Evening star., 1913-06-24
SUGAR MEN UNITE
FOR REVENUE DUTY
Favor Import Tax of Half
Cent a Pound After Three
Year Period.

'Anti-free sugar democrats got together
in the Senate caucus today and agreed to
support an amendment by Senator Sha
froth to eliminate the provision for free
sugar in 1915. and substitute a duty OF
approximately one-half cent a pound
after that time on refined sugar.
The Shafroth amendment accepts the
duties proposed In the Underwood bill
upon sugars for the next three years, in
Guiding a rate on refined sugar until 1916
of approximately one cent pound. Lou
isiana senators and those from beet sugar
states are making no fight to change
those rates. but are urging their col
leagues to abandon free sugar for fur
ther 30 per cent reduction in 1916 If the
amendment Is voted down the anti-free
sugar senators will have other alterna-
tives to propose.
1t was predicted today by some of the
Senate leaders that there would be no
change in the sugar schedule as adopt
ed by the House and approved by the
majority members of the Senate finance
committee.
The strong sentiment in the House in
favor or free sugar a the end of three
years and the strong support of this
convinced the Senate leaders that for
the sake of harmony in the party, if for
no other rea son. it will be better to fol-
low out the action taken by the other
house.
Fight Begun in Caucus.
The fight over sugar began in the dem
ocratic caucus late Yesterday afternoon.
The Louisiana senators and some of
those from western states were primed
to make last fight against the provision
h1,D ,;n1,
vides that sugar shall be free Of duty in
1915.
Senator Shafroth Of Colorado made
vigorous plea for elimination of the pro-
vision for free sugar in three years.
Senator Walsh of Montana, who also
will make a fight against free wool,
stood by the anti-free sugar senators. He
followed Senator Shafroth and had not
concluded when the caucus adjourned.
He resumed his speech soon after the
convening this morning.
When Senator Walsh had concluded his
address he was followed by Senator
Thompson Of Kansas who also opposed
the proposed sugar rates.
Tobacco Schedule Approved.
The caucus then set sugar aside tenn
porarily, to resume its considerations
later in the day, and approved the to-
bacco schedule without change. and also
approved all the Senate committee
amendments to the agricultural schedule
relating to live stocks and grains. Wheat
and -four were left on the free list with
a countervailing duty provision; live
stock and meats were left on the un-
restricted free list; oats at 6 cents
bushel. oatmeal at 33 cents per hundred
pounds and barley at Is cents a bushel.
Until sugar was reached the caucus
had been very harmonious. Not a
change was made in the report Of
the majority members of the finance
committee on the wood and wooden
schedule. The only ma
terial change in this from the Under
wood bill was the free listing of cedar
boards and other cabinet woods
In the metal schedule there were four
votes taken on committee amendments
and in each case the committee was
sustained.
Petition From Diamond Merchants.
The finance committee last night re-
ceived a petition from q delegation of
New York diamond merchants, urging
reconsideration of its action in turning
down proposed reductions in the dia-
mond rates of the Underwood bill
After careful consideration of the
claims that the Underwood rates would
committee decided not to change the
rate.
Senator Clarke of Arkansas. the
President pro tempore of the Senate,
has prepared for consideration by the
caucus an amendment to the tariff bill
which would levy tax on cotton sold
for future delivery.