New-York tribune., 1902-02-23
THE SUGAR HEARING.
BEET SUGAR MEN MAKING MONEY
WHILE THE CUBANS ARE LOSING.

Washington Feb. % (speciaD.-An analysis Of the
hearings had before the Ways and Means Com
mittee advocating and opposing tariff concessions
on Cuban products, or other reciprocal arrange
ments whereby the market Of Cuba could be Sc
cured TO the United States. reveals a great deal
Of conflicting and contradictory evidence and not
a little matter that has no bearing whatever on the
subject at issue. Fifty witnesses appeared before
the committee. and their combined testimony
makes a volume o. 53l pages and the last word.
perhaps has not yet been spoken Sixteen of these
witnesses advocated Cubar reciprocity based upon
mutual tariff reductions while thirty-fou opposed
any change whatever in the present tariff rates
asserting that any favors granted TO Cuba would
be destructive to American interests and indus
tries SO far as numbers go, the opponents OF
reciprocity have had the better Of the contest
Some OF the representatives Of Cuban interests VINO
appeared also labored under the misfortune Of
lacking somewhat in the training necessary TO
make the most OF their They should have
taken lessons from Henry T. OXnard. who labore1
so earnestly agars; granting any concessions, af-
hrming that il would ruin the sugar interests OF
the United States. and the fact that Mr.. OXnard,
who not long since, by facts, figures and logical
deductions. demonstrated that beet sugar could
he made profit Iuder absolute free trade is
the same Mr. Oxnard who with facts. figures and
balance sheets proves that anything less than
100 per cent protection will destroy the industry
certainly shows enviablc degree of versatility.
When asked to explain his twofold position Mr.
Oxnard cheerfuy did by saying that his free
sugar argument based the results or Il
favorable campaign and his 100 per cent duty
argument was based the results which would
follow a bad year. Americans have great respect
FOR tariffs. Some love. protective tariff and
others prefer a revenue tariff. but tariff to in
sure against the results Of drouth or wet weather
is something entirely even in the varied tariff
experience of the United States
However. the greatest confusion arises when II
comes 10 examining the evidence relative to the
cost OF producing pound of sugar, and there is
q pN en- 4
they may be employed in some rather peculiar cal
'ulations. An examination OF the testimony of the
beet sugar people shows a wide divergence in
estimated actual cost of producing a pound Of
Eranulated sugar ready for the market Mr.. OK
nard is down in the evidence for a number OF
still another ,' at 0Ss y H. ii'0 stewart OF Of Ka-
amazoo, Mich, says the cost at his factory is O6S:
av 9 a6e ma6 P2pna OF sugar m ang n Hey"ard "
The estimates Of the cost OF ProduSing pound
Of Cuban raw sugar are remarkably close the
being Very small Mr. AtRns festiaed that It cost
him 02O6 a pound this being the lowest estimate
submitted ii is explained by especially favorable
transportation facilities enjoyed by Mr Atkins
Hugh Kelly said his sugar cost him .O2l6 to pro
6aGas wa a @ Se OF cost sh ha o.
near Cienfuegos was .O22 Havana .o2. and
an estimate made by the Cuban Secretary of Agri-
portant than the cost Of production. have been
tbat tb b pS ,5 ne n~GIIss ~ as pToaseg' i ,oy
and. second. that the Cuban raw sugar producers
Ihese reasons that cuba asks for relief 1t IS not
question of economic life death for Cuba tow
ard which the United States has assumed serious
responsibilities and the President and Secretary
OF War were not ignorant of the situation when
they urged concessions to Cuba. although some OF
the witnesses before the committee intimat that
their recommendations were born OF lack OF
knowledge OF the facts in the case
The statement that whatever reduction is granted
will accrue to the Sugar Trust is answered by the
fact that Hawaii and Porto Rico with free entry
for their sugars. receive just Cuba re-
ceives for her sugar, plus the present duty: or in
other words. they receive .0laS cent a pound more
is
measure why Is ii that Hawaii and Porto Rico
have been lobbying against Cuba receiving any por
tiOn of the benefits which they enjoy IN the
American markets? 1t was. to say the least, a
matter Of questionable taste for them take part
iu the<iisCussion
Even)with a reduction the.Cuban sugar which
will come the United States. this country's
sumption demands such enormous importations
from other lands that there is a wide market for
domestic beet domestic cane all of HaWaii's sugar
and all Of Porto RCO's sugar. Increased consump-
tOn will keep pace with increased production. and
the United States will continue absorb hundreds
OF thousands of tons OF the sugar Of other lands