The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-23
THEIR FRAUDULENT PRETENSE

The sham OF the argument made by
Howell. in the wake of the chief repre-
sentatiyes OF the sugar trust, against
reduced duties on Philippine sugar is
becoming more and more thoroughly
understood by the people. The fact
that the Cuban sugar product. which is
our main single import supply.
did not in the least diminish
the price of sugar when twenty
per cent was taken of from the
Dngley tariff bill in favor OF Cuban
sugar was a complete demonstration
that the proposed Philippine reduction
would also be harmless to the price
and TO the beet-sugar industry. That
the opponents OF the proposed reduction
of duty on sugar produced In the Phil
ippines We're conscious OF the insincer-
ity and fraud of their pleas. Is thus
shown by the New York Tribune. per
haps the most strenuous and consist
ent American tarin advocate in the
United States:
The insinccrc and shallow character OF
the hght made by the sugar intcTestS TO
defeat the Philippine tariff bin is en-
phasizcd by the compromise offered by
those interests Yesterday ana rejected by
the friends of the Payne measure. which
was passed In the House by an over
whelmiug majority without harmful
amendments, aud now goes TO the Senate.
This compromise. submitted by Mr. Ford
ncy OF Michigan, proposed limitation on
the quantity OF Philippine sugar and to-
baCCo To he brought free Into thls Couu-
try after March II. 1903 1t fixed the
sugar maximum for any one year at
10000 tons and prescribed an elaborate
sliding scale on cigars and tobacco. In
tn. fiscal Year, lS04-5 we imported from
the Philippines at 80 per cent or the Ding
Icy rate Of duty about 200 tons OF su-
gar. The Fordney amendment cOntem-
plated, therefore. the removal of all taxes
on our present importstions from the
Philippines and the enlargement of these
lmpoTtatonS within five years by about
tpp per cent. But thus frankly 10 admit
that the present duty could bc taken of
Philippine sugar. and that sugar ship
ments TO this country might be multiplied
fivefold OF siNfold without Teully damag
Ing the home producer wss to flout the
stand pat logic literally employed
by tho asssilants OF the Payne bill 1T
was an abandonment OF the whole areu-
meut urged by the sugar interests and
direct betrayal OF their claboratcly
wOrkcd-up case.
The sole plea made against the Payne
bill was that II would work to the injury
OF tho domestic sugar producer. The
beet sugar industry was pictured by
Western Congressman as an Industry sim
glcd out Tor sacrifice on sentimental
grounds Its growth. or, rather Its main
tenancc. these statesmen argued. depend
ed on the preservation OF the tariff status
quo-on the Illustration OF all efforts TO
lower existing tariff barriers against the
competing foreigner. Every ton of Phil
ippinc sugar admitted would, from this
point OF View. narrow the American SUI
gur-grower's market and dcpreSS domes-
tic prices. II this contention were true II
would be % vital importance TO the Amer
lean sugar planter to hold tho door closed
! against his Filipino rival But suddenly.
at the last moment, the sugar interests
discovered that they could not only dis
pense with the high rate now levied on
the Philippine product but could safely
allow the Filipino planter 10 sell US un-
| taxed Ave times ae much sugar az he
sells us now.
How is this singular change Of front To
be accounted for Only, perhaps, by ~
| consciousness ON the part OF the oppo-
ncnts of the bill that they were talking
buncombc when they asserted that prices
Of sugar I'm the United States would he
affected by the duty we levied or failed
to levy on sugar from tho Philippines.
OF course 1t was conscious bun
combe IT was pretended cry for the
farmers. but in fact a whine for the
| sugar trust. And the proposed limita-
tion on the quantity Of Philippine sugar
| that could be brought i'm free was sim
| ply the gauge set by the sugar trust as
TO the quantity it could be sure OF ham
| ding and monopolizing In It's own in
! terest. IN It's accord agreement with
| SprcCkels on the west coast
Unquestionaby, the price of sugar is
| Gxe by the trust In accordance with
| the highest rate OF duty. This was am
ply shown in the case of Cuban sugar
| The twenty per cent reduction on the
Dingley duty conceded to the Cuban
| planters did not bring the price OF
sugar down twenty per cent; II didn't
bring 1t down one per cent. The fun
duty charge Of the Dingley tariff was
| the standard; the trust pocketed the