Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-08-21
PREDICT RUIN Of
BEET SUGAR TRADE
Senate Republicans Assail Demo-
cratic Proposal to Free
List Product.

Washington, Aug. R.-Free sugar was
the text of the tariff debate in the Sem
ate to-day, republican members assailing
the democratic proposal to put sugar on
the free list in 1916. predicting the ruin
Of the Louisiana oane sugar industry and
the 'gobbling up" ~ the trust of the
domestic beet sugar industry OF the coun-
try.
Senators Bristow, Smith of Michigan,
Sterling. Smoot, Lodge and Cummins led
In the attack on the sugar schedule which
bids fair to hold attention of the Senate
for some days. No time has been fixed
for a vote on the democratic rates or
amendment proposed to-day by Senator
Bristow, which would provide for a grad
ual reduction of the tariff on refined sugar
until the figure would reach s1.26 n hun
dred pounds In 1919
Democratic leaders asserted tonight
that Bristow amendments would be voted
down and that there would be no demo-
cratic votes to be cast against the ma
joritY except those of the Louisiana sem
ators Thornton and Ransdell, who gave
notice of their purpose to the democratic
caucus.
asserted that the American Sugar Rein
ing company, which several years ago
started out to acquire the beet sugar
factories. abandoned the plan because
they found 1t would be cheaper and
easier to destroy this industry through
free sugar than to control it by purchase
Of stocks"
FEAR OF SHERMAN LAW
Senator Walsh declared that testimony
of beet sugar men before the lobby com
mittee was to the effect that the reason
the American Sugar Refining company
reduced it's holdings in the beet sugar
plants OF the West was because of fear
of the Sherman antitrust law.
Senator William Alden Smith vigor-
ously supporting the Brstow amendments
declared
"I venture the assertion that the Amer
lean Sugar Refining company nor any
of It's owners has not purchased any beet
sugar stock since the Democratic party
came into power, and will not buy any
until you have passed your bill and your
three years of strangulatiOn have perse-
cuted the beet sugar men and trcmcn-
IF the industry is going to he ruined, -
asked Senator Williams, "why should the
stock be bought them"
DEMOCRATIC POWER TEMPORARY
because the democrats lease of pow
err" replied Senator Smith. is but tenn
porary and there later will be a reac-
ton"
The republican senators unanimously
contended that the proposed rates would
not cheaper sugar to the consumer.
Senator Cummins said the removal Of
the sugar duty in 1916 would tend TO ahro-
gate the present reciprocity treaty with
Cuba. because 1t would abolish the Cuban
sugar preferential the chief provision OF
the treaty
Senator Lodge, who said he drafted a
portion OF the Cuban reciprocity treaty
declared that the pending bill made an
immediate reduction In the sugar rate of
approximately 20 cents n hundred pounds,
and that this reduction would not be in
conflict with the treaty.
Senator Williams also insisted that
there was no conflict between the treaty
and the bill.
Senator Sterling said agitation for free
sugar had deferred capitalists from erect
ing beet sugar factories in South Dakota.
Senator Walsh of Montana expressed the
belief that many projected sugar factories
in the West had been kept from entering
the field by the powers that be" in the
beet sugar industry.