The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-18
HEARING ON TARIFF
SUGAR AGAIN DIsCUssED BY CeM- f~ MITTEE.
Owners of Sugar Pfantafions fs Cuha UFxe that the Tariff be Ttedncea --Censunaer Would Be
 Benefited.

Washington, Nov. I7.-That the opinicAr expressed by Secretary of War Wright yesterday in favor Of free trade with the Philippines for tobacco and sugar. are the views of President elect Taft was the freely expressed be- lief ln the Ways and Means Commit tee, room of the House when the 'hear- ing on. the sugar schedule of the tariff was resumed today.
 Secretary Wright's familiarity with the industrial situation in the Ameri- can Asiattc insular possesaiens leads to the belief that he will disclose some Interesting facts when he appseEs be- fore the committee later:
 The Secretary Of War took occasion yesterday to attack the so-cal1ed '.su- gar truet, = and there is much specula- ton among those whc. follow closely the tarlR bearings as to what effect his remarks will have In regard to the re-adjustment of the sugar sched- suie in the new tariH bill
 Edwin F. Atkins, of Boston. large sugar plaatatien, owner in Cuba. held the attention of tho committee for nearly the entire morning session. He said that the reciprocity treaty with Cuba, by which the Island producers enjoy a 20 per cent dffferentiaf fin the regular duties. expires next month. He read two cabiegrams from Cuban su- gar and tobacco growers asking the committee tosdefer action on these arr ticles. Mr.. Atkins urged that the tar iff on sugar be reduced and that Cuba be given the existing differential, on this lower rate He also said that there was great danger of an iqsurrec- tion in Cuba if the, tariff cn Cuban sugar is not reduceds
 Representative Champ C]9rk of Mis- souri. asked Mir. Atkins %Whatis go- t..ns A.. r..Rr thM- sugar growers wben Cuba beIongsstc the United States?'
 'sThat is the question: answered Mr. Atkins. There is the most imminent danger of this coming about" If you get the reduction in the tar. fir on sugar that you seek.:f Mfr. Clark asked. would there be any reduction to the conspmer." IL
 "TSere would be a reduction in the retail price of about sone-haif cert.s should say way the reply.
 How do you know that the sugar trust won't grab up that half ceptT
 If they could. would join them. !"
 An advocate for the free entry Of sugar was CIaud A. .Spreckles. Prest-l dent of the Federal Sugar Retning Company, "an independent" concern Of New York. z
 T would he perfectly satisfied if you should finally decide to agree upon free trade" said MT. spreclkies.
 "T think we are entitled to a mod crate protection on refned sugays. but would prefer absolute free trade to the present schedule under which the sugar trust Is the principal beneficiary and enabled to enact special privileges and conditions on sugars produced in Louisiana and the Hawaiian Islsnds It is evident that the country desires a revision of the tariff and expects a reduction of duty whenever fl can be shown to be reasonable, feasible and adyanta geeus." ra
 Mir. Spreckles was interrogated by Serene Payne. chairman of the com. mittee, regarding the effect of free entry of sugar. a
 Mir. Spreokles said that his concern is compelled to buy it's sugar in Java. Porto Rico and Cuba, as the "sugar trust" has the output of Louisiana and the Hawaiian Islands contracted for . Upon being questioned by other mem bers of the committee he said the, con- sunners would get the -beTieft of the re- duetion In the tariff.
 Mfr. Spreclxess claimed that. these sugar manufacturers who are making sugar at 2 1-2 cents per pound, we're not appearing before the committee to give information about the cheap ness of misunderstanding beet sugar. He said that 25 per cent of the sugar beet produced. in this country Is rais- ed by Asiatic labor. That the Ameri. can Sugar Refining Company or his own company needs no tariff protec- ton was asserted bys MT, Spreckels.