The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1908-11-28

THE SUGAR TARIFF.

presents in its issue OF November 10
the following interesting summary of
the hearings on the sugar tariff sched-
lule before the house ways and means
committee at Washington last week,
and q forecast of the changes most
likely to be made in that schedule by
the next congress:
"Monday and Tuesday of this week
were set aside by the committee on
ways and means of the house of
representative at their committee
room in Washington, D. c., for hear
ing on the sugar tariff schedule.
Nearly all the sugar interests were
represented, including domestic cane
and beet producers, Cuba estates and
United States refners,
1.-THE requests and views presented
to the committee varied from higher
duties to free sugar. Domestic cane
interests wished no change; domestic
beebs wished unchanged or higher du-
ties; Cuba wished he. per pound re-
ductlon on the present schedule. leay-
lug the reciprocity allowance BIC. per
100 pounds as now; some retiners asked
for lower duties, or no duties on all
raw sugar, with or without differ
ebtfal on foreign refined; the United
states government, represented by the
seerebary of war, General Wright,
asked for tha admission Tree Of duty
Of a limited quantity Of Philippine
Islands sugar per aaluln, with intima-
ton that this amount might later be
increased each year. but at q maxi
mum liialsto he agreed upon
We thIak 10th fhe requests for
higher duties and for Tree sugar will
be Ignored by the. committee; tariff for
revenue only requires q duty The
request Tor Il. genera reduction, or
some reductions may receive some at
tentiop, but be eventually defeated.
The request for unchanged duties else
where stands the hest chance, pro-
vided that the government request on
Philippine sugar IS granted.
A eompromiseof domestic interests
and the government On this line will
probably BE The hasss the bill pre-
ssatea 20 flo .5.ase IS It's II Is . session
iii March next. No action on the
| Philippines or on tariff IS likely to be
taken al the short session beginning
in December.
1--WE think the Philippines can
safely anticipate free duty to limited
extent when the tariff bill is passed.
and the domestic industries can antici-
pate little, il any, other change from
present rates. Those who wish reduced
duties 10 beneft consumers will get it
indirectly.
The reductions already made il
duties on Cuba, Porto Rico and Philip
pinesugar AMOUNT to an average reduc-
ton OF 25 per cent. from the Dingley
bill, and free sugar from the Philip
pines will still further reduce the aver
age duties on sugar. These reductions
have reduced the price Of sugar to the
consumer from what prices would
have been under full Dingley rates. Ii
order to retain the "a cents difference
to Cuba in the event Of a general tariff
reduction, the reciprocity treaty would
have to be amended. as it is now
limited to 20 per cent of full tariff
rates.
"The Cuban reciprocity treaty pro-
vides that it shall continue in force
for FIVE years (from December 81,
1908, say to December q, 1868, and
from year to year thereafter until the
expiration of one year from the day
when either of the contracting parties
shall give notice to the other of it's
intention to terminate the same. In.
case Of changes in tie tariff of either
country which deprive the other Of
the advantages now received, the
country SO deprived OF this protection
may terminate the treaty on six
months notice