Gilpin observer., 1916-04-13

countered a formidable snsg in the
United States ser ate. Ser afor Thorn
as OF Colorado and Senator Hard
wick Of Georgia led the fight against
the bill and the Democratic senator
ial caucus agreed on a compromise
by which a tariff tf one cent
pound will be oort'rued for three
years from May 1, 1916. After that
sugar Is to 60 on the free Est.
The sugar interests will continue
their campaign for the House bill
which would insrle the retention of
the tariff bin for all time, but they
cannot win unless t Sugar-Demo-
Gratis dn the SCI ate form a combina-
ton with the high-l roteotiva Repub-
licans. Such coalition is icing dis
cussed
RobbIns the Farmer.
In the meantin lot Of ugly facts
are coming to THE surface to plegre
the friends OF Ule sugar trust.
For example: 1t is asserted on
what seems unimpeachable autEori-
ty, that the farmers Of France and
Austria are receivirg from fifty to
seventy per cert n ore than the Am
er:can farmers for their beets.
During the cosir & Gays of the 'ast
congress l delivered a speech on the
theme, "How the Sugar Trust Robs
the Farmer" in with CHI l endeaNored
to point out that the sugar inter
ests refused TO permit the farmers to
share the high prices which the con-
sumers were raging for sugar. The
friends of tie sugar trust, in and out
OF congress, der ourced me, but none
of the sugar CONF anies either increas
ed the price paid the farmers for
their beets or decreased tie price
charged the consumers for their sug-
ar.
They continued to imrartially rob
both producer and consumer, and
only paused in Ter operations long
enough to shout "Nore Tariff"
Some Comparative Prices.
According to the best information
l can obtain the average price paid
American farmers for sugar te-ts
is $3.50 per ten.
On Feb. 1S, 1916. the Austrian gov
ernment issued an cff,c:al decree di-
recting that thereafter sugar factor
les should ray farm ers $S.12 per ton
for sugar beets.
ernment of France ordered the srgar
factories to ray tie farmers $9.65
per ton for their teets.
Probably similr DEGREES have is
sued in Germany ard Russ a, but
the evidence is not at hand. How
ever, the testimony f,om France and
Austria is suffic ert. In these coLn-
tries refined sugar undoubtedly com-
msnds as high a price as in this coun-
try but TIE governing powers ccm-
pei the factories to share their gains
with the producers. In this coun-
try we permit the fla tories to pocket
the lions share of the profits while
TIE farmers con IL ue to receive fer
their beets tie prices which prevail
cd before tie war.
A Great Western "Meton."
The other Cay financial papers
carried the following item from Bos-
ton under the heading: Great West
ern Melon Almo t Ripe"
"Boston-It is undec stood that the
Great Western Sugar Co., has been
ripenirg melcn that is almost ready
for plucking THIS company. one of
the largest beet 81 gar producers in
the world, has prospe'ed enormous
! ly since tie war lifted raw sugar
prices to the hig! est level of years.
The common stock, of which there
is $10,544,0O0 OFT tar dirg, las ad
vanced from 80 last September to
the present market of 200. There is
likewise $13 $50 600 10 preferred out
standing, the a cthorised amount of
each issue beirg Sl5,oo0,0OO. The
American Sugar Ref ming Co., is a
substantial minority ste cl ho6er.
Great Wes' e. n sugar las paid
common diviGen6s of so since Jan
uPry 1910. The comr any issues no
financial statements, but 1t is said
on authority trat the 1915 earnings
were safely over 5O9s on the com
mon stock. For the current year, If
sugar prices held. the company may
easily earn $40 STARE. Great West
ern had approxim ately $4,000 GOO
cash on hand az the beginning OF
the present year ard about the same
amount in sugar. 1t is likely that
current liabilities were small, so that
the excess current asses were prob
ably equal to $2C0 rer share on the