Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-10-11
FREE RAW SUGAR
Views Of a Boston Expert on That
Very important Subject.
Ne thinks That Cuba Should 30 Treated the
Same a Hawaii and Porto Rico.

BOSTON. Oct 1O-A sugar expert mas
made up the following figures on the
original basis of total consumption de-
rived from the figures of Willett 4
Gray. which are claimed to be as cor
rect as possible:
RAW SUGAR.
Total consumption L. S. .-
1900 (\ViIlett 4 GraY.... 2,2l9S.
Add 634qs, average annual
increase in consumption
last 10 years ............... 10, .3S
Consumption for 1901. 2,S6O,5S
OF which:
Louisiana produces .........35o.G0
Beet (domestic) produces ..15o,OtV
Hawaii (freeI produces $4,000
Porto Rico 0ree) produces .l5oooo 1.Oo,0oh
Paying duty at an average of say SIG
per ton, s4S,9Sl .060. equivalent TO $40 per
ton in granalated.
Price increased because of tariff SIG per
ton.
Total consumption 2.360.5Sj tons at
So Observation-Disclosures. .SI 91,tGl
OF this practically SIS 100000, s96. 900 600
goes to the following protected sugar
raisers:
To Louisiana planters ON 10000
tons at $50 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. SIG ,Nn
To domestic beet planters on l5o.-
900 tons al SD Observation-Disclosures. 40,00l
To Hawaii planters on $4,000 tons
at $36 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 12.G1,Sl
To Porto Rico planters on l5o0o0
tons AT $50 500 60,
81, 900 90
Remove duty and the whole SS4,9Sl,-
O60 ACQUIRES to the public.
This expert says: This is especially
interesting as showing the immense
saving to the public in free raw sugars.
Unless person is familiar with the
matter the figures are astounding.
That the United States will have Sc
riouS trouble with Cuba unless her SUI
gars are admitted on the same basis
with the Sandwich islands. Porto Rico.
and later the Philippines. is beginning
to be generally recognized. for the
reason that if her sugar industry is
disseminated against. the prosperity
Of the island must be absolutely de-
stroyed. In fact today, under present
conditions. the prosperity of the is
land is in great peril by our attitude.
We are bound TO treat Cuba justly, and
We cannot do this unless We make a
material reduction in the tariff on her
sugars.
The opposition to this of course
will come principally from the beet su-
gar industry, but their protection is so
enormous that they ought to be able
to stand material reduction without
impairing their position. although they
will undoubtedly make the usual hue
and cry for a struggling infant indus
try. The extraordinary duty on
necessity of life cannot be any better
exemplified than by the fact that on
today's market the price of raw SUI
gars in Cuba is 20S. The duty on this
is 1.6S. equivalent to 81 per cent. an
extraordinary tax on necessity of
life, and as far as the interests of the
public are concerned inexcusable and
indefensible in the present condition
of our national finances However,
the people interested in beet sugars are
but a handful compared with the rest
of the community, and that the entire
country should be taxed such an enor-
nous amount for the benefit of a few
is condition of things which the pub
lie cannot be expected to submit to
when their attention is called to it.
We are now embarrassed by an econo-
mic and financial system which takes
millions out of the channels Of trade
and places them in the treasury of the
government, where they are not need
ed. Is there any way in which this
difficulty can be met more simply than
by making raw sugars free
This would in accordance with the
policy of the Democratic party. and ii
also would seem to enable the Repub-
licans to leave much of the tariff I'M
touched. if it is their desire, and that
of the people generally, to have no
general tariff agitation or revision. 1t
would seem that it would be most
polite for both parties to undertake
the battle of free raw sugars at the
earliest possible moment, as the tend
ency of sentiment and the logic of con-
ditions are now in line with this i'm
portant item of the free breakfast
table.
As both political parties always
need popular issue, such as where
the interest of the many is so great
and opposed to the interest of so few.
it is surprising that free raw sugars
have not been made most important
issue by one or both of them"