The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-01-28
SURPRISE
ADVOCATES DUTY REDUCTION ON
CUBAN SUGAR.
Wants it Retained on Refined Sugar.
Purports to Speak for Beet Sugar
Growers-It Causes CONSERVATION.

WASHINGTON. January 16-John
d. Spreckels, president of the Spreck-
els Sugar hefning Company, has writ
ten to every member of the California
delegation and to certain members of
the Ways and Means Committee, in
Guiding Representative Long Of KAN
sas, letters dealing with the proposed
reduction Of the tariff on raw sugar
from Cuba. A copy of his letter is on
file in the Ways and Means Committee.
Spreckels' letter, which has caused
much commit, is as follows
SAN FRANCISCO, January Z, 1902
Darr Sir; We beg to ask your indulgence
in the consideration Of a subject which
has, undoubtedly, already taken consid-
cradle of your valuable time and possi-
bly, has been brought TO your notice by
others from the State of California, but
as we have seen so many erroneous
statements in print, we feel it is due TO
the entire consuming people Of the
United States and to those beet sugar
manufacturers who, from the perfection
of their plants, can manufacture granu~
lated beet sugar at a competitive price,
that the facts, as demonstrated by our
own actual experience, should be known
to the legislative body of the Federal
Government.
We learn through the channel of the
public press and from miscellaneous do
cuments sent us that the question Of
the abolition of the duty on raw sugar
from Cuba will be seriously considered
in the present session Of Congress, and
we desire to go on record as opposed to
such abolition.
L the honorable members of the Ways
and Means Committee find it necessary
to reduce the tariff now in force on
raw sugar in order to carry out the
plan of relief for Cuba planned by the
Federal Government, then we espect-
fully submit the following statement
of facts for their considerations
For fourteen years we have owned
and operated beet sugar factory and
we have found that the duty of S16Slk
per 100 pounds, as a present levied or
raw sugar, is now a protection in eX-
cess of the needs of the beet-sugar in
dustry as demonstrated by our own ac-
tual workings and we believe this can
be demonstrated by any other beet-su-
gar manufacturer of this country whose
factory is equally with our own a pro-
duct of the latest and most improved
methods for processing the sugar beet
and further is not an over capatilizeC
institution.
Should Congress deem it advisable t
make a reasonable reduction in raw su-
gar from Cuba we, as beet sugar manu-
factuTeTs, can stand reduction in suci
tariff and still with such decreased du
ties Ieel assured Oh a leBlLllQdLe prom
on the actual money invested.
The fine granulated sugar turned Ou
by our beet sugar factories and othel
similar factories is a product suitable
for household consumption, being made
from the vegetable beet in one opera
ton, thereby enabling us and others
if affOred moderate protection on raw
sugar, to successfully compete for g
share of the sugar business of the en-
tire union.
Whatever concession, howey,~, is
made in the duty on raw sugar, we de
sire your cooperation for the continu
ance of the protection on refined sugar
imported fom any county, as any reduc
JiOn in said duty would cause more
general hardship to beet sugar manu-
facturers than a reasonable Reduction
of the duty on raw sugar.
Your attention is respectfully called
to the fact that all beet sugar factories
located in the interior of our country
have a largely increased protection ol
account of the freight on refined suga
from the seaboard. thus enabling then
to secure Just so much more additiona
for their product. We unfortunately
have not got this protection, as our tw,
factories are located only 80 miles
and l2O miles respectively from San
Francisco, and both practically at It'd
water.
We ask your forbearance for tn
length of this communication, whicl
we justify only in the Importance il
bears to the interests alike of our manu-
facturers and our people at large.
Yours truly,
SPRECKELS SUGAR COMPANY,
By John d. Spreckels, President.