The Hawaiian gazette., 1912-11-22
Democrats Must Have Fifty-one
Seats to Pass a Free
Sugar Bill.
THREE BoURBoNs OPPOSE
BristoW Amendment Probable to
Be Passed as Compromise
in Tariff Revision.
BY Ernest G. Walker.
(Mail Special to The Advertiser. J

mail Special to The Advertiser)
WASHINGTON, November s. Ha.
waii has some good trienus among the
house Democrats, although, as is well
that friendship in the house
does not extend to the very important
question of sugar duties. Otherwise the
rerritory's representatives can take up
the business OF the next two years
there with confidence and also with
assurance of considerable treatment on
the merit of the proposition submitted.
The situation becomes more interest.
ing in the senate. Whether control Of
that body5is to pass absolutely to the
Democrats or whether the balance of
power is to continue with the Progress.
sive Republicans is uncertain. Enough
is already known to make sure that
the Democrats, if in majority in the
senate, win hardly have more than two
or three votes to spare. That is OK
ceedingly important to Hawaii, because
of its bearing upon the possibilities of
getting sugar revision bill to the
President after Mhrch next.
Representative Underwood, chairman
of the house ways and means commit
tee has declared in favor of an extra
session of congress to revise the tariff
in the spring. President.elect Wilson
has declined to say what he intends to
do on that score. There have been
rumors that he would not call an extra
session, because he did not wish to
brighten business. The chances are
strong, however, that there will be an
extra session and that an attempt will
be made to revise the tariff during the
coming spring and summer. The politi-
cal and business logic is all in favor Of
such action.
Shafroth Will Oppose.
The dispatches from Denver says that
Governor John f. Shafroth has been
elected as one of the two United States
senators to begin service from Colorado
March 4 next. He is on record in favor
of duty on sugar, because of the large
beet sugar interests in his State. Elk
Governor Thomas, who apparently will
be his colleague in the senate, is will
ing to vote for free sugar, as favored
by the house Democrats. But there are
three Democratic votes in the senate to
be depended upon against the house
program and if it turns out that the
Democrats have no more than fifty seats
in the senate after March 4, there is
little or no danger of free sugar. The
two Louisiana senators and one from
Colorado, in connection with the Regu.
lar and Progressive Republicans can
prevent free sugar from being enacted
upon tariff revision bill. But if the
Democrats have fifty-one seats, as may
happen, the senate vote would then be
a tie on free sugar and the new Vice.
President, Mr.. Marshall, would have
the deciding voice. He would be for
free sugar.
For Bristow Amendment.
The regular and Progressive Repub.
lican strength in the senate will prob.
ably be very solidly for the Bristow
provision. This, it will be remembered
abolishes the Dutch standard and the
refners differential, which are not re.
garded as of great consequence by
sugar producers. The Bristow provi.
sion would impose .95 of one per cent
upon IS degree sugar and for every
degree of purity above that .026 of one
per cent additional. This would re-
quire 96 degree sugar to pay 1.49 per
cent and 100 degree sugar to pay 1.6O
per cent.
If the Democrats have anything un-
der fifty.One seats in the senate after
March 4, the prospects are that any
tariff revision bill passing there would
carry something very like the Bristow
provision. What might happen in con
ference by way of compromise is, of
course, matter of conjecture, but the
would likely prevent the house
free sugar program.
Fair TO Hawaii.
Az TO Hawaiian legislation generally,
Il probably makes very little difference
wnt.ner Ine Republicans or the Demo
Gratis organize the senate after March
4. The men, of both parties, in charge
of legislation at that end of the Capt.
tol, are seasoned to their duties and,
as rule, disposed to give Hawaii her
full due.
There is little or nothing to be said
yet about the program for the forth
be coincident with the closing months
IF the Taft administration. There will
be much pressure for consideration of
minor matters but bills that are stoutly
opposed and require title for consider
alton will have little chance. Con-
yress will probably be quito liberal
With appropriations. There will be less
demand for economy in expenditures
han there was last session. Further.
moro, the money voted this winter will
De put down to the credit Of tho Taft
administration. II congress is fairly
generous this winter II will be all the
EASIER to economic next winter when
he Democrats have the situation to
themselves.