Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-15
HAWAII HAS SOUND ARGUMENTS
AGAINST ANY TARIFF.SLASHING

Editor Honolulu Star-Bulletin,
Sir:-I notice that a meeting was
held few days ago by the leading
men of Honolulu. to present some
facts and arguments TO the president
end to the congress of the United
States at its extra session. giving raa-
sons WHY the duty on sugar should Re
maturely considered before action be
taken To lower the duties to any cou-
siderable extent That thorough re-
Election should precade any act of
congress-. Showing the lnss and grin
ty such action. II has always been a
source OF deem concern to the great
agricultural interests of the United
States in the way duties have been
placed so as to favor the manufHctur-
nrs at the expense of the agriculturist
The fact is. that the most important
calling in The United States has hee1
least considor in the adjustment of
| drties on various kinds Of products
THIS has been esnecialiy 80 since the
Civil War and during its continuance
While the manufacturers Of nverv va
riety of stnff eoul1 write their wishes
in tariff hill-what advantages thew
wanted-the aericulturists have prac-
iicallv received no benefit therafrnn.
lut an Increased cost of all those in
strImentalities nsod Nv them. IT
wonld spem that ~ any rrodnction
needed incidental helm In the having
OF duties. the cultivation Of sugar cane.
and beets. and the manufacture of
sugar is an industry needing snch
helm. Anv material redurtinn in the
duties Of sugar would certainly make
a material reduction in the output of
domestic SUGAR. Indeed a large re-
duction. to the extent of one-half the
DUTY. would probably mt ont of cult
vation ~ least one.half of the sugar
care and beet area now in use
Now. let MS see what amount would
Re saved to p farnilv nf FIVE persons.
ont Of the ninety miIIions. Prantin"
that all the duty should he taken of
sugar: and that the rurchnser should
get the sugar at the ruling price, less
the duty. If nv mind serves me.
there. was in the neighborhnod Of sivtv
millions of dollars collected on the i'm
portation of. suear last wear. Sixty
millions of dollars would be two
thirds of dollar Der capita. md for.
family of. five. Ave times .two-thirds
nf dollar. would be three and one
third dollars saved a wear for 2 family
OF tiva on the consumption Of sugar.
This is 4 very small amount, granting
that thew should get the. sugar as be-
fore remarked at the teost produc-
ton less the duty. s3aa@s}1
Now. let us look what a Reduction
in other things. that can bear such re-
ductiop would mean 10 the same fara-
fly of five persons. The material re-
duction in iron. In all it's various trans
formations. which. bv universal con-
rent, can bear such reduction. would
amount tn a large sum for the agri-
cultural family Of FIVE persons. A
like reduction in wool and Its nrod-
uets. would be material heneht TO
the wage-earning class and their chill
dren. Such peonle. at the present
time. even in the severe climate ut
the northern states, cannot AFFORD tn
wear anv garments in which wool is
large element Even imnorfed shod-
DIV has such a duty upon it, that moor
people cannot afford to wear clothino
made out of this stuff. Then. p rea-
sonnhie reduction. in iron and an IFS
rroducts wool and all its products.
shoes cotton goods. etc. etc. would.
Lerhaps. uroducn saving in a family
Of five persons of the poor wage-earn-
ing class of ten times nc mu"h pc
the snvinp in sugar would he. Trnth
to fell. the talk ahont free sweet-
ened Gun of coffee has been the dust
thrown into the ewes of thu neonla.
chat thv might ~rot see the ineouali-
ties OF the rrice thew raw an the very
essentials Of life and PRODUCTION. u
Mr.. Wilson, in his canvass nrevious
to the election. speaking for the DEM.
ocratic congress and pit the neop!e.
constantly reiterated that so far AS
he was concerned nj LEGISLATION az
fecting reduction in the traif would
be tolerated. injurious to anV. leGth-
mate industry that would prevail in
the whole country. While the chief
function of the indirect tax on con-
sumption was to get revenue for
the immense expenses of the govern
ment. such dutis should he. so placed
as to encourage rather than destroy
such legitimate industries. He also
said that great consideration should
be shown TO the tariff in its historical
aspect. That in the past, duties I'M
reasonably high had been placed uron
many articles of manufacture. causing
capital to be diverted to those chan
l.els of production which. perhaps
should not have been, yet, as such in