The Washington times., 1912-07-28
THE DUTCH STANDARD TEST MUST COZ

for more tnan generat1on, save and except the
brief period when free sugar was allowed the sugar
tariff has uniformly contained the cryptic Dutch
Standard clause. 1t is not necessary here to explain
in detail what that color Of sugar. taken together
with the polarscope test, does 1t is enough to say
that the double test has been the real Joker in the
sugar tariffs, the real excess of protection to the
refners the real protection to monopoly and means
the extortion of many millions from the consumers
Three years ago, when the tariff was before
Congress, The Washington Times made historical
and practical analysis of the sugar schedule From,
experts in sugar culture, this newspaper learned
what public men had not learned the real sig
nicance and effect Of the Dutch Standard provision
1t had been left unquestioned in the law for decade
after decade, simply because the processes of sugar
manufacture and refining must be understood in
detail by anybody who would undertake to explain
the outrages for which that clause stood The Times
did make the discovery, and in series of editorial
expositions presented the facts to the country and to
Congress.
AS result Of that fight for a decent and an
honest sugar schedule, Senator Bristow undertook
to force the elimination of the Dutch standard clause
The fight in the Senate continued over the greater
part of FIVE days. The little band OF progressive Re-
publicans, together with most of the Democrats
united in the effort The Dutch standard was aired
in all its true significance. The country learned ex
actly what it meant what it cost the people, what it
did for the Sugar trust.
But the standpatters in control of the Senate were
too powerful to be isfeated any mere statement
of merits. They vcIed in solid phalanx against the
simple reform that demanded, and the Dutch
standard remained in the law.
1t seemed to be a sweeping defeat. Yet the
things that followed proved that there is no such
thing as defeat in fight for what is right. The
struggle that The Times and the progressive Sen
ators had started, was taken up by newspapers and
magazines all over the country. The retention of the
vicious provision in the face of the complete dem
onstration of its real character, outraged public
opinion and was one of the most convincing proofs
that the tariff schedules we're not being made on
merits, but on prejudice and in favor of powerful
interests.
Three years have passed, and on Saturday the
Senate passed sugar schedule revision BILL 1t was
one Of several like bills pending before the Senate.
One was by Williams Of Mississippi; one was by
Lodge of Massachusetts; third by Bristow, the
original sugar crusader of the Senate.
Observe the remarkable coincidence, now, that
EVERY ONE of these bills ELIMINATED THE
DUTCH STANDARD.
1t hadn't friend anywhere. Nobody dared be
for it. Mr.. Lodge had voted to retain it in the law
three years ago. This time his bill struck it out.
The Bristow measure passed, with not respectable
handful of votes in opposition Both the Dutch
standard and the refners differential are dropped
out of it. This means that the higher grades of
refined sugar, practically as pure and white as the
refined article, can, if this becomes law be
brought into the country the basis Of the polari
scope test of actual sugar content. Heretofore, as
soon as an unrefned sugar attained that degree Of
purity and whiteness that made it possible COM
petitor of refined sugar in the market, it penal
lied by the imposition of the excessive duty that the
dferential plus the Dutch color test subjected it to-
II impossible to import the unrefned sugars
under such circumstances except to be refined; and
this gave the refners their monopoly.
In addition to leaving out the color test and the
differential, the Brstow bill reduces the duty on
sugar 100 per cent pure from $l.90 to $l.6O This
will effect direct saving of perhaps $20,000,000
to the American consumer annually.
| The Bristow bill is piece of sane and honest
revision of the tariff. Sane, because it makes no
such sweeping reduction of duty menaces the
destruction of the American cane and beet sugar
interests Honest because it strikes down the jokers
and frauds that have so long persisted in this sched
ule, to the advantage of trust and the mucting of
the consumer. 1t ought to pass the House and be-
come law.
Whether not it shall become law at this time,
its passage through the Senate demonstrates the
power of public opinion it is organized behind
a demand for fairness and honesty in legislation.
Three years ago the Dutch standard was impreg-
nabe. Today it has no friend who dares defend it.
to 60.