The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-09-03
a Disquieti11q Suggestion

a NEW phase Of the sugar question is being
n considered at Washington. according to the
publicity man OF the A. Fl. Lamborn Company of
Wall street extensive handlers Of sugar, consid-
Grafton that bodies little good to Hawaii 1t is the
matter OF raising revenue for the government
from sugar by means Of internal revenue taxation
and not through a customs tariff. This would
leave the consumer paying tax on sugar domes-
tic grown as we'll imported. 1t would solve"
the revenue question for the government. save it's
face from having to reverse its tariff position and
effectively strangle the sugar industry of the
country.
In a circular issued by the LaThborn Company,
after giving reasons why tits not improbable that
the price win reach this September the figure it
did last September of $50, the writer says:
Wv row come to the crop situation; the frst
point would like to settled il the United states
tariff question With the law as It stands on the
Books scheduled to 20 into effect on May l,
1916 placing sugar the free list beginning with
that date naturally cannot expect this year other
than a strictly hand mouth demand from the Uni.
ted states consuming trade until after May is passed
Personally are inclined to the opinion that the .
coming congress will make change in the law;
il may be congress win continue sugar the freej ]
hct after May !, but Offset the loss of revenue
tn ough the removal of import which amounts
to cent per pound Cuban sugar cong may
place internal revenue tax all sugars, both for
foreign and domestic growth w
To obtain a sufficient t. Offset that loss by
the removal of the import duty internal revenue
tax Of one half cent per pound would be necessary
and il an additional revenue desired internal
tax of threoqua cent per pound could be
levied.
We favor the belief that the best and most equt
able solution of the question of taxing sugar is to-
make the import duty ON the basis Of fveeighth cent
per pound for 96degree test for non.preferentia
sugars which with the twenty per cent preferential
FIR Iuka VynIlH mnk a he Hufv nm ma
half per pound, basis 96degree addition
have internal revenue tax all sugars whether of
domestic forei'n growth of oneguarter cent per
pound. The United States government would then
have a Of at least equal to that derived
through the present duty of cent per pound
Cuban sugars; Furthermore, all sugars consumed in the
United States would be producers instead Of
= at present about onehaf paying all the tax and
about onehaf paying no tax. Also while the United
states government s revenue sugar would be the
with cent import tax Cuban sugars
the tOtal"tax per capita sugar would be onequater
cent per- pound less Also, believe the domestic
beet sugar industry the Louisiana eane-sugar indus
tries of Porto Rico and Hawaii entitled some
protection against the competition Of the cane sugar
industry of Cuba where sugar be unquestionably
produced at lower cost than in the United States
proper or in her insular possessions but that a pro-
sugar industry Of the United States and posses
is not substantial and should be allowed o die out.