The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-09-05

and internal revenue taxes runs annual
~ into millions. Last year Honolulu ex-
pended s1O0 900 for an armory for the use
of n creditable and efficient force con-
shutting a part of our National Guard.
for service whenever needed by our gov
eminent.
1t is utterly impossible for the
Hawaiian sugar planters. with Ameri-
can wages and standard of living,
costly fertilization and irrigation. dis
lance from the American market. TO
compete with the sugar planters OF
Cuba. who have cheap labor and SOIL
needing neither irrigation nor fertili-
GERS. where the cane natures in
shorter time. and planting is not re-
quired as often. The cost of Hawaiian
production of sugar laid down in the
American market in 191i-New York
where Cuban sugar is met and the re-
fineries are located. was S536oi per
ton, and the average cost per year Tor
the last five years s56.9lS per ton.
In addition to the advantages in the
cost of labor. fertility of soil. and
methods of cultivation, the Cuban
planters pay S6.25 per ton less to
transport a ton of sugar to New York,
where the raw sugar must be purified
and refined before being placed on the
market. II is just as impossible for
the Louisiana sugar planters and beet
sugar farmers of our Western States
to compete with the producers of Gu
ban sugar without a protective tariff
as it is for the Hawaiian sugar plant
ers. Sugar on the free list means the
destruction of this industry. not only
in our insular possessions. but in the
United States. After May l, 1916, our
country will be the only one without
a tax on sugar. and even free-trade
England levies a tariff, or duty on it. The
Wilson idea about placing sugar on
the free list was to reduce expenses
and thereby keep that pledge in the
Baltimore platform promising reduc-
ton in the cost of living. The new
tariff law reduced the duty on sugar
25 per cent on March l. 1914. and yet
sugar is higher today than it was be-
fore this 25 per cent reduction became
effective. After sugar goes on the free
list. May l, 1915. the American con-
sumner will in short time discover the
price of sugar advanced. After the
sugar refiners-large owners of Gu
ban sugar lands-who for years swim
died the United States government out
OF millions in tariff duties, for which
they We're convicted, paralyze and de-
stroy their competitors, the sugar
planters in Louisiana, in our insular
possessions. and the beet sugar pro-
ducers in the Western States. the price
OF domestic sugar will be advanced
and the Treasury of the United States
VII! lose an annual sugar tariff income
OF Soo'ooO.0OO. at time when there is
government deficiency somewhere
between s65.000,000 and 500, 000, 0O0
Inc consumer not only did not profit
by the % per cent reduction on sugar
last year, but the Treasury lost during
the first month. when it was badly need
ed. in customs duties s2.47s35S. Should
q Ia Lz
at the expense of a depleted Treasury
amounting to the magnificent sum of $780,
100000 per annum, or make them con-
tinue to pay it to the United States to
aid IN meeting the enormous and ever
increasing expenses of the government Of
the United States. and at the same time
protect and encourage the great sugar
industry in the Hawaiian Islands and
in the United States? Recently the Sec
rotary of Commerce. Mr.. Redfield. had
an investigation as to the high cost of
living. and the result showed that out
OF list of fifteen necessary articles go.
ing on our tables sugar was the only one.
that did not show an increase in price.
but, on the contrary. a reduction. Com
gress should lose no time in repeating
the free sugar folly. which will not bene-
fit the people, but will increase the
great riches of the selfish sugar trust at
the expense of the Treasury of the
United States and at the cost of the in
dustrial system of the honest farmers in
louisiana and the Western States and
the planters in the Hawaiian Islands.
who have always contributed their full
share in upbuilding and making prosper
Gus deserving people and furnishing a
valuable. increasing and ever-reliable
market for American-made goods. The
European war has saved and kept alive
our sugar industry from the first cut
Of Is per cent in the tariff duty and the
anticipation of the total abolition of the
duty. Germany stands first and Austria
third in the list Of sugar-producing coun- I
tries. and these at present are out OF the
sugar business. Prior TO the war twelve
sugar-beet factories, on account OF the
action of Congress. closed down. and the
Louisiana sugar farmers were seeking IL
possible the substitution of another less
profitable crop.
In. Honolulu a few days ago I learned
or the sale of large local sugar COM
pany and plantation, to party OF Jap
anese. The explanation was. the own
ers knew after the close of the war in
Europe and the removal of all duty
the placing of sugar on the free list on
MAY l. l9lG--means bankruptcy to COM
pete with the Cuban sugar planters. This
first sale of sugar plant Is but the
forerunner of what will happen to this
splendid American industry, unless Con-
sress repeats the free sugar law. II free
sugar permanently remains. the industry
will In our insular possessions fall into
the hands Of aliens. our deserving pa ople
crowded out and our local or export trade
to Porto Fieo. the Hawaiian and the
Philippine Islands will be done by our
foreign competitors.
rhe American people have certainly
been chastened. punished-paid a fearful
penalty-for the folly of electinS a free
trade educated theorist to the Presidency,
along with a subservient Congress ever
ready to do his bidding.
Desiring 20 close this letter with some
thing pleasant and give the reader a
true picture Of the Hawaiian Islands
made with the pen of our own beloved
and never-to-be-forgotten Mark Twain,
quote his Just and beautiful tribute.
mo alien land In all the world has
any deep. strong charm for me but that
one; no other land could 20 longingiy and
haunt me sleeping and walk
Ing. through. half . lifetime. as that one
has done Other things leave me. but 1t
abides, other things ckau.c. but 4 -
a.. -.