The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-01-13

or at home. GranuIated is now quoted for
expOrt-at 80 cents against domestic price
OF f-JO cents per pound This difference is
caused by the refund by the Government Of
the larger part Of the duty pre- ySOusiy paid
upon the raw sugar, to encourage the ex-
pOrtatiOn Of a product manufactured IN this
country, and this refund IS In pursuance Of
the recognized public policy OF encOura ging
the expectation Of products produced BY
Americau labor nd capital.
This company has no interests whatever
either rectly or Indirectly, IN Cuba Porto
Rico. Hawaii. the Philippine Islands or in
any foreign country it does not share IN the
advantages that owners Of sugar plantations
IN these countries may have IN sending sugar
10 this market.
We express no opinion as to whether It is
sound public policy TO stimulate the produc-
ton OF beet sugar and Of domestic cane sugar
by the present duties These questions OF
policy are for the determination Of Con
gress, aud the only purpose Of this reference
TO the fiscal duties relative 10 your business
Is 20 emphasize the fact that its prosperity
does not depend upon high protective duties,
and that the margin between the duty on the
raw material and the duty on the refined
sugar Is so slight, being as previously stated,
only seven and one-half cents per 100 pounds,
that Il has no appreciate effect IN arti6cially
enhancing the price OF the refined product
by the exclusion Of foreign impOrtations.
". Relative Cost of Sugar.
At time W. en- the cost Of nearly all the
necessities Of life Is steadily and peTsiSteutly
advancing and manufacturing expenses gen
orally are materially growing, it Is with
much satisfaction that your attention IS
called to the price Of GRADUATED sugar, HFicil
has remained very nearly stationary during
the past ten years. and is actually less today
than IN 1900, such changes as have occurred
being IN a slightly downward direction
There has, moreover, been no increase IN the
margin between the price Of raw and refined
sugars, which has remained on average ar
about s. cents per 100 pounds II is thus
noteworthy that Ehc entire refining business
Is done at an expense OF a fraction Of a cent
per pound This fraction includes not only
the cost OF refining. but the losses involved IN
the refining process. and IN transportation,
the wear and tear and depreciation on the
expensive machinery used, the cost OF the
packages In which the sugar Is delivered 10
the market and finally. the Tefner's profits.
Few, If any, neCesSaries Of life, are sold az
such a slight margin Of profit and feu can
show with increased cost of materials and
labor during the last decade. a reduced Trice
This i striking illustration Of the ruth,
TO which public attention has recently been
f0rcefully directed. that the employment OF
large capital in the economical production OF
a commodity often results Ia distinct benefit
to the consumer.
The figures appended have been compiled
from Wiliett < Gray-s Weekly Statistical
Trade Journal and give IN detail the average
prices Of raw sugar and Of ETanulated sugar
in New York for the past ten years N cents
per pO"dd. together with the difference in
price between raw and refined sugar