The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-05-19


the duty on refined sugar SIR. Clay Of
Georgia. today discussed al great
length the various phases Of the beet
and cane sugar industries. He argued
that the consumer Is Disseminated
against in favor Of the American Sug-
ar Refining company and that the sug-
ar grower gets no benefit Of the diff
ferental between the duties on raw
and refined sugar. He criticised most
severely the manner in which the sug
ar schedule Of the Payne bill was
framed
Contending that the American Sugar
Refining company owns the principal
rehneries IN the United States and
is almost without competition in re-
fning sugar. Nr. Clay declared that
the duty on refined sugar almost pro
hibits the importation Of foreign sug-
ar into this country. He said that
the beet grower and the cane grower
OF sugar both are compelled 10 sell
TO the sugar trust at the price which
ii fixes. Comparing the wholesale
price OF granulated sugar in Hamburg
and in New York. which he said was
2-s1 cents per pound cheaper in Ham
burg. Mr. Clay figured that the Ameri-
can consumer pays a difference Of
1886. 1850. 900 for its refined sugar OF
this. he said. the government gets S53,-
0O0. 900 in customs duties, while. be
said. the sugar trust gets the other
100000.
The American consumers Of sugar
have paid to the American Sugar Re-
fning company, commonly called the
Sugar Trust at least fifty-hve mil
lions per year in profit" said Mr..
Clay. amounting in twelve years to
$3.50. 900, 900. The American people
are not aware Of the fact that If the
sugar we import came into this coun-
try free Of any duty. both raw and re-
fined. the cost OF sugar to the Ameri-
can consumer would be reduced near
~ one-haif am not insisting tflat
both refined and raw, or either. should
come 10 this country free Of duty. but
there ought to be a substantial reduc-
tion over the rates fixed in the Dingley
law.
Replying to the argument that sug.
ar is a great revenue producer. Mr.
Clay desired to know why one OF the
necessities Of life, used by the entire
American people should be taken and
It's cost increased to the consumer
one-half when. he contended, the
amount OF the revenue now produced
by sugar could easily be supplied by
an income tax.
Let us give to the American peo-
pie cheap sugar" continued Mr.. Clay
Let us grasp the sugar trust by the
throat and strangle il to death. and
keep in view the interest. the happi-
ness, and welfare Of the plain people
Of America, We must remember that
sugar is an important article Of food
daily consumed by every man. wo-
man and child in the country"
Saying that the American working
man. during the last few years, has
had a hard time to earn a living. Mr..
Clay deprecated the fact that the duty
on refined sugar remains in the Payne
bill substantially the same as II is in
the Dingley law He said that the
sugar trust had no representative be-
fore the tariff framing committees of
either the house OF the senate and
added, Judging from the treatment
which tie sugar trust has received,
this corporation needed no represen-
tative before either committee"
Taking into account the reciprocity
duty on raw sugar from Cuba. the re-
duced duty on Philippine sugar. and
the free sugar from the Hawaiian Is.
land and Porto Rico under the Dingley
law. Mr. Clay declared that the aver
age tariff duty on sugar by the sugar
trust amounts to .04 cents per pound
instead OF being l63ia cents per hun
dred He said that the dinerential OF
.2i5 per hundred pounds on refined
sugar should be added to the average
duty Of 1.O4 cents per hundred in.
stead Of to 1856 cents as is done in
the Payne bill
He said the sugar growers Of Cuba
Porto Rico. the Philippines. or the
Hawaiian Islands or the consumers in
the United States received no benefit
from the concessions made in the duty
on raw sugar from those islands Mr.
Clay declared that the price on re
fined sugar was not reduced because OF
the reductions in the rates ON raw
sugar.
Reiterating that the American Sugar
Refining company is commonly called
the sugar trust Mr.. Clay declared
this trust has constantly violated
both the criminal and civil laws Of our
country. It is unconscionable and las
continually robbed the American peo