New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-11-17
SUGAR FIGHT COMING
GENERAL WRIGHT PLEADS
FOR PHILIPPINES.
Urges Free Entry for Islands Sugar
and TObacco-Beet GrOzCerS VIII
Make Bitter Contest.


Washington Nov. 16.-The question of 4 tariff
on Philippine sugar and tobacco was thrown into
the foreground at the hearing by the Ways and
Means Committee to-day, when General Luke
E Wright, Secretary of War, appeared and de-
clared that he prepared TO enter into a
fight for a reduction Of the present duty on
those products, and had figures IN the process
of compilation which will show that the market
for American products would neither be de-
.stroyed seriously hampered by foundations
from the Philippines The testimony Of Sec
retary Wright added great interest to the pro-
ceedings and sounded the first dissenting note
in series Of statements from persons inter
ested in the sugar industry, all of whom advo-
Gated an increase in the tariff rates, or, II this
could not be obtained. the maintenance of ex-
listing duties.
The most important point in Secretary
Wright's statement was his announcement that
he is considering the recommendation of COM
promise whereby Philippine sugar and tobacco,
up 10 a stipulated maximum, shall be admitted
free Of duty. such maximum to be increased
gradually until fixed grand maximum has oeen
reached He did not indicate the amount Of
these products which he would permit TO enter
under these conditions. but il is understood that
he has in mind total OF three hundred and
hftv thousand tons Of sugar annually. That this
plan VIII not De dppfOFeu bg tilc bNCS oi~ ~~+~
sugar producers was apparent from the evident
opposition to the Secretary's recommendation on
the part of the representatives Of this class
present at the hearing and from the criticism of
the present duty by those who appeared before
the committee Practically the same Represen-
tatives who fought so vigorously the former
attempts TO modify the duty on imports from
the Philippines are unaIterably opposed 10 this
policy now. and Representative Fordney. OF
Michigan. who has been one Of the leading IN
surgents." said this afternoon that he was pre-
pared to do his utmost to prevent such conces-
sion.
4 COMPROMISE CONSIDERED.
The Republican leaders on the Ways and
Means Committee have for some time been con-
sidering d compromise proposition similar TO
the one Secretary Wright will suggest and it
is their purpose to include this in the tariff bill
,,r,,,ided it does not meet TOO determined OppO-
sitfon If no compromise can be effected it is
understood to be the purpose of the leaders 10
draft separate bill dealing with the Philippine
tariff in order that the passage of the general
tariff bill through the House may not be jeop-
ardized by split in the Republican ranks. -
Secretary Wright apoogized for his unpre-
psredness and asked that he be allowed to 1ile
supplemental evidence. pointing out that the
only objection to the reduction Of the tariff
seemed to he the possible danger that the Amer
lean industry might be destroyed He declared
it was hard for him to appreciate how this could
result even if the entire sugar crop of the
islands. amounting to 1tS.900 tons. should be
brought here while ne absolutely secuted the
idea that the 10,70O tons imported last year in
anv way affected the market. especially as the
sugar producers of the United States cannot
possiblv raise enough supply the demands
Of this country He also asserted that there is
no possibility of a much further increase of the
production of sugar and tobacco in the Philip
pines. because of the limited soil capacity Of
the islands He said it would be impossible for
the island ever to supply even the annual in
crease In the demand for sugar in this country.
He paid a sarcastic compliment to the sugar
men who had preceded him and had expressed
their fondness for the Philippines in every way
except as affecting sugar, saying; 1t Is easy
for men to be charitable when it does not cost
anything.
Several OF the sugar representatives were in
dfgnant at the Secretarys declaration that at
former tariff hearings il was admitted by some
that the beet sugar interests and the American
Sugar Refining Company were acting in unison,
and that some of the stock in the former com
nanies was owned by the latter interests. This
the sugar men present denied but General
Wright announced that if the fight came he