Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-11-17
Allegation that it Fixes Prices for
Producer and Consumer.
FREE SUGAR FROM PHILIPPINES
Secretary Wright Argues Against Any
Duty on Insular Product.
BEET MEN ARE STANDING PAT
Their Representatives Argue Against
Any Change In scheduIes--
Charge that Trust Controls
This Industry.

the price paid the grower and the price
charged the consumer, the secretary OF
war putting himself on record as cham
pion of free entry for Philippine sugar and
the general "stand-pat" attitude Of the beet
sugar growers who appeared before the
ways and means committee OF the house
were the features OF todsys hearing ON
the revision of the tariff as it would affect
sugar
Secretary of war. Luke f. Wright. and
General Clarence Edwards, chief OF the in
sular bureau, were present. II was shortly
after the afternoon session was begun that
Chairman Payne asked Secretary Wright
If he cared to make any remarks. Tho
former governor of the islands said:
I'VE are now having an investigation
made in the Philippines regarding the cost
of production in the islands and other mat
! ters relating TO the question. From what
| have just heard. the principal objection
| by the beet sugar growers to the admission
free OF duty of Philippine sugar lies In the
danger that their markets will be inundated
by the Philippine article 1t Is not possible
that the Philippine islands could supply the
actual increase in demand for sugar, year
| py year. in the United States. In that case
| there is no reason why the islands should
! affect the market until the beet and cane
sugar produced within the tariff wall in
| creases 100000 tons Before the beet sugar
| industry is In the slightest danger It must
| increase from 10000 tons annually to 210O-
900 tons. and from annual reports It would
take fifty years to do this.
Special Bill for Philippines.
| Chairman Payne indicated that the possl-
BILE action of the committee with regard
to the sugar schedule would be to recon-
mend that a certain amount OF Philippine
sugar be admitted free OF duty each year
and that the present tariff be imposed on
any above that amount. He told Secretary
| Wright that the menace, If any. was from
the Cuban sugar which enjoys a reduction
| in the tariff of 20 per cent. He also inti-
mated that the Philippine tariff was SC
important a question that it might not os
considered as being strictly part OF tina
work Of revising the Dingiey tariff. but
! would be taken up separately.
| Secretary Wright said that the produo
| tor of sugar in the Philippines would no,
| increase to any extent. Representative
FoTdney of Michigan, who has a large
number of sugar beet farmers among hiG
| constituents, told the secretary that tn,
| same argument was put forth with regar
| to the Cuban sugar several years ago anC
yet the production in Cuba had increased
| very ldTBely. ana lie AIneTlcdn Deet sugar
| industry had not increased very much.
THE beet sugar people say that tht
American Sugar Refining company has no
interest in their factories" snid the secrc-
tary. referring &c the so-called trust, "yct
| three years ago they said a trustee, under
| stood 10 represent the American Sugar
| Refining company, owned 81 per cent OF the
| stock OF all the beet sugar factories. That
may be the reason why the beet sugar
inGustry in this country has not grown,
rather than the importation or Cuban
sugar There has been no reduction In the
price OF sugar in number of years.
Trust Names Price.
| Much information concerning the cost of
producing sugar, the profits derived cap-
tai invested. methods OF growing and r..
filming, were offered at todays hearing
Colonel ID. d. Colcock, on behalf of the
Louisiana cane sugar growers, said that
the methods by which the trust" names
the price which It would pay the grower
were unfair and "damnable."
Henry T. Oxnard, +. r, Hathaway. c. n.
Smith. f. r. Schoes, c. w. Mccormick
and w. II. Baird. representing the beet
sugar manufacturers of the west. asked
that the present tariff be maintained or,
IL changed, that it be increased claiming
| tndl tNt nldTkll OF DIOIll on Dtht sugar
was too small TO permit of any compe-
tition with the foreign refiners.
F. r. Hathaway. representing the Michi-
gan Sugar company, charged that r. r.
Atkins. who will appear tomorrow, repre-
sentng the Cuban sugar growers mot
only prophesies, but threatens revolution
in Cuba which would result in the an
nexation of Cuba and ultimate free trade.
II the request for reduction Is not granted 4"
The hearing will be continued tomorrow
when the independent refiners are ex-
pected to argue for reduction IN the
tariff for raw sugar.
Coal md Lumber Schedules.
That the steel coal and lumber interests
will make a stubborn fight against the re-
duction Of the tariff on these products was
stated today by Senator Elkins " West
Virginia as he was leaving the White
House after a call upon President Roose-
welt.
There is going to be fight on coal and
lumber rates" said the senator West
Virginia. which produced large amount
Of these products, Is entirely satisfied with
the existing rates and will put up con-
test before It permits them TO be changed" :"
IL Canada manifests a Willingness 70 re-
duCe it's duty ON coal. the senator said. an
! agreement Wighl be feacheu casily Tor the
reduction Of the tariff on c-al into the
| United states.
Mr.. Elkins declared II would be unfair
! to the country To attempt to revise the
? tariff at the coming session Of congress.
: Before the hearing began todsy Chairman
! Payne said:
/ Despite the criticism and prophesies in
the pitss TO :hc effect that iho O. mmttcr
! had already made up IT'S mild with regard
q the revision Of the tariff, win say that
this committee viii stand on the facts
brought out al these hearings and viii well
come any fact OF any kind whether they
favor lower duty or higher duty. or even
free trade on some articles
Henry 4. OXnard, a beet sugar grower
and refiner Of the west argued aRains.