Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-01-09

PRODUCED a resolution In the house to
day just before adjournment that
promises to open up the entire CUES
ton OF reciprocity with Cuba when
Congress reconTeneS on January l.
after the holiday recess.
Ever since the passage of the In
derwood bill the Louisiana Congress
man has been endeavoring to secure
an extension of time before the first re
ductiOn will occur in the sugar SEIZED
Tile. Under the terms of the Under
wood bill the first reduction in the
sugar schedule is to take place March
LIST next, when the customs duties will
be reduced 25 per cent or from 1.6Si
cents per pound for raw sugars test
ing 80 degrees by the polariscope to
1851 cent per pound.
The friends of the Cuban sugar in.
terests have been resting contentedly
in the belief that sugar from that isl.
and would secure a further reduction
of 90 pei, cent of this rate because OF
the Cuban. reciprocity treaty.
The Louisiana sugar planters have
been endeavoring to have the time
when the first, reduction is TO take
place deferred from MarcF 1stl until
July 1, next, claiming that the addi-
tional three months Mere necessary
to market the CROP that was being
grown when the Underwood bill was
passed and the. Democratic party in
augurated its radical change in the
treatment of Sugar as revenue pro-
Giucer. CONGRESSMAN Estopinal last
Septembep introduced joint reso-
luton pTeyiding for the extension Of
date and carried on an active cam
paigm among his Democratic col
leagues to secure its adoption.
While he secured many promises
CT support because of the fact that
he was one of the Louisiana Demo-
Gratis who supported the Underwood
bill, still the party leaders have been
unwilling to amend the tariff bill in
any particular, claiming that 1t would
open up the fool gates for amend
ments from q number of other inter
ests. VI. So, 80 "
The resolution introduced by the
Louisiana congressman today APP
breaches the question from another
angle d -
Behind the resolution 1t is under
stood that the Louisiana sugar people
have discovered q fatal defect in the
enactment Of the Underwood bill.
The Estopinal resolution reads as
follows: i Z 80. 4. ...fz ~
To ascertain the rate of duty i'm
posed upon Cuban sugar after March
1, 1914: s...s1..., ,..s..s5. !.
Resolved: That the secretary OF.
state be requested to inform Congress
the republic Of Cubs has,
been given notice of intention Of the.
United States to terminate tile pro-
yiso Of Article Eight of the treaty of
date of December II, 1902, as lie
tended by Paragraph B, of the Act ap-
proved October 3, 1913 1.-THE Under
wood bill1. =. / ~. sss..s y q
BE II further resolved, that the sec
rotary of the treasury be requested
TO inform Congress what steps have
been taken for the collection of the
duty on sugar which may be imported
from the republic of Cuba after Marcn|
lEls l11ft d11st "uGlhCI NhS
terms Of the act of December II, 1903,
being an act to carry into effect a
between the United States
and the republic of Cuba, there will
be a discriminating duty of five per
cent, enforced against the sugar i'm
ported from the republic of Cuba.
1 The louisiana sugar men maintain
hat while the Underwood bill repeats
The proYiso Of the Cuban reciprocity
treaty stipdlating that the 20 per cent
preferential rate, enjoyed by the ISL
nd shall be based on the rates named
In the Dingley bill of 1897, that the
trainers of the Underwood bill com.
mitte,l the grave mistake Of not re-
sealing the act of Congress passed to
give force and effect to the recipro-
city treaty.
In support of this contention they
point to the fact that the Underwood
law states expressly that nothing
therein contained should be, con
strued to impair anything IN the treaty
Or act passed for the execution of that
treaty excepting only the proViso OF
section eight of the treaty.
They say that this oversight was
iue to the haste in which the Under
wood bill was prepared apl point to
the remarks of Congressman Hard
wick of Georgia, the champion of the
Cuban interests on the 18th OF Sep
tember Just before the conferees OF
he house aE,l senate made their re-
port on the final draft of the Under.
wood bill.
Mr.. Hardwick said:
MIR. Speaker, there is a question
bending before the Congress, not con-
1ected with this bill, but Of the ut
most importance to every member OF
his house and to the country.
The proposed tariff bill leaves the
ate on sugar until March 1 next I'M
Then until May l, 1916, 1t
'educes the tariff Is per cent.
There is no language in the bill
low pending which declares that from |
March l, 1914, until May l, 1916. Gu
ian sugars shall come into the United |
states at 20 per cent less than the
per cent reduction made |
N sugar from all countries in the !
,ending bill.