Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-12-16
Cost To Beet Men

Ont years the cost varies according to
the abundance of supplies. the length
of time we can run, and the quality OF
the beets, but the average Is a little
over 81 per hundred. The average
selling cost for the past five years was
given by Mr.. Hathaway as $4.35 a hun.
bred In some cases the sugar fac.
tories have been able to sell In more
advantageous markets than others,
but think an average of $4.35 to $40
would practically represent the net
return from what we have manufac.
tured and the average that the sugar
factory has manufactured. That leaves
margin Of profit which must pay all
the interest and returns on the invest
ment, all the depreciation in the plant
of 40 cents hundred pounds. We
have u maximum protection under the
Dingley tariff of s1.6Sk per hundred.
Now II you wish to encourage CAPT.
tai to remain employed In this bust.
ness, how much possible reduction on
the present Dingley tariff could be
made, unless you wished to cut the
throat of this industry. unless you
wished to drive It out Of existence? I
think II must be perfectly evident to
every member Of this committee and
to every man who considers for one
instant the question of protecting and
encouraging business In this country
that we absolutely can not stand any
reduction of the present tariff. We
have already suffered from the gen.
erous way In which we have treated
Cuba. We have submitted to a 25 per
cent reduction for our friends, the
Philippines. We are asked to do more.
| am not willing to take second place
to anyone In the recognition OF the
obligation we owe to all these prov.
inces upon which we have enforced
our guardianship, but do not believe
that that all ought to be paid by any
one industry. | believe we can be
generous after being Just, and | be.
lieve that the possible development OF
the beet sugar industry in this country
to a point where We can furnish, to.
gether with the cane growers OF the
South. all the sugar consumed here Is
worth the serious attention and the
honest consideration OF Congress ut
every stage Of this investigation. +
| did not come intending to give any
statistics. ! think the danger gen.
orally is in these investigations that
the committee is buried under stats.
tics and unable to get out; but have
stated what believe to be the real
question involved, that II we wish this
industry to continue 1t must certainly
not receive any unfavorable consid.
Grafton in determining the tariff
schedule.
Difference in Price .
Mr.. Underwood; What Is the diff
ference In the price of sugar In the
zone in which you operate-the price
at which you sell sugar and the price
OF Hamburg sugar with the tariff and
the freight transportation added?
| Mr.. Smith; We are obliged to sell
sugar. Mr.. Underwood, on the basis Of
the New York quotations made by the
cane refiners. less what has come Il
be recognized as the differential be
tween cane and beet sugar-that is II
cents hundred. That is the recogniz
ed differential. 1t is frequently less.
Il Mr.. Underwood; But you can ado
the freight rate from New York t
your zone?
Mr.. Smith; True; but we shil
quite large portion of our produc
, to point where we have to pay a
much freight as or more than we adj
from New York. But the differenc,
, is at present on Hamburg sugar abou
, Sc cents, | think.
81 Mr.. Underwood; Can you give MI
) the figures-can you estimate It there
| | am asking for information. What 1
{ the price OF Hamburg sugar In tn
). zone In which you operate, that is tn
3 present Hamburg price, ocean freight
I domestic freight, and insurance added
) which OF course would be the sellin
|. price here. with the brokers commits
\ sion added?
al Mr.. Smith; Our friends, the refir
n ers, have been engaged in little wa
t for which the beet sugar people ar
h paying the expenses, largely. durin
( the last few days, and | do not kno,
:. what their price on sugar is Just now.
a Mr.. Underwood; That is the re,
i son ! asked you, because presum
e that the competition you are meetin
e is from the cane sugar interests.
II Mr.. Smith, Entirely
}. Mr.. Underwood; Who are refinin
n raw Cuban sugar; and | wanted
Il get before the committee, II | coul
1. what the competition would be frol
h Hamburg sugar with the freight rat
}. insurance, and brokers' charges adde
g II the competition did come that wa
IS which | recognize It does.
" Mr.. Smith; II the competition di
= not come from Cuba?
II Mr. Underwood; Yes; II you ha
It competition from Hamburg, say toda
II or whatever day at his time you kno
e the price, can you give the committt
If the Hamburg price of sugar, add Il
T. ocean freight rate and the insuranc