, 1909-03-10

R,can crops, placed at TO, 900, the United
States now receive, in round figures, about
10000 600 long tons of sugar free of duty.
Cuba supplies 1,4O0,00 long tons on the
reciprocal basis. The "Louisiana Planter"
accordingly points out that eve (the United
"States) stand only 100000 tons short Of
a full supply Of sugar for all purposes, with
out buying a pound from the Philippines
or from the British and other West Indian
islands, apart from Cuba and Porto Rico,
and without buying any sugar from Java"
over and above this it is now suggested
to admit free 100000 tons of sugar from
the Philippines. This will mean, on pr
sent capacities Of demand, and without
estimating for any increase on existing
sources OF supply, that the United States
VIII be receiving a greater supply Of sugar
than IS required for it's entire consumption.
The effect, our contemporary contends, will
be three-fold. The single buyer will mark
Al3 prices down to the lowest limit the
sugar markets of the world will be depressed
and will react on each other; and the do
mestic industry of America will be sorely
tried. And all this. it is complained, to
aid eight or ten millions Of persons in the
Philippines.
so far as the probable effect on the do
mestlo sugar industry of America is con-
cerned some facts put forward by q writer
IN the "Bulletin" reproduced in the same
issue OF the Louisiana Planter" are worthy
OF attention. Ten years ago, he claims,
there was every prospect that the United
States was III o far way to produce inter
naIly all the sugar the country could con-
sumo. Then came the agitation in favour
of Cuban reciprocity. At that time eighty
six new beet sugar factories to cost $50, 000,-
600 were III the course of organization. All
were Immediately abandoned, though six
have since been revived. Tho treaty was
passed, and the Hawaiian sugar which then
stood at 5000 tons has now reached 450, 900
tons, while the Porto Rican crop has al
vonced from $4,000 to 25O,00 tons, and
the Cuban crop from a few thousands to
100000 tons. This finds it's way on to
the American market Thereby reducing
'the prospective markets for q like amount
"Of home grown beet sugar" In these
circumstances, the proposed revision is view
ed 10y American plant rs with considerable
apprehension. They feel that tho introduce
ton Of IN additional 800, 600 tons of sugar
from the Philippines free cannot fail to have
a very detrimental effect on the home beet
industry. And this is a possibility they
contend that should not be permitted. The
writer already referred to points out that
on each of the six factories now operating in
America Z,OOO farmers are engaged ral1Ing
beets. Last year these farmers received
over 500, 000,0 600 for their beet sugar crop,
and "tho industry yielded nearly as much
"mOre to the IabOurers and other employees
''of the factory, the coal mines, the rail
'roads, the lime-kilns and numerous other
CLASSES of America industry" Not without
good reason, therefore. the farmers argue
that nothing should be done to further
endanger their prosperity, but, on the 9TH
or hand, they should receive such protection
as will enable them to go forward. SO on
the one side there are the importers Juggling
for a reduction on the other there are the
beet growers strongly opposed to- anything
of the sort. The position, therefore, seems
really to resolve itself into4 one of two poll
eies. Reduction of the tariff means a CO.
lonial policy that will help the people of the
Philippines to the prospective disadvan-
tage Of the home planters, or if the status
quo is maintained it will mean the continu-
ance OF u domestic policy for the protection
of the American beet grower, without alter
ing one way or the other the position of
the Philippine planter. This issue is a mat
ter of considerable interest, for if the Anne
rican market by free importations from the
Philippines affects the worlds markets in