The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-29

Philippine Islands ....... 10000
making a total OF 1,7i1,O0O tons Of
sugar that entered into consumption
I'm the United States, duty free. There
was also produced in Cuba 100000
tons that entered into consumption,
paying a duty equal to only so per
cent Of the duty on other sugars i'm
ported from abroad. The total of Il.
sugars thus entering into consump-
ton free of duty or with a reduction
OF 20 per cent lacked only 10000 tons
OF supplying all the sugar consumed
in the United States. 1t is eviden
that during the next year the natural
growth and increase of production
will give us all the sugar which We
consume either free or paying 80 PEI
cent of the duty under the preseul
law. One-half the sugar entering in
20 consumption will pay no duty an
the other half will pay so per cent
Of the present rates; or the average
on the entire crop will pay an amour
equal to only 40 per cent of the duty
provided against foreign sugar This
is equivalent to six-tenths of 1 cen.
per pound.
Certainly with the laws remaining a
they are today it is a good deal more
likely that the duty collected will not
exceed 40 per cent of the duties pres
oribed on all sugars consumed in
this country than it is to prove
that the passage of this bill would be
followed by a reduction of cents q
| FOUND or of IL cents a pound on
sugar All the authorities agree that
free sugar, equaling more than one
half our consumption, has a marked
effect in lowering prices here from
year to year.
Who are asking for free sugar
The refiners of the country. Refine
Claus Spreckels, president of the Fed
eral Sugar Refining Co., said before
| the Hardwick committee:
II would have free trade-absolute
ly."
Charles r. Heike, secretary Ameri-
can Sugar Refining Co.:
THAT Gree trade) would destroy
the industry absolutely in this coun-
try, and 1 would approve of that"
William G. Gilmore, or Arbuckle
Bros, reiners:
"The thing to do is to take off the
duty, and personally l would advo
cate it,"
James H. Post, president National
Sugar Refining Co.:
"If Congress did not need the rev
enue from sugar, would like 10 see
free sugar"
William A. ]. Jamison, of Arbuc-
kle Bros;
IF there was no tax on the importa
ton of sugar, we would be able to run
more constantly and sell more sugar
| think a cent piund should be tax
en- off at present, and later a little
more until the duty is entirely re
moved"
Edwin F. Atkins, vice presiden
American Sugar Refining Co.:
Il think the independent refiner'
say truly that 1t is for the refiners
interest to have a low rate of duty
rather than high rate of duty, anC
reduce the basis of value upon whfCf
they can sell. Beet sugars are takins
away the trade of the refiners yea
by year."
The testimony before the Hardwicl
committee shows conclusively that i
sugar was made free neither Louisi
ana with her cane sugar nor tn,
Western States with their beet suga
could continue in the business. Tn,
loss would be too great There woult
be no duty to make up the difference
in the costs of producing sugar her,
and abroad. If this result should fol
low there would be an actual short
age in the worlds supply of sugar o
$4,000 tons of beet sugar and tn,
81 900 tons of the Louisiana cane sug
ar, to say nothing of its effect upol
the 4S5,0O0 tons of Hawaiian suga
and the 100000 tons of Porto Rical
sugar The price of sugar would in
evitably advance
Another potent lesson is to be gath
cred from the experience of the pas
year. An alarm was sounded that tn,
worlds beet sugar crop would b.
100000 tons short last year, and OIL
the strength of that alarm as to Il
worlds supply, prices went up to ~
cents pound, almost doubling. tn
alarm afterwards proved groundless
founded on a fake or a mistaken re
rort, and the price of sugar prompt,
went down in the markets of tn
world to the price prevailing befor
the scare.
Rut Uhau tha,y actually strIka dow,