The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-01
DEMOCRATS MAY REVERSE
POLICY OF FREE SUGAR
Fears Destruction both
of Caue und Rect Sugar
Industries,
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l


Especial to The Times Dispatch
Washington. May 31.--!Thn admin
istration. facing Treasury deficit.
and fearing destruction or both cane
and beet sugar Industry through free
sugar, is about to reverse its free
sugar policy BY amending the Under
wood tariff law to retain duty or
cent n pound on sugar.
IL Is estimated such duty would
yield to the Federal Treasury annual
iy about S37.O0o.00o The Treasury Is
now running short revenues
about 100000 Il day. while awaiting
collections from tho income tax ana
other sources. 1t Is tho opinion of
both sugar and cane growers In Louis
iana. ana beet sugar growers In Colo
RADIO. that the 1-cent n pound duty Will
permit those Industries TO survive. 1t
Is conteuded still that they will not
be profitable except under tho moro
favorable economic conditions
Acting for the Democratic admin
istration, Secretary Rcdheld has had
experts make study In Louisiana of
the actual cost OF raising of cane ana
it's reduction into raw sugar. The
Louisiana sugar planters Insisted that
free sugar would make 1t impossible
Tor them TO compete with Cuban grown
sugar cane. Many OF them wont on;
OF the sugar cane growing busineEs.
and sugar plantations are now on
the market, selling for nominal prices,
PARTICULARS or REPORT
REQ TESTED ny BROUSSARD
The report OF the experts, II Is said
is now In the hands OF Mr.. Rcdteld.
Senator Elect Robert +. Broussard, OF
Louisiana. now 4 Congressman has
asked Mr.. Redfield for particulars of
the report Mr.. Broussard wants tho
particulars for use In the House. lilo
ell ps
wood law.
similar expert study of the beet
sugar production Is made at tho en-
pcnsc of the government In Michigan.
Colorado. California, Utah and other
sugar beet growing sections. Many
beet sugar rcfineries have gone out OF
operation since the Underwood law
went into effect last October. and beet
sugar farmers IN those sections are
complaining bitterly against the cut
ting out by law Of this profitable farm,
crop. This report has not yet been
submitted to Secretary Redheld.
Secretary Kcdticld started his inves-
LEGATIONS of the cost OF sugar produc-
ton 10 Justify tho demand OF Prcsi-
dent Wilson that there should be free
sugar. and that the removal of the
Sugar growers, both cane and beet
were assured by Mr. Broussard be-
fore the nomination OF President VIII
son that Mr.. Wilson would not ap-
prove legislation to their hurt. They
understood from this that duty would
he retained on sugar. Mr.. Underwood,
Trainer OF the tariff law, favored Il
duty on sugar from the revenue stand
point. but left the President to decide
on this schedule of the tariff law.
The old tariff duty on sugar ran
from sl.G5 10 sl.95 100 pounds. From
this duty The government received n
revenue annually Of about $4,000, 0oe
President wilson forced n compromise.
providing graduated reduction Ia
duty of 20 per cent Il year until there
should be free sugar in 1916. The duty
collected this year is ! cent n pound.
To offset the loss In revenue from re-
moval .: the duty on sugar there was
passe! an income tax law from which
II was hoped to realize about $4,000
GOO n year. This revenue VIII com"
Into :hn government July /, and viii
serve 10 cover temporarily the loss In
revenue and make UP the Treasury de-
felt, but IT is realized by the Treasury
officials that tho income tax receipts
Will not serve - hold the Treasury
balance on the right side. and that
steady revenue will not flow into the
Treasury to meet the daily payments.