Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-01-14

Sugar was the rock on which the
Democrats split back in 1894. II -
going to give them much trouble this
time. II will be impossible for a free
sugar bill to pass Congress. No mat
ter what the house does. the senate
Democrats cannot be mustered in a
body for such a measure. The in
formation now is that the sugar bill,
when il is finally shaped up, will pro-
vide a flat ra1e Of about $1.65, as
against $3.50 at present The Dutch
standard and the differential would
be eliminated.
From the standpoint of the con-
sumer, this would be an improvement
but il will be Ear ION free sugar. 1t
would be a protection measure both
with respect to cane sugar and beet
sugar.
Cotton Schedule
That the cotton schedule is not GO
ing to be put down to a point where
it will hurt the southern cotton fac
tories is esteemed pretty we'll settled
here. Shrewd observers of the situa.
ton opine that this is one of the
reasons for the coming ways and
means hearings. which are intended,
not to show how deep to cut the
tariff, but to provide arguments for
not cutting 1t.
One of the big rows of the tariff
session will concern the question Of
free meats and free dairy products.
Many indications are given that a
strong effort will be made in this di-
rection. The cla2or from the big
cities and centers OF population, where
the cost of living is felt as a crush
ing burden, to get free meats and
free food products, is great. 1t is
going to be felt in Congress more
than ever before. y
OF course, Democrats from the agri-
cultural communities are going to OPP
pose such legislation but the pressure
for it is likely TO prove too strong to
be resisted. For the Democratic lead
ers there is going to be put up
squarely the question of whether to
ALLEVIATE. a, large percentage OF the
farmer vote and please the people In
the big population eenters or to take
the opposite course. It win be a
political question of the first magni.
tude and promises to give the Demo
Gratis as much grief as reciprocity
gave the Republicans. e@ -
Other Troubles al.,,s.-.... -, !
Among the schedules which will
give the Democrats, trouble is the
lumber schedule. A number of the
senate Democrats are opposed to free
lumber. Senator Simmons, prospective
chairman of the finance committee,
is one of them. Senator John Walter
Smith of Maryland, who is interested
in the lumber business, is another.
Unless the progressive Republicans
come to the rescue Of free lumber In
the senate, the high tariff Democrats
in that body will block t. ~.
Should the extra session tackle cur
rency, then it would doubtless last
until August or September. Whether
it will be taken up then is an open
question. Substantial reasons appear
why it should be taken up then, but
a number Of Democratic leaders are
opposed to doing so. One reason for
taking it up at the extra session is
that If it is not taken up then, there
is no certainty Of currency legisla-
ton by the time the Aldrich- Vreeland
emergency currency law expires in
the summer OF 11l4 II Is supposed
the Democrats will not want to ex-i
tend the operation of any law to.
which the name of Aldrich Is attach
ed, and they might find themselves
compelled to do this IL they let the
currency question drift along until
the regular session Of Congress Of
1894. . ~.