Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-03-17
No Southern Congressman We're on
House Subcommittee.
BUT MANY APPEARED TO PLEAD
One Of Striking Features OF Hearing
Was the Appearance OF Many
Statesmen From pixieiand Asking
for Protection For industriss.

represented ON the subcommittee OF
the Ways and Means Committee
which framed the tariff bill, the DEM
ocratic members of the full committee
made every effort during the hearings
which preceded the deliberations OF
the Republican members, TO bring out
every important fact regarding the
articles named in the tariff which are
produced in the South. number OF
congressmen from Southern state"
appeared before the Committee ana
the arguments presented for securing
protection for the industries In Dixie
land formed one OF the features or
the hearing.
The influence of the American
Sugar Refining Company. the so
| called sugar trust, Oh the cane SUI
gar industry was interestingly dis
cussed by Co. l.. d. Colcock. of New
Orleans. representing the New Or
leans Sugar Exchange. Mr.. Colcock
declared that the American Sugar
Refining Company retines about sixty
per cent Of the sugar refined in this
country. and admitted that the COM
pany dictates the price which it pays
for cane sugar In Louisiana.
is not the va-ue or the cane SUI
gar in Louisiana the price of it for
refining purposes. practically fixed by
the American Sugar Refining Com
pany and not by the markets OF the
world?' asked Representative Under
wood, of Alabama. while Colonel Col
cock was on the stand
Not practically, but absolutely"
replied the sugar man.
Therefore. isn't it fact that last
year the Louisiana sugar producer
sold his sugar to the Refining Com
pany ut a price largely below the
worlds price. with the tariff duties
added?" pursued Mr.. Underwood.
Not only last year but today" was
the reply.
| Colonel Colcock declared that the
sugar trust fixes the price at which
the tobber sells to the retailer and
declared that the methods the REIN
ing company pursues in beating down
the price at which they buy the sugar
"damnable" Colonel Colcock favor
ed protection. contending that the
greater advantage the refiner ha, ,,
the more he can afford to pay for the
raw sugar.
On the whole the tobacco growers OF
the South expressed satisfaction with
the duty ON their product.
~ a. B. Darlington. representing the
Tobacco Association OF Danville. Va.
urged that the duty on Turkish to-
bacco he increased from IS cents a
pound to $1.S5 a pound. which Is the
duty imposed by the Dingley tariff
on Sumatra leaf. The further claim
was made that the Turkish tobacco
Is in q large measure supplanting
the bright tobacco raised In Virginia.
North Carolina and South Carolina,
and that the Turkish government pro-
hibits the importation OF this Ameri-
can tobacco.
Florida growers Of Sumatra wrap
per tobacco presented strong argu-
ments to the Committee In favor OF
the retention on the duty Of their
product. Millions Of dollars have
been expended in the United States
in equipping lands with shade struc-
lures and developing the wrapper to-
hacco industry to its high state OF
efficiency according TO the growers-
Our American tobacco Is grown from
seed imported from Sumatra. and this
tobacco is worked and sold by the
manufacturers as imported tobacco"
said one Of the tobacco raisers. The
industry has not yet reached a point
where the tobacco can compete in
the open market on its actual aer-
it's"
The impor;ations OF wrapper to-
bscco in 1907 under the rate Of 3I.Ss
per pound OF the Mngley tariff
amounted to over S.0oO.5Oo pounds,
producing a revenue OF $4,000. zoe.
The tobacco growers strongly pro-
tested against the proposition to ad-
NIT tobacco from the Philippines free
of duty.
The peanut schedule vas the sub
ject for m interesting hearing nj
which Representatives Maynard and
lassiter. Of Virginia. and Clark. Of
Florida. appeared to support the con-
tentions Of various peanut growera.
The delegation asked for an increase
In the duty on peanuts 10 two cents
pound. The hepublicaa members
Of the Ways ana Means Committee
took occasion to banter the Southern
ers fos requesting protection 70 the
extent o! an increase Of goo per cent
in The duty
Champ Clark. the minority leader