Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-09
"Blunder of Heading Sugar
Toward the Ultimate Free
List Now Appreciated" Says
Washington Correspondent
HOUSE WAYS AND MEANS
COMMITTEE Is P0NDERlNG
Determined Fight BY Protection
Advocates Likely to Find
Democratic Majority Acqui-
escent-Revenue Situation
is Becoming More Serious
BY c. S. ALBERT.

Especial Star Bulletin Correspondence
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. May %. The
matter OF preventing further reduc-
tion in the protective duties on sugar
already has become paramount Is
sne among statesmen and politicians,
although the assembling Of Congress
Is a good six months In the future.
The blunder made in heading sugar
toward the ultimate free list Is now
appreciated BY every public man. II
is realized that the revenues for
maintaining the government must be
produced in some manner
Ii is fully realized now that de-
termined fight win begin on Decem-
Der 6 To obtain such legislation as will
suspend further operation OF the free
sugar clause OF the Underwood tariff
bill. Moreover, the chances look good
at this time for the success of such
n fight.
The revenue situation brought about
by the European var will be the han
dy instrument with which to force
the enactment Of suspension reso-
l::tion
In this connection. II is known that
there never has been widespread or
positive disposition on the part OF
Democrats to wipe out the sugar rates
eHtirely, and Il was only the unswerv,
ing attitude OF the President and the
membersNof his cabinet with respect
TO the question that caused Congress
to declare for free sugar
Had Il not been for feeling that
the President would oppose such a
move. there would have been an eff.
fort made I'm the closing days of the
last session TO legislate to abandon
the idea Of further reducing sugar
duties.
Something must be done about
sugar" said Representative Claude
Kitchin, the new chairman OF the
ways and means committee, in an in
terview Just before adjournment This
was a pretty prevalent view OF the
situation among members of the par.
ty in power.
Sugar, by operation OF the Under.
wood act, already has suffered re.
duction OF Is per cent in tarir rates
The next reduction is due to take Of.
feet May /. 1916. So in order to fore
stall free sugar Congress must act al
the coming session.
Senator Broussard. Of Louisiana
has announced his intention to intro
duce a bill In the Senate to suspend
the clause II is probable. however,
that any legislation on the subject
which is successful win originate on
the House side and go before Con-
gress with the backing Of the ways
and means committee.
Mr.. Broussard, who was elected to
the Senate as a Democrat. appears to
have jumped into the ranks of the
Progressiyes.
The Democratic sugar interests
have started early campaign to
create favorable sentiment. Much lit
erature Is being sent broadcast. The
plan Of the sugar interests is TO Inn.
press the. claim that the sugar indus.
try as ofganized in the United States
is a Legitimate industry and one
worthy OF and entitled to the protec.
tion that may result from the main,
tenance OF what still remains of the
tariff rates. But the main argument
next year. OF course. viii be the esti.
mate that the existing sugar rates
will save an approximate annual reve-
nue. 10 the government of s32.00O.000
Is