Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-05-02
DEMOCRATS OUT
lsOF TROUBLEBY
ACTION ON SUGAR
Senate Amendment Raised Dis
SenSion in Party Ranks and
Angered Republicans
BY c. .. ALBERT
Especial Star.DuIlsttn oorrsspenlsncsl

I6poct1l 8taf-1uuettn oorfooponooocoi
- WASHINGTON, ID. c., April IL
Democratic votes are saved in the
senate and Republicans satisfied by
the plan OF the Kitchin bill for the
unconditional repeal Of the free su.
gar" clause
The senate amendment, calling for
free sugar in 1920. precipitated de-
termined opposition on the part Of
some members of the upper house as
well as the lower house.
The Conference Committee on the
sugar repeal, or extension. bill prompt.
ly went into a hard and fast deadlock.
The House insisted on an uncondition-
al abrogation O. the statute, and the
Senate, with equal firmness, declared
there should be a four-year suspen-
sion.
At the same time there remained
but fifteen days before. sugar would
60 automatically to the free list.
Opinions were freely expressed In all
directions that contingency would not
arise.
cidn't Want Delay.
In the event that no compromise Is
reached by May /, 1t was pointed out,
sugar would be removed from the duti-
able list. Legislation would be essen.
tial to either restore the duty or fix
q period when its return to the free
list might be accomplished Much
time would be required in arranging a
bill and passing 1t through both bran.
ches OF Congress, to say nothing of
another deadlocked conference COM
mittee. While this process of evolu
tion was In progress the Government
would be losing at the rate of $45,-
00O, 900 In revenues. It was to prevent
such loss that the bill now under con-
sideration was framed and passed
No leader In Congress pretended TO
predict the final outcome of the sugar
problem after the Senate Financial
Committee amended the House meas
ure. limiting the repeal to q four:year
extension of time. This action came
as q surprise and disappointment all
around. The Republicans lost all In
terest In the proposed Legislation be
cause an extension was not in lire
with the doctrine OF protective tariff.
For that reason they did not support
the amended plan when before the
Senate ID effect they left the Demo-
Gratis to work out their own salvation
a. . matter declared TO be along the
lines Of tariff Tor revenue only.
Four Democrats Allenated.
At the same time. the amendment
brought forward by the Finance Com
mittee had the immediate effect OF
alternating four Democratic votes. Sen.
ators Broussard, Ransdell, NewIands
and Lane co-operated with the Repub
licans and refused TO vote for the
proposition
About the only comfort the Demo.
Gratis obtained from the passage of
the sugar bill In the Senate was that
the Republicans determined at the
last minute to not harry or harrass
them In seeking early action. Tt
ments was he'd within narrow
bounds. These represented nothing
beyond efforts to secure the restora
ton Of duties on dyestuffs and one
cent per pound on lemons and grape
fruit Both were rejected because the
Democrats could easily outyote the
Republicans.
II sugar had gone automatically to
the free list on May the Republicans
would have lost some of their com.
plaisance. They were anxious to re
tain the one-cent duty. but felt as do
: Senators Broussard. RansdelI, New
lands and Lane that no additional cap
ital viii be Invested In the business il
time limit we're imposed. It was made
perfectly clear during the discussion
that the cane growers of Louisiana
would derive no benefit whatever from
the bill as amended by the Finance
Committee.