The Washington herald., 1913-08-19
Senate DEBATES
SUGAR QUESTION
Senator Bristow Proposes
Duty Of l Cent a
Pound.
LODGE ISSUES A WARNING
Discussion Will Be Continued Today.
Indications Are that President
Has Won His Fight.
LODGE ISSUES A WARNING

The Senate yesterday passed TO the
sugar schedule Of the tariff bill ana tne
day was devoted to debate. Senator Bris-
tow of Kansas opened the discussion.
He had offered an amendment which pro-
poses a duty of cent a pound OH
sugar. For an hour yesterday the senator
from Kansas spoke in support OF ms
amendment He reviewed the beet sugar
industry in the United States. He ex-
planned that il was only sixteen years
old, but had made more progress In tie
United States than 1t lad in any other
country in the world. He showed that
from seven factories in 1881 the industry
has grown to about seventy-seven this
wear. Senator Bristow insisted that the
fight Cor free sugar was being engineered
by the refiners. he declared that the re-
drction in price would not affect the con-
sumer, who would not get sugar any
cheaper by virtue of tie reduced duty
and ultimate free sugar.
Other speeches were made by Senator
Sterling OF South Dakota, who poirled
out that his State was practicularly well
adapted to growing sugar beets, and that
Nthe threat Of free sugar had prevented
the building Of beet sugar factories in
that State.
Speech by Lodge.
Senator Lodge also made a brief speech
He went into the historical record of beet
sugar growing. and declared that free
sugar could not be justified upon any
economic principle He warned the Demo
Gratis that they were sacrificing over sfc,-
O0o,00o a year in revenue, and were de-
stroying the beet sugar industry and
probably the cane sugar industry and
would not reduce the price to the con-
sumer
Senator Cummins suggested that the
Democrats probably We're violating the
treaty with Cuba by reducing the duty
OF sugar. Senator Sutherland informed
his colleagues that the growth of the
beet sugar industry in Utah, a COM
paratively new industry in that State.
had been interrupted by the adoption of
the Cuban reciprocity plan. He pointed
out that the first factory was built in
1897 and that the State had increased
its factories until now it had five. and
that more would be built but for the
fear of the passage of the pending tar
If bill. Senator Sutherland said the
present production of beet sugar in the
United States is 10000 tons a year. and
that it would be 100000 tons but for
Cuban reciprocity.
Senator Smoot interrupted long enough
to assert that but for the Cuban reci-
procity treaty the production of beet
sugar in the United States would be
double what it is.
VIII 60 on Today.
The sugar debate will continue today
and possibly longer. The advocates of
a duty on sugar have no hopes of win
ming. it was learned yesterday. The
Louisiana Senators admit that expected
support from the Democratic side will
not materialize. 1t is probable that only
two Democratic Senators will vote with
the Republicans in favor of a duty on
sugar. Senator Newlands had not re-
turned yesterday from Nevada, where he
went a few weeks ago to look over the
political situation. He has been counted
on as a probable recruit for the sugar
duty and there was some doubt ex-
pressed as to whether he would return
in time for the vote
1t looked yesterday afternoon as II
President Wilson had won his fight in
favor of ultimate free sugar and that his
u ponents in the Senate have practically
given up the fight.