The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-03-26
A DISCUSSION OF PHILIPPINE SUGAR

of the oft-repeated story that the Unit
ed States was treating the Filipinos
ungenerously by depriving them OF |
their market for their sugar in Spain !
and at the same time imposing a duty |
on Philippine sugar coming into the
United States.
The bald truth is, said Mr.. Warrel |
that Spain never in ali the history OF |
the Philippine Islands, was market
for Philippine sugar. The people of
the United States purchased from the
Filipinos in four years-1903 to 1906
more sugar than the people of SPAN
had purchased from the Filipinos in
the half century from 1S49 to 1898. |
Over $4,000 tons were purchased from
the Philippines in those four years byI
the United States, while but 10000
tons were purchased by the whole Of
continental Europe, including, Of
course, the fifty years preceding
American occupation of the archi-
ten years preceding American occupa-
ton, purchased but 1 7-1O per cent of
the total Philippine expectation of SUI
gar. The United States during the
year ending June 80, 1905, purchased
60 per cent more sugar from the Phil
| ippine Islands than Spain had pur-
chased for ten entire years preceding
, American occupation
The United States levies less tax on
Philippine sugar than did Spain, and
we give the Philippine treasury the
tax collected.
The net tariff duty imposed on sugar
from the Philippines is 80 cents per
hundred pounds, and all the money
thus collected is turned back to the
Philippine treasury. Spain taxed SUI
gar from the Philippines 1924 per
hundred pounds, and kept all the
money.
What, Mr.. Warren asked, becomes of
the Sentimental argument that the FL
lipinos were ungenerously and unfair
ly deprived of a market for their SUI
gar in Spain?
In 1897 there were but six beet sugar
factories in the United States, produc-
ing 1880 tons. Now there are 65 beet
sugar factories, producing last season
43S, 900 tons. Michigan has 16 fac
tories, producing every season 1SS,OOO,-
900 pounds of sugar. Beets were plant
ed in Michigan on 100000 acres, and
grown by over 10000 farmers.
The value of the present output OF
domestic beet sugar is $49,300,000S Oh
this sum over one-half is paid directly
to the farmer for his beets. If the
1 ,70O,O00 tons of sugar imported from
Cuba, Java and Europe were produced
at home $50 more beet sugar factories
would be needed, and about S110,000,'
900 each year would be paid to the
farmers growing beets.
+ The United States can produce al
the sugar it consumes. Germany has
1913 beet sugar factories and produces
2, 100000 tons of sugar. France has
307 beet sugar factories and produces
/ ,O75 900 tons of sugar. Russia pro
duces II 100000 tons; Austria 1,509,OOC
tons; Belgium 32S,OOO tons; Holland
2O7 900 TONS All these industries were
built up by a Protective Tariff. The
universal custom of European countries
is to tax sugar coming from their col
onies the same as they tax sugar com
ing from foreign countries.
The American consumer buys his
sugar cheaper than any people in al
the world except the English, who
, produce no sugar.
1t may be, said Mr.. Warren, that ar
appreciation of these facts by Congress
has impelled it to hesitate to hamper
the growth of a great industry whicl
has made, in many districts of thu
= United States, two blades of grass t.
grow where one grew before.
All these facts are Of tremendou
value to Michigan, and ought to hav
an important bearing on the action o
A., the next Republican national conven
T ton and the selection of Republican
candidate for observation-disclosures
Telegraph"