The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-06-11
SUGAR BILLS
BEFORE CONGRESS
Review Of Measures Pending and
a Prediction Of Probable
Action 10 Be Taken.

ance committee OF the Lodge substitute
for the Democratic Free Sugar Bin
clears the atmosphere considerably, 80
far as the senate is concerned, and per.
mits Of an analysis being made Of
those measures upon which the senate
ultimately will be called upon 10 vote.
The Lodge Bill was agreed to by
strict party vote, eight 10 six (Senator
La Toilette being absent). OF the Re.
publican members of the committee,
Senator Smoot reserved the right to
offer on the floor of the senate bin
he had prepared providing for slight
reduction in the present rates, and
Senator Hepburn reserved the right to
vote for bill which would remove the
Dutch Standard of color test, but re.
tain the differential on refined sugar,
as well as the present duty on raw.
In order that the situation may be
clearly understood, a brief synopsis of
the various proposed measures may not
be amiss.
The Lodge Bill.
HThe Lodge Bill removes the Dutch
Standard and refners' differential, but
retains the present rate of duty on raw
sugar.
The Smoot Bill.
"The Smoot Bill, which was prepar.
ed some weeks ago and its adoption
urged upon the committee, provides for
the elimination of the Dutch Standard
and the refners' differential and for a
small reduction on raw sugar. Starting
with duty of 95 cents per hundred ON
75-degree sugar, it increases the rate
three cents per hundred for each addi-
tional degree, which brings the duty
out at $1.5s on 96-degree sugar, re-
duction from the present duty on non
concessionary sugar of 10 1-2 cents per
hundred. 1t reduces the rate on Cuban
96-degree sugar from $1,34S, to $1.264,
or S.4 cents per hundred.
The Bristow Bill.
'fThe bill which Senator Bristow has
prepared eliminates the Dutch Stand.
ard and the refners' differential, and
levies a duty of 80 cents per hundred
on rs degree sugar, increasing 21-2
cents per hundred with each additional
duty out on 96degree sugar at $1.425,
a reduction of 26 cents per hundred. 1t
reduces the rate on 96-degree Cuban
from $1.348 to $1.14, reduction Of 20.S
cents per hundred. Beginning June 80,
1915, it further reduces the duty auto.
matically to 1.32 cents on non-conces-
sionary, and 1.056 cents on Cuban SO
degree sugar. Beginning June 80,
1 1OIQ fnr l,,4 d
matically to 1.2l5 cents on non-conces-
sionary, and 97.2 on Cuban 96-degree
sugar.
The Democratic Bill.
"The Democrats of the committee on
finance have prepared bill which it is
expected they will report as minority
measure in few days. Senator Will
liams did not desire a serious cut, but
as now prepared, the bill eliminates
the Dutch STANDARD and the differen
tial and fixes the duty at 63 cents OF
85 degree sugar, with an increase OF
"a cents per hundred for each addition
al degree, which brings the duty out
at 1.134 cents on 96-degree non-prefer
ential, and 90.7 cents on Cuban 96-de
gree sugar.
"Both the Lodge and the Smoot Bill
provide that all packages of sugar test
ing less than 80 degrees and entering il
direct consumption, must be BRANDED
with the name of the manufacturer o
refner and the polariscope test, whicl
must be within one-half of one degre
cf the contents of the package, a great
J er variation than one-half degree T.
be taken as misbranding, under tn
pure food act.
"The finance committee reported ad
versely the personal excise tax bi
which the house passed with the fre
sugar bill for the purpose of derivin
from that source the revenue whic
would be lost by reason of placin
sugar on the free list.
GAS to the political situation in II
. gard to these various bills, the matte
:, may be summed up as follows:
"Senator Smoot claims that he ca
/ secure enough votes, with the aid Q
7, some of the insurgents and a few D.
t mocrats, to pass his bill through til
{ senate at the present session, viii
4 Senator Lodge believes that in conce'
q ing even a slight reduction in the pre-
ent rate of duty, the Republican part
e would be sacrificing its principles, an
y | ne ~ VI lnC thoL VI lhS =
d surgents who would vote for redu
y, tion of ten or fifteen cents, would vo
% Just ms quickly for the elimination
Is the. Dutch Standard and differenti
III without the slight reduction in t
d. rate. So far, the Bristow amendme
TT has received no consideration, his pI
le posal not being mentioned in any
ne the discussions by the committee.
"'The Democratic members of t
senate recently held caucus, at whi
m it was decided to bring in a minori
-. bill substantially as mentioned abol
bo and that no attempt would be made
Inn secure a coalition with the Republic
,Ss insurgents in order to pass the Den
ba cratic bill. The Democrats do not wa
in the insurgents to steal any of tn
"a thunder, and they would rather go
nS fore the country with their bin defe
IN ed by a Republican senate than TO ha
~ :" the insurgents Join in with them a
pass the bill, thereby giving the ins
4hn af elaifOiuog