El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-02-05
Some Governments Fix the
Price to Avoid Its Being
Raised.

Washington, D. c., Feb. Sugar,
universally consumed and universally
taxed, is subject to give the control and
regulation as to price in almost every
country to varying trade methods as
well, reported secretary of state Knox
in a letter which president Taft today
Forwarded to congress.
The letter, important at this time in
connection with the sugar tariff revision
bill, was brought out by the house sugar
trust investigating committees request
for data. 1t summarizes consular reports
which secretary Knox called Tor from
ever. part of the world, showing sugar
to be q source of customs and internal
revenue by means of import duties and
by taxes on consumption IN the form
Of national excise duties and local or
municipal charges.
Retail prices of sugar, varying even IN
different localities in the same country,
generally showed an increase throughout
the world between July and November
last. attributed to the shrinkage in the
Cuban cane crop and prospective short
age in the beet crop Of Europe. The in
crease ranged from 1 to 3 cents a pound,
averaging about cents on ordinary
white sugar. The great range Of price
quotations IS shown by the IA cents
pound charged in Italy and Spain, and
5 cents IN Glasgow, Scotland
Russia exercises absolute control over
the prices Trade guilds in Japan and
Brazil individually assert the right TO
maaipulate prices. The Argentine Re
public fixes prices by law. In Canada,
~ ha ion
In Sweden retail dealers combine to keep
the prices lust low enough TO make i'm
ports Improbable.
The United Kingdom, the Netherlands,
Belgium, Switzerland, Greece and Peru
tueat sugar solely as q source Of revenue.
Sweden, ROumania, japan, Mexico, Bra
I'll. Chile and the Union of South Africa
subject sugar to high import duties to
protect and develop domestic industries,
with secondary regard to the revenues.
Russia. Suiain. Italy, Canada and Den
mark treat it as a means OF fostering na-
tive production and Of providing for ma
tional revenues.
Austria.- Hungary, Germany and France,
signatOry to tie Brussels conference
which abolished bounties on production,
NAV be said TO form a class by them
selves in their treatment of sugar in re-
HUNGARY. ermanv and France hold IN
allowance their regular tariff rates inso-
far as they exceed the SO cents a hun
dred pounds avoirdupois, which the con-
ference permits as the maximum import
duty allowed above their excise duties.
Some Of these also remit the excise taxes
on sugar when imported, and France and
Portugal give sugar from their colonies
preferential treatment.
Hook Is Expected to Land.
President Taft is expected to send to
the senate on Wednesday the nomination
of nudge William c. Hook. of Kansas. for
the place on the supreme bench made
vacant BY the death of Justice Harlan.
There has been opposition to Judge
Hook.
Day In Congress.
The senate convened at 2 D. m.
The Isorimer committee held an execu-
tive session to consider the stenographer
Blumenberg contempt case.
The house met at noon.
President Taft transmitted a letter of
secretary Knox giving sugar prices
abroad for the use of the sugar trust in
vestigating committee.
Suffrage for District
Universal suffrage for citizens OF the