The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-03-10
My SUE TO
. TEST SUGAR
RULING
State Of Louisiana Owns Planta-
lions and Move Is on Foot to
Bring Action in Supreme Court
to Obtain Final Decision on
Mandate of Attorney General
McReynolds.


that led up to the decision Of Attorney
General MeReynolds, rendered Febru.
AIRY 20 ON the Cuban Reciprocity
Treaty, is embodied in the accompany
ing letter from Ernest @. Walker, The
ADVERTISER q special correspondent In
Washington. Under date of February
20 he writes;
~ Senator, Ransdcl of Louisiana, re-
eeived a letter today from Assistant
Secretary Of the Treasury Hamlin an
nouncipg that he had asked the nttor.
ney general TO give an opinion ON the
\ duty TO be charged Cuban sugar after
March l. This action by the treasury
department il the last development Of
the question raised by the brlef which
Paul J. Christian submitted on behalf
Of the American Cane Growers' Asso,
citation.
Z" Mr., Hamlin is in charge Of the Gus
| toms division, branch OF the service
in which he is a recognized authority,
having served in similar capacity duE
ing the administration Of President
cleveland. Mr., Hamlin and the solici,
tor for the treasury department have
had the brief under Consideration for
| the past month and it has been the sub
1 jeet Of various Interpretations in con.
| gressional and departmental circles
| where the matter has been discussed.
Resolution Attracted Attention.
Just before congress adjourned for
j the Christmas holidays, the Washington
Office Of the Louisiana Sugar Industry
announced that careful reading of the
administrative sections Of the Under
wood law would disclose the fact that
congress- had re-enacted the old Payne
1 Aldrieh rates as applied TO Cuban sugar.
The announcement was mnde just ON
the eve Of the recess, and almost the
last act of the house before adjourning
for the holidays was to have printed
\ u resolution introduced BY General Els.
! topinal asking for enlightenment from
the treasury and state departments
upon the point just raised.
/ The Estopinal resolution served to
attract considerable attention to the re.
ported defect in the Underwood law
among importers, and the tobacco in
dustry, which is largely concentrated
at Tampa, and which win be vitality
affected, has been exhibiting quite as
much concern about the matter as the
sugar interests.
I "On his return here after the Christ.
mas, holidays, Senator Ransdell, who has
overlooked no opportunity and spared
no effort in the interest of the Louis.
lana sugar industry, called on Assist.
ant Secretary Hamlin with Mr. Chris.
tian and urged that the matter be given
careful and, If possible, favorable con.
sideration. While the point involved
was one OF fine construction, Senator
hansdeil made very strong presenta,
tion for the Louisiana sugar people. Mr.,
iiamlin was careful to give no indica-
tion sto how he would decide, but, he
evidenced the fullest sympathy for
Louisiana and keen professional inter
est in the point, involved. us
| Legislation History Furnished.
/ ''He asked Mr.. Christian to prepare
a brief dealing principally with the To-
glslative history of the sugar schedule
and the administrative features of the
new law. This was furnished in de.
tai on January 2, and the customs di,
vision and the law division of the
treasury department. have been mullinp
over the matter ever since. To frequent
inquiries made in the interim BY senator
n naisdeil, General Estopinal, Senator
eject broussard and Others, the depart,
,Asnt answered that y had not reached
h. ueeis A.o On tne Poinb although It was
81 sng stadled' Today Senator Ransdell
was Informed that the matter had been
sent to the department of Justice for
DISCRIMINATION,
] WIN view OF guarding against
On auvsrse ruirng by the administra-
.,o Mr, IhIlstian, on February 9,
mso'o 20 oo,. Y. Hnrrison Parker chair
. nun OF the board OF control Of the peni.
,svan.' y anu suggested that in such an
event the state at once take steps to
9ysl1I lndieial Interpretation of the
rue' Woo law Louisiana operates 4
ossA P'ahtaIlons and manufactures SUI
S;raa, a ,s SO that the state has q
s.n eu !, inS Cl', ana the United States
Ssph M, Jourt mas Original jurisdiction.