The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-19
SUGAR TEXT
OF TARIFF DEBATE
Republicans Predict Ruin of Cane
Industry aud Fattening
of Trust.
DEMOCRATS NOT ALARMED
Expect No Votes in Opposition
Except Those of Thornton
and Ransdell.

Washington, August 1S.--Frce sugar
was the text Of the tariff debate in tho
Senate to-day. Republican members as
| sailing the Democratic proposal to put
sugar on the free list in 1916 predict
ing the ruin of the Louisiana cane sugar
industry and the ''gobbling up" by the
trust of the domestic beet sugar indus
try of the country.
Senator'S Bristow, Smith. of Michigan:
Sterling. Smoot, Lodge and Cummins
led in the attack on the sugar sched-
ule which bids fair to hold attention
of the Senate for several days. No
time has been fixed for vote on the
Democratic rates or amendments pro-
posed to-day by Senator Bristow. which
would provide for gradual reduction
of the tariff on refined sugar until the
figure would reach s1.26 per 100 pounds
In 1919.
Democratic leaders asserted tonight
that the Rristow amendments would
be voted down, and that there would
be no Democratic votes to be cast
against the majority except those of
the Louisiana Senators, Thornton and
Ransdell. who gave notice of their
purpose to the Democratic caucus.
In to-day's discussion, Senator -Bris-
tow asserted that the American Sugar
Refining Company, which several years
ago started out to acquire the beet
sugar factories, abandoned the plan
because they found it would be cheap
er and easier to destroy this industry
through free sugar than TO control it
by purchase of stock"
Fear Antitrust LAW.
Senator Walsh declared that testi-
mony of beet sugar men before the
lobby committee was TO the erect that
the reason the American Sugar Refining
Company reduced it's holding in the
beet sugar plants of the West was be-
cause of fear of the Sherman antitrust
law.
Senator william Alden Smith, vigor-
ously supporting the Bristow amend
ments, said:
Il venture the assertion that the
American Sugar Refining Company, or
any of its owners, has not purchased
any beet sugar stock since the Demo
cratic PARTY came into power and VIII
not buy any until you have passed your
bill and your three years of strangu-
laton have prosecuted the beet sugar
men and tremendously reduced the price
OF their stock"
IF the industry is going to be
ruined" asked Senator Williams. why
should the stock be bought them
because the Democratic lease of
power" replied Senator Smith. is but
temporary and there later VIII be a
reaction
IF this party's lease OF power is
temporary" Senator Williams returned,
why picture all this despair. why not
pass the bill. turn the Democrats out.
re establish your lines and go ahead?'
The Republican Senators unanimous
~ contended that the proposed rates
would not cheaper sugar to the con-
sumer
Senator Cummins said the removal of
the sugar duty in 1916 would tend to
abrogate the present reciprocity treaty
with Cuba, because il would abolish
the Cuban sugar preferential, the chief
provision of the treaty He raised the
question. however, whether the pro-
posed law or the treaty eventually
would prevail.
Not In Conflict.
Senator Lodge. who said he drafted
n portion of the Cuban reciprocity
treaty. declared that the ascending bill
made immediate reduction in the
sugar rate of approximately 30 cents
a hundred pounds, and that this re-
the treaty.
Senator Williams also insisted that
there was no conflict between the
treaty and the bill. The treaty. he
said. applied TO all imports. guaran-
tecing Cuba preferential. but not pre-
venting Il 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 n preferential
rate that it is TO her interest to keep
this treaty anyhow"
Senator Sterling said agitation for
free sugar had deferred capitalists
South Dakota. Senator Walsh. OF Mon
tana, expressed the belief that many
projected beet sugar factories in the
West had been kept from entering the
field by the powers that be" in the
beet sugar industry.
Senator Lodge gave statistics to
show that the price of sugar grad
ually had declined for many years
and argued that il was idle to expect
that free sugar would reduce the cost
or living. Free sugar, in his opinion
was desired by the cane sugar re-
liners of the country in order to kill
off competition Of the beet sugar in
tercsts and control the American mar
ket absolutely. These renners. he as
serted, 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 FL
nance Committee to the House sugar
schedule, which would make the pro
posed rates effective beginning March
J. 1919, but not affecting the provision
Tor free sugar in 1916. was approved.
Az the conclusion OF the debate of
the day. Senator Norris. of Nebraska,
gave notice that he would offer an
amendment to strike out the proposcd
provision for free sugar in 1916. Sem
a'or Simmons announced that unless
more rapid progress was made bv
W ednesday. he would urge that daily
sessions begin at 10 a. ~
TOURNAMENT AT KING GEORGE.
Number OF knights Try Their SIKH
!icfOre Large Crowd
Especial to The Times DisDotcb