The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-19
FREE SUGAR FIGHT
BEGINS IN SENATE
Discussion Bids Fair to
Last for Some
Time
VIGOROUS OPPOSITION
Republicans Predict Ruin of Louisiana
Industry-Agitation Deterring
Capitalists From Building
Factories, Says Sterling

dCioiiCs, DAYS t3AStiAhB
Washington August 1S-Free sugar was
the text of the tariff debate in the SEN
ate today, republican members assailing
the democratic proposal to put sugar on
the free list in 1916 predicting the ruin
of the Louisiana cane sugar industry and
the "gobbling up by 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 sew
eral days. No time has been fixed for a
vote on the democratic rates or amend
ments proposed today by Senator Bristow.
which would provide for gradual redue-
ton of the tariff on refined sugar until
the fi@ure would reach s126 a hundred
I pounds in 1918.
Democratic leaders asserted tonight that
the Brlstow amendments would be voted
down, and that there would be no demo-
cratic votes to be cast against the major
ity except those of the Louisiana sena-
tors, Thornton and Ransdell, who gave
notice of their purpose to the demo-
cratic caucus.
Abandon Plan
In todays discussion Senator Bristow
asserted that the American Sugar Refin-
ing company, which several years ago
started out to acquire the beet sugar fac
tcrles, abandoned the plan because they
found 1t would be cheaper and easier te
destroy this industry through free sugar
than to control it by purchase of stock"
Senator Walsh declared that testi-
mony or beet sugar men before the
lobby committee was to the effect that
the reason the American Sugar Refin-
ing company reduced holdings in the
beet sugar plants of the west was be-
cause of fear of the Sherman antitrust
law.
Senator William Alden smith, vigor
ousIy supporting the Bristow amend
ments declared.
Il venture the assertion that the
American Sugar Refining company, nor
any OF its owners. has not purchased
any beet sugar stock since the demo-
cratic party came into power. and will
not buy any until you have passed
your bill and your three wears of
~-NNNASfA
sugar men and tremendously reduced
the price of their stock"
III the industry is going to. be
ruined asked Senator Williams why
should the stock be bought then?"
Will Be Reaction
Because the democrats lease OF
power" replied Senator smith rs but
temporary and there later will be a
recreation.
"lf this party's lease of power is tenn
/ porary, Senator Williams returned.
why picture all this despair. why not
pass the bill, turn the democrats out.
re-establish your lines and go ahead?'
Ihe republican senators unanimously
contended that the proposed rates would
not cheaper sugar to the consumer
| Senator Cumins said the removal of the
sugar duty in 1916 would tend TO abro-
gate the present reciprocity treaty with
CUBA, because it would abolish the Cuba
sugar preferential the chief provision
of the treaty. He raised the question,
however, whether the proposed law or
the treaty eventually would prevail.
! 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 per 100 pounds and
that this redueation would not be in con-
flict with the treaty.
No Conflict
Senator Williams also insisted that
there was no conflict between the treaty
and the bill. The treaty, he satl, applied
J to all imports, guaranteeing Cuba a pref
erential, but not preventing a change of
tariff rates by law Undoubtedly" he
added, the bill will give Cuba the right
to serve notice of abrogation of the treaty
If she wants to take that view of it. But
| Cuba may conclude, as she gets many
other things in preferential rates, that it
is to her interest to keep this treaty any
how"
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 beet sugar
factories in the west had been kept from
entering the field by the powers that be-
III the beet sugar industry.
Gives Statistics
Senator Lodge gave statistics to show
that the price of sugar gradually had de-
clinad for many years and argued that il
was idle to expect that free sugar would
reduce the cost of living. Free sugar, in
his opinion, was desired by the cane sugar
refiners of the country in order to kill off
competition of the beet sugar interests and
control the American market absolutely
These retiners. she asserted, the Federal
the Arbuckles and the American Sugar
Refining company, agitated free sugar
because they thought there was money
in it,
The amendment of the Senate finance
committee to the House sugar schedule
which would make the proposed rates ef-
fective beginning March ]. 1914, but not a z
fecting the provision for free sugar in 1876
was approved.
| At the conclusion of the debate of the
day Senator Norris of Nebraska gave no
tice that he would offer an amendment tc
strike out the proposed provision for free
lsugar in 1916. Senator Simmons announced
that unless more rapid progress wac made