIES ABROAD.
THE FORCE OF AMERICAN EXAMPLE IN
INDIA AND AT WESTMINSTER
FREE TRADE INTOLERANCE.

London. June ~.
One OF the best debates Of the present session
OF Parliament turned last night upon the force
OF American example; and. curiously enough
there Is hardly single reference to this fact IN
the full report Of the proceedings. The subject
under discussion was the Indian policy OF levy
Ing countervailing duties upon sugar imported
under the system OF foreign export bountes
The British Government has been making fu-
tile effort for many years by diplomatic means
to secure the abrogation Of these bountes
which protect the beet producers OF the CONT
nent in foreign markets. America in the Ding
ley act has given the cane sugar producers or
the British Empire a practical demonstration
OF the facility with which these bounties can
be neutralized by countervailing duties. India
has profted by the example. II has imposed
similar duties upon sugar imported under the
artificial stimulus of export bounties. The
American plan has been adopted in the indian
tariff act OF this year; and although the fanat-
cal Free Traders ragged and Imagined vain
things the House Of Commons last night by
majority of al refused to interpose veto
upon it. SO skifully this essential fact
concealed during the debate that nobody VIII
suspect from the detailed report Of the debate
in The Times" to-day that new chapter or
imperial fiscal policy has been opened under
American inspiration.
The British West Indies. after failing to re-
ceive support from the Imperial Government In
protecting their sugar interests against the
bounty system, have profted by American leg
isation. The Dingley act has operated to place
this West Indian sugar at an advantage over
European beet sugar in the American market
When John Bull, with a keen relish for cheap
lam and marmalade. refused to do anything TO
help the neglected estates OF his West Indian
empire Brother Jonathan took compassion
upon them and rendered them great service
The fame OF that service went out 10 Nautilus
and the sugar planters there appealed to the
Colonial Office to have cOuntervailing duties
placed upon sugar coming from the bounty
paying countries. The Indian Government.
under the new Viceroys guidance. took advan-
tage Of this leaf from American experience ana
imposed countervailing duties varying from lbs.
40 to ~ per ton upon bounty-fed sugar. Ihis
policy has been adopted in order to protect one
OF the staple productions Of India against de-
structive competition from foreign countries.
where consumers are taxed for the sake OF dis
nlacing cane sugar abroad by means OF export
bounties.
The debate last night in the Commons was
raised by Sir Henry Fowler on a motion to dis
allow the Indian Tariff act imposing these coun-
tervailing duties He asserted that these du-
ties were Incompatible with the principles OF
Free Trade and that the Government had taken
the first step in reversing Coodens pohoy'
which had been Of enormous advantage to the
empire He argued that II the sugar planters
of Nautilus were protected in the indian mar
ket from the competition Of Germany ana Aus
tria- Hungary West Indian planters woud he
justified in asking for similar discrimination
in the English market. He challenged the Chan
cellor of the Exchequer to accept the Protec-
ZIONIST doctrines of the viceroy OF India and OF
Sir Howard Vincent, and to raise the price OF
sugar in the English market for the benefit OF
the planters of Jamaica and Trinidad. ne
disputed the Governments right to do for India
what it would not dare TO do for the BRUSH
West Indies and enlarged upon the inalienable
right Of Free Trade England to buy sugar and
everything else In the cheapest and best mar
ket.
THE ARGUMENT FROM CHEAPNEss.
like the fanatics of the Golden Club, Sir Hen
~ Fowler based his economic argument on
cheapness This was indeed necessary for
otherwise he would have been on the wrong
side OF the controversy The corn laws protecr-
ed the Eng"-h producer in his own market but
Peel Golden and Bright abolished them because
they consiC ered this unfair and artlncal al
vantage The export duties on sugar give the
French German and Austrian producer SIM
liar measure Of protection in the British mar
ket and according to Cobden's principles. the
discrimination is inequitable and ought not 70
be maintained. Sir Henry Fowler did not at
tempt to explain why the Continental beet pro-
ducer whose own market Is secured to him ~
a high tariff. should be allowed full protection
in the British market where no Englsh agri-
cultural product enjoys any advantage under
IL That would have been
a hard nut for him to crack. II was an easier
and more agreeable task for him TO talk about
cheap lam and marmalade and the shocking In
,ouity OF adding a farthing TO the expense OF
the poor mans breakfast table even II the
skies were to fall upon the Impoverished BRUSH
West Indies and India and Mauritius were 10
lose an important industry.
Sir Henry Fowlers motion was supported by
Mr. Maclean below the Tory gangway IN the
most harassng and contemptuous speech 10
which the Government has been exposed TINS
session from it's own side. He vas TOO angry
and aggressive to take up the dry points OF the
economic argument, but squared MS snouiders
and hit out in the most reckless way at the
great men Of mis- party He described the plot
against the peace Of India which had been
Matched in the Colonial Office. he ridiculed bord
George Hamilton, the Secretary for lndia as
Mr. Chamberain's boy at the telephone ne
lampooned Lord Curzon as Niceroy ATTENTIVE
TO his own applause" while sitting in council
corrupted by honors and charged him with
rushing" the Tariff act with the same Indecent
haste with which Richard III had asked for the
head OF Lord Hastings before breakfastins' lie
turned savagely upon Mr.. Chamberlain ana
tainted him with signing for new worlds 70
conquer and interfering in India when Airl'A
WAS surely big enough for him. especiaNy az
President KRUGER had not been disposed Oh ne
charged the Secretary FOR the colonies win
taking his foreign politics from Sir Ashmeau-
Bartlett and his economics from Sr fo"aiu
Vincent and asked II these principles were I"
be taught In the new University OF birmingham