The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-11-20
FROM THE NATIONS CAPITAL.
From Our O.cn Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Nov. 10, 1901.
Sugar will play tremendous part in
the deliberations of Congress at the
coming session. The problem is really
q very complicated one. First, there
are our own growers to be considered.
Urged on by the Agricultural Depart
iiont, farmers ~ many s4ctinns have
devoted their attention to raising sugar
bcets and to building factories to ex-
tract the sacchnrinc matter from them;
any attempt TO reduce the duty or
sugar will undoubtedly meet with
vigorous opposition from these. Next
is the sugar trust. which is willing to
nave raw sugar FREQ but wants tax
ON tho refined product SO as to enable
1t to make an abnormal profit; it is now
engaged in war with tho beet sugar
men to mako them sell their unreiined
sugar at price fixed by itself. Third,
are the interests of the Hawailaps
Fourth, is Cuba, to " hch FREQ entry of
her sugar into the United States is n
vital condition t, prosperity. There
are really SO many wheels within
wheels in the sugar conflict that keen
observer will possibly be nonplussed
Tor awhile to get the facts, and there
Is grave danger of scandal similar to
that OF some years ago, when several
Senators were convicted morally of
guilt in speculating in sugar stocks
and strongly suspected of yet more
reprchensible practices.
Representative Babcock. of Wiscon
sin, is i'll town. pluckily uplloldlng the
tariff measure he stole from the Demo.
Gratis last session, and has since been
attempting to force on his own party
with no appreciable results. "My idea
as to tariff revision is SIMPLE" lie said.
ut is this: Where by changed condi-
tions tariff duties have become exorbi-
tant, far beyond the needs Of protec-
ton, would put them where they
would amply protect labor, but not to
point that would create a monopoly
of trade and raise prices to consumers.
In other words, il an article cost 81 to
bo produced abroad and $40 to be
produced i'll this country, I would
favor Il 80 per cent duty, to- protect
ourselves; but not 200 per cont, which
would simply afford n margin for in
creasing the price to our own consum-
ers. There is no departure from Re-
publican protective tariff principles in
TINT. Ireassert that am as ardent IN
advocate of the Republican doctrine Of
protection to American Industries as
there is in this country. The question
this Congress will be called upon to
answer is, Will it permit q tariff duty
to remain in force, to enable trusc to
pay dividends OH watered stock?"
This is the question that the Democrats
have been asking. for 10 these many
years, only to be overborne by the
money that the protected trusts have
been able to muster to their defense.
Mr.. Babcock means we'll. and if he and
his hnlr dozen supporters would join
hands with the Democrats they might
force action. No one doubts, however,
that when it comes to show down, they
will yield to their caucus rule and vote
to maintain the tariff unchanged.
The accession of Senator Cullom to
the head of the Foreign Relations
Committee of the Senate brings Steve
Eikins, OF West Virginia, to the head
of Interstate Commerce and renders
abortive MI efforts to strengthen the
Interstate commerce law or to repair
tho holes punched in it by unfriendly
court decisions. What is needed, is an
amendment to the law which will give
the commission power to say, after IN
that rate is too high
and to fix q lower rate, which the rail-
roads must put into effect and continue
operative until the courts have an op-
to pass on the question. Un-
DER the present circumstances it is i'm
possible to regulate these matters. III
the commission decides O rate is exor-
bitant the road may reduce the rate
half cent. If the commission is not
satisfied with this small cut, it must
take the matter into court. If the
commission is sustained, Tho railroad
then makes another small reduction.
In the course Of n lifetime the rate by
this means would be reduced to rea-
sonable point. If the amendment sug-
gested should be adopted, prescribed |
rate would become effective at once. |
in rates are fragrant |
and OF common occurrence, but it is
difficult to prosecute the railroads on !
account OF the provision in the consti.
tution which gives a person immunity
from discriminating himself. If Scna-
tor Cullom had remained at the head |
of tho Committee. the reform elements
would have predominated; but when
40 yields to Elkins, who is q railroad
man. the railroad interest gets into the
: The Hay Pauncefote treaty ia nearly
ready to be signed; it will 60 down in
history as the work of Secretary Hay,
although. as matter of fact, it is the
york of the Cecofa opd forpa1x, oS <bo