The Washington times., 1909-04-24
AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REAL
REVISION. NO. w.

The Senate has adopted a resolution,
introduced by Senator Carter, calling
for detailed report from the Depart
ment of Agriculture on the culture of
beets, the development of the beet
sugar industry in recent years, and
other data concerning sugar
This resolution is cleverly drawn for
the very apparent purpose of drawing
out the most satisfactory statement
possible from the standpoint of the
beet sugar interest. 1t is plain on the
face of the demand that the depart
ment is going TO reply with brief in
behalf of che present tariff or some
thing like it, on the ground that it is
necessary in order to protect the infant
beet sugar industry.
But the unfairuess of the inquiry
which is thus ordered is so apparent
that the report will hardly mislead.
For instance, the report is to includes:
The most recent available data re-
garding the retail price of sugar in
Paris, Berlin. Vienna, Brussels, Am
sterdam, Madrid Rome, and other i'm
portant cities OF continental Europe.
Now, the consumption tax on sugar is
levied practically everywhere in Eu-
rope, and is generally very heavy.
Sugar in Europe is somewhat cheaper
than before the government bounties
were removed, but it is not on basis
fairly 20 be judged by retail prices be-
cause of the artificial interferences
with the retailing of sugar at natural
prices. There is no demand for reports
on sugar in London, yet London is the
great world market of cheap sugar:
neither is there demand for export
prices or wholesale prices in the Euro
pean cities; yet the export price on
German beet sugar-sugar sold at a
profits very low, while the eonsump-
tion tax makes the cost to the user
greater than the cost in the United
States.
Senator Carter's resolution is a mas
terPiece in its way; but it is plainly
designed to call forth a thoroughly un-
fair presentation of one aspect of the
sugar industry. The resolution. which
follows, is the evidence OF this pur-
pose:
l. The number of beet sugar factories
in operation in the United States in
1895; also, the total United States pro-
duction of beet sugar in the year 1896.
2. The number of beet sugar factories
which have been erected in the United
States each year since 1896: also. the
present approximate investment by
American beet sugar factories, includ-
ing machinery, buildings, lands, irri-
eating systems, tools, implements. ar I
working capital.
3. The annual production Of beet
sugar in the United States since 1896;
also, the approximate amount received
annually by American farmers from the
sale of sugar beets from 1896 to date.
4. The effect which the establish
ment of American beet sugar factories
has had on values of surrounding farm
land; also, on local business generally; !;
also, on the local production of live
stock; also on the tonnage production
OF other crops raised in rotation with
beets; also, on the thriftiness, pros
perity, and general cultural methods of
American farmers engaged in the cuI-
ture of sugar beets; also, as American
1Armers become familiar with the beet
eulture, are they, as a rule, more in
clined, OF are they less inclined, to en-
gage IN raising sugar beets?
.. The most recent available data
regarding the retail price of sugar in
Paris, Berlin, Vienna. Brussels. Am
sterdam, Madrid, Rome. and other i'm
portant cities Of continental Europe.
G. The methods which have been DUR
sued by the Department of Agriculture
IN order 10 determine the beet sugar
area OF the United States; also. what
States are now known to be adapted
20 the culture OF sugar beets; also.
what amount OF beet sugar could be
produced annually in the United States.
. What pamphlets, bulletins, or
other literature have been issued on
this subject by the Department of Agri-
culture during the past twelve years.
What is needed is an inquiry into the
whole sugar business; history of it; 4;
an investigation into the system of
bounties which were paid in Europe
from NapOleon's time down to 1903; an
explanation of how the industry of
making beet sugar, supposed 10 be en-
tirely dependent on the bounties, sur
Vived their withdrawal; a setting forth
o. the facts about the vast increase in
the world supply of sugar and the
tendency to downward prices-outside
the United Statesi an investigation