The Detroit times., 1912-10-04
DUTIES ON SUGAR
"a By Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge


One-half ~ the worlds supply OF
sugar has been AMI "a dependent upon
legislat!1r and had N not been for the
rrentiop ~ this additional supply I'm the
United States ~ "a .ali 20 presume that
sugnr would be much learer than Il Is
FARMER
Th- grow veis OF sugar beets are
profted IN many ways and their profit
increases our national wealth. The
sale ot the beets gives 20 our farmers
an imnediate net lroflt on the capital
zation ~ the hY-p-oducts as cattle food
gives them further proft by Increas-
Ing tha ST., k-carrytnR capacity ot
their farms and by enriching the soil
SuGar factory Is an agricultural expert
ment stat pn which teaches the farmer
how 10 Farm more scientifically ami
hence more profitably.
SUGAR. BEET CULTURE ENHANCES
FARM VALUES
The Introduction OF sugar-beet cul-
ture universally increases the value OF
farm land as is shown In the report OF
an investigation made bv the depart
mont OF agrieultpre covering every
mftted 20 tho senate In 1899
Tho secretary OF agriculture Or
Harvey w. Wiley, MIR Truman G.. Pal
mer, and other witnesses who have
field 20 the great value OF this crop TO
general agriculture. and their testl-
monv Is In accord with the declarations
Of the lead as agriculturists and econ
omists of Europe.
BY Introducing the sugar beet In the
crop rotation of Europe their acreage
Yields have greatly Increased while
ours have remained all but stationary.
III through the more general culture
ot sugar heets our farmers are enabled
10 secure such results. the increase I'm
our national wealth Will be almost he
vnnd comprehension, and any legisla-
fun DEVELOPMENT Of this industry woulo
mean the casting aside OF all rega rd
for our national wealth and for our
farming cpmmunities. and Il would be
our people. for II IL n fair conclusion
that n we should double our yield per
acre. food products would be cheaper.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE on
WAYS AND MEANS.
The rerort OF the committee on ways
and means which accompanies the bill
passed oy the house of representatives,
placing sugar on the free list. SAYS:
Beet sugar leaves the first manufac-
turing establishmt In = refined con-
dillon, but all cane sugar. which con-
stitutes about four -nfths OF our con-
sumption. must be refined: conse-
quentlv the refining interest Is the
most Important factor connected with
States. Therefore, the Industrial posi-
tion Of refining requires primary con-
siieratlon.
This statement. we think. Is not sus.
The refining OF Imported sugar tends
to promote monopoly. while the produc-
ton of domestic sugar means wide
spread competition. The refining OF
imported sugar is seaboard industry
and can not be conducted p.ofitahIy az
interior points. while the production OF
suger from either beet or cane mus. be
scattered throughout a considerable
portion OF the country and can not be
confined 10 the seaboard.
The refining Industry can be and is
conductsJ In large units which arc
controlled by few people who ix the
Il Impossible 90 conceive OF several
hundred beet or cane sugar factortes $
scattered throughout n large number
OF states being controlled by one body
OF men.
AS IN other lines OF endeavor. the
way 20 benefit American industry and
at the same time cheaper the product
70 consumers Is to encourage home
competition. and once the United States
produces all or more sugar than It's
people consume. brisk competition
among domestic producers will pre-
vent any regulation OF prices TO con-
sumers.
AN AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY.
While the refining OF imported raw
sugar Is merely process OF washing
the dirt out OF a nearly finished COM
modify, the production OF sugar In both
an AGRICULTURAL and manufacturing &
business. which furnishes much em-
ployment for labor. The cost OF the
cane or beets forms so to so per cent
OF the total cost OF producing sugar in
the United States. Protection TO sugar
IS protection first to our farmers and
second our sugar producers. A serious
reduction IN the price OF sugar would
result In lower prices for beets and
cane.
Approximately one-half OF the suga r
we consume Is produced in continental
United States and It's insular posses
sions and oue-haf IN foreign countries
BENEFTCTARIES OF SUGAR TARIFF
REDUCTION
During the year 1890. when congress
placed sugar on the free list. the aver
age difference maintained by American
rehncrs between raw and refined sugar
was 20 cents per LOG pounds. Under
creased their margin between raw and
refined. and for the year 1898. the last
complete year OF free sugar. IL amount
ed 20 81 Is per 100 pounds. Thus, from
the tarIn reduction benefit. which 10
was intended should GO to the people;
pounds. thereby increasing their mar
gin by 81 per cent when sugar was
returned to the dutiable list I'm 1894 the
rehners reduced their average margin
between raw and refined to ss cents
per hundred for that year. and from
1895 TO 1911 inclusive. the average has
been s4s cents per 100 pounds.
That the refners' power TO FIX the
price OF refined sugar at Will, regard
less Of the cost Of raw sugar. Is In
months when domestic beet sugar IL
being marketed was demonstrated last