Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-04-10
RAY OF HOPE
FOR HAWAII
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NNQItStU4S0 tNOtU Ea4S tsl
tables, meats and flour OF all kinds
either ON low dutiable basis Of on
the free list. The Louisiana senator's
could never agree on it, unless they
were prepared to commit political sui
eide.
Question Of Line-Up.
They will not but the practical ques-
ton is as to how many, IL any, other
senators, for instance, Messrs. Walsh
of Montana, Shafroth OF Colorado and
Thompson of Kansas, will agree with
the Louisiana men, to remain away
from conference and caucuses until
the members of the finance commit
tee will agree to modify the list so as
to give sugar q duty of at least a
cent pound and also agree to trea1
the other farm products more in ac-
cord with the tariff for revenue prin-
ciple. Unless the Louisiana senator's
can get help from their colleagues, or
from the White House, the senate Is
not likely to suggest anything higher
than sixty or seventy cents pere 100
pounds-tha is about half what the
effective duty now is.
Former Senator Foster has come
here to seek better treatment for
sugar. Until either he or Senator
Ransdeil or Sar Thornton can find
Gut how far the senators from beet.
sugar states will go in making fight
to prevent the duty being placed at
an absolutely ruinous figure, nothing
positive can be done.
Finance COMMITTEES Position.
The Democratic majority Of the
senate placed on the finance com
mittee, Senators James of Kentucky
and Hughes of New Jersey. As mem
bers of the ways and means com
mittee, they worked and fought for
free sugar, the Kentuckian making
the closing speech on sugar when the
the house a little more than year
ago. He and Hughes take the po-
sition that the sugar industry as or
gained is not legitimate one. There
fore they feel free to vote to place 1t
on the free list.
The senate Democrats of year ago
said that taking off more than one
third would not be in accord with the
tariff for revenue principle Since
that time the constitution has been
amended SO as to make possible the.
collection of an enormous income tax.
Its possibilities have never been
gagged. Taking the appropriations
made by the last congress as an ex-
ample OF what government estimates
may be expected to be during the
next three or four years, it will be
necessary to raise at least $I75,000,-
600 annually by means of it. Raising
that much and keeping river and har-
Dor allowances, including leYee APP
preparations down, to about $35,00O,-3
600 per annum, will enable the Demo-
cratic leaders to take the duty off
sugar or cut 1t as low as advocated
by the refiners.
Senator Ransdell does not know
how the five senator's mentioned will
regard the proposition for the men
from the sugar states to stand aloof
until they can extract a promise OF
better treatment for the industry that
means so much to their constituents.
Sugar is not SO important an industry
in any of them as it is in Louisiana.
The growers of beets do not exercise
the political influence that the grow
ers of sugar cane have and do exert.
Louisiana's Position
Without doubt it will be necessary
for the Louisiana senators to be op-
portunists of-the most pronounced
character. The promises they have
made to their constituents will en-
able them to take such steps as they
deem necessary but that it is not
true with regard to the other SEN
ators. All they can rely upon is the
platform promise that the revision OF
the tariff shall be made so as not to
destroy any legitimate industry.
Their position viii be a difficult
one and the fact that Louisiana sup.
ported Mr.. Wilson for the nomination
in the belief that he would not, as
did Speaker Clark, support the free
sugar bill, has been brought to his
attention. But they will expect re-
cognition in the distribution of pat
ronage. President Taft used patron
age in 1909 so as to hurt those Re
publicans who did not vote for the re-
vision of that year. There has not
even been an intfmatien that any such
force will be used by President VIII
son but without doubt it will be
necessary for both the president and
the Louisiana senators to strain their
utmost to arrive at solution that
win result in a tariff bill that will
come up to the presidents hope,
namely bill that will have the sup
port of every Democrat.