The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-12-02
CAM AIGN FOR
CHEAP SUGAR
Continued from Page One. }

to most distributing points, Of from
thirty to fifty cents per hundred
pounds, giving them practically two
cents per pound protection. In order
that they may reap large profits, the
government taxes every man. woman
and child, practically 5-Se. per
pound, on every pound Of sugar which
they use.
The domestic sugar industry is con
trolled by the so-called "Sugar
Trust. The Louisiana producers
claim that they can not raise &c.. 600
tons OF sugar without a large protee-
tive tariff, but last December. when
the advantage which Cuba received
from the preferential tariff of about
Doc. per hundred was entirely lost tn
the Cubans, by the fact that prices on
their product had, in New York, been
forced down about forty points under
the parity of the markets of the
world, the domestic producers in
Louisiana were selling their sugars TO
the 'Sugar Trust land refused to
treat with independent refiners) at
55e. per hundred under the New York
quotation, or zoe. per hundred under
the markets Of the world, SO that Of
the protective tariff Of 1885, they
were receiving a benefit to the extent
of only 1859. per pound.
BY this it will be seen that while
they had a protective tariff OF over
] 5-Sc. per pound, they were only be-
ing benefited to the extent of a trifIe
over 3-4e. per pound, the difference
practically going into the pockets of
the "Sugar Trust Notwithstanding
these facts which show how the Louisi-
ana planter has failed to benefit by
protection, the present crop. which is
Just coming to market, is reported TO
be fully as large as the last one, with
prospects that the ultimate outturn
viii be even larger. The price pre-
vailing for these sugars in New Or
leans is now Slice under the New
York quotation, and 80 points under
the parity of the markets Of the world,
or the European quotation, and the
pressure to force prices down has only
just begun.
The wholesale and retail groeers
generally are elamoring for redue-
ton in the tariff. Their profits on SUI
gar are very small. Were they with
free sugar able to buy a ear of sugar
for, say, $1,000 where they now haye
to invest $l700. they woald be making
the same margin of profit on their
sales, and the percentage of profit
would be much greater.
Furthermore. we must not overlook
the TACT that the Philippine Islands
are a part Of the United States, and
hat the islands are physically located
20 that they are natural sugar-pro-
lueing country. notwithstanding TIE
fact that the Philippine Islands are
IS much part of the United States,
Is any State. the United States not
,nly refuses to permit Philippine SUI
gars TO come in free of duty, but gives
hem concession of only 25 per cent.
N the regular tariff rates, which
makes the importation of Philippine
ugars almost prohibitive We not
My prevent our wards from partiei-
,ating with the other domestic pro-
lucers in the benefit derived from a
protective tariff, but actually tax
hem on shipments to this country, to-
ueh an extent that any increase IN
he sugar production of the Philip
zines is effectively stifed.
Certainly there is no justice in this
treatment by the United States Of the
helpless people dependent on them for
Import and encouragement, while SUI
,ar from Porto Rico and the Sandwich
Stands comes in free of duty, and from
'uba, which is not an American col
nv. at 20 per cent. reduction.
Lower sugar duties would not only
,eneit the wholesale and retail gro
ers. but every manufacturer who uses
agar. every farmer who grows fruit
5 well as every consumer. Most inn
,ortant reciprocity treaties which
would benefit our farmers ar d manu-
acturers have been prevented by our
Ugh sugar duties, 50 that reduction
low would be a great benefit to the
ountrv in general.
What viii be done, remains to be
cen; that something should be done,
GEMS certain.
As lower sugar duties probably IN
crest YOU. we trust you can see your
rav clear to agitate the matter, and
ireulate the above information among
our customers. and others. 80 that
heir representatives in Washington
rilI understand the desire for lower
upar duties. Yours very truly,
SMITH & SCHIPPER.