New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-22
PHILIPPINE SUGAR.
Correspondent 1rgucs against Re
duCti0n Of Tariff.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: II was with considerable satisfaction that I
read your editorial Of February u Sugar from
/ the Philippines" and found that you had al last
produced figures IN support OF your campaign in
favor OF free trade with those Islands and We're a
little less strong In your abstract plea for Justice
The figures you repeat from The report q the De-
partmcnt Of Commerce and Labor appear practi-
caIIy correct but beg permission to point out the
fallacies IN the deductions you have made there
from.
In comparing ,he crop Of the islands with impor-
| tations Of sugar into the United States you evil
IDENTIFY call the exports Of the islands the United
states the sugar output Of the archipelago"
whereas their total exports TO all points last year
were about 10000 tons while their total crop was
estimated l45.525 and this year at 10000
tons. Therefore. instead OF the combined crops OF
Hawaii and Porto Rico and OF total foreign sugars
being each thirty-four times greater they are only
three and one-haf times greater, while the Cuban
crop is only times great
That great increase could be easily accom-
pshed there can he no doubt after considering
tho strides made during the last few years by tho
sugar crops Of Cuba. Porto Rico Hawaii. and our
domestic beet sugar industry. Thus the Cuban
crop increased 50 times In nine years. that Of
Porto Rico six times IA five years. OF Hawaii three
times in eight years, and Western beet five times
I'm years under fiscal agricultural conditions
much inferior TO those of the Philippines should
the proposed bill become law Already there is
enough acreage under cane the islands pro-
duce four times the present crop. with no more
labor or waste, II proper methods OF cultivation
and manufacture employed. The islands
contain more fertile land than cuba and have al
twice the density of population.
With regard to your axiom that the sugar pay
Ing the highest tariff fixes the price. 1t is only
true in the Of the New York market and ad-
iacent territory and is already dlsproved by pres
ent conditions in the West. For up TO within a
year the price ~ the country that Of New
York plus the freight it should be. II your
axiom is correct. but since last May the price at
San Francisco has been the same that Of New
York and between these points but slightly
higher. This is due TO The refining Of Hawaiian
sugar in a refinery near San Francisco conducted
Brought on war wiah the old refnery The adds
ton of free Philippine sugars to Tho supplies OF
lion Of nrces ana the prosrect OF our beet sugar
Industry being forced against it's win into the
provided with free cane sugar, is certainly not
me price to the country at large viii then be
down In New York over its share Of the tariff wall.
plus the cost OF rGnlng ana minus tS iariGFt 10
San Francisco IS almost certain 10 make a dif-
fror, p To- 40 rar cent ON heIr- ir5s.d ranItaI
TN a , ,% o your question as to 'SvbV no give,
the Filipinos the status IN our market which we
have already given the Hawaians and Porto
TO treat the islands Hawaii has been treated
ciaiy' for Hawaii has been made q territory and
has undertaken all the responsibilities inSeparUbe
from that status. II has the same fiscal system
all the other states and territories and 10 place the
Philippines on the same plano would deprive them
of 100000 Of their present $UO0j,OW revenues.
a loss which the benefits they would receive from
free trade could not replace for some time.
To treat them as Porto Rico has been treated and
as the proposed Legislation Contemplates would
doubtedly lead To their exploitation IN the
manner the former isignd is being exploited TO
the great detTiment Of the native population. In all
respects present treatment Of the islands. which
is practically the that given colonies 10y
England and by all the colonizlng nations Of Eu-
rope, much superior to either of these mis-
called relefs. Much tho best way to relieve the
native and put him mis- feet is by methods SINH
lar TO that OF establishing agricultural bank
now proposed, which will free him from the 90 TO
60 per cent interest which he IL now forced 10
pay for money 10 carry his crops. -
". L. WILLETT.
East Orange. y. J.. Feb. Is. 1907