The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1915-02-12
LOUISIANA ASKS
N AD00 TO AID
Anxious For Opportunity To Test
Validity of Preferential Tariff
Rate On Cuban Sugar

In view of the fact that the house
judiciary committee has decided to re-
port favorably upon the Broussard reso-
mtiOn which will enable the State of
Louisiana to appear as u party in an
action before the Tinted States Su-
preme Court to test the validity of the
sO-called preferential Cuban rate on
sugar, considerable interest has been
aroused in Honolulu. 1t has been held
that the twenty per cent preferential
below the present sugar tariff under
which Cuban sugar is allowed TO eater
the United States is valid. However,
the Underwood tariff makes no prOvi-
sion for a Cuban preferential and Loui.
siana planters maintain that in this
omission Cuban sugar is on the same
basis as any other foreign sugar and
therefore subject to the Iull talif. IL
is to determine this question that LOui'
sinna seeks to bring action in the high
est court of the land. SO. ~
Local sugar men yesterday expressed
doubt as TO whether the preferential
rate will be set aside by the supreme
court should the issue be decided there
Louisiana had about given up hope
Of getting the resolution thu ough thS
present congress and through Congress
man st. Z. Martin had ser, ed notice u
secretary OF the / reasury McAdOo thai
"A similar resolution would be int odueeI
in the event of a special session OF
congress. Following Is a copy of Con
gresham st. Z. Martin s letter:
damned Another Resolution
"ThibodauX, La, Jan. 90, 1915.
''Hon. Vim. G.. McAdoo, Secretary o.
the Treasury, Washing ton, D. c.
/ "My Dear Secretary: - Their,
now appears to be small prospect 70
the passage of II. j. Res. 2oi before tn
adJ Ournment of the present congress.
ain therefore writing to in Orm you tina
similar resolution granting th1 Stat,
of Louisiana the right to stand in judg
ment before the limited States Suprem
Court will be reintroduced immediatel,
upon the converting of the next con
gress. Steps will also be taken in tn
event of the successful issue Of the suit
| looking to the reimbursement Of tn
| federal treasury by those who may b.
responsible for any losses that may &C
crue through laches.
81 have thought it proper to inform
yOu VI az tue lEl1tub tlult,
my understanding is that under existin,
law, the United States cannot recover
in the absence of fraud or protest, un
less steps AZ taken within one yea
from the date of entry to secure sucI
money as may be lost by the imposi
ton of inadequate duties The import
ers began entering sugar under wha
many members of congress and abb
lawyers believe were illegal duties
March l, 1914. CVngress will adiour
on March 4, 1915, so that unless a
extra session be called on the heels o
adjournment and immediate action b
taken by the new congress, there is
possibility of millions of dollars beirI
lost should your department fail to taxi
the necessary steps to safeguard tn
government.
Asked By Democratic State
! This request of the State was ashe
for unanimously by atDemocratir legis
lature and Democratic governor, act
ing through Democratic attorney gen
eral, and is nothing more than a pie
that the highest court in the land in
terpret certain conflicting provisions o
the same act. And yet, notwithstan No
| hiS NhO law IithJ II w
of the cardinal doctrines of the Demo
cratic party the sorry spectacle is pre-
,ented of sovereign State being de
MED this right through the opposite
Of Democratic secretary of the trea
sury.
In your last annual report you al
vocate the re-impOsitiOn of the WA
taxes at the end of the current year 70
an indefinite period--the taxes to b
abolished by proclamation of the Pre-,
ident when peace is restored in Europe
should the supreme court decide tina
the sugar duties now being cOllecte
under your order are less than the lega
duties imposed by congress it woul
mean the recovery of millions of do
lars now wrongfully diverted from tn
federal treasury to the sugar trust
would obyiate the necessity OF carryin
out your suggestion, and would reliev
the American people of the war tax,
in times of peace. Years very truly,
(SigneD est. +. MARTIN,
IN. { l-Iect, Third Louisiana Dis
t.ict,"