Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-20
PRESENT SUGAR
DUTY OPPOSED
ALSO DEFENDED
Arguments for and Against
Retention of the Temper
airy Rate Are Heard BY
Senate Tariff Trainers.

! kby Inc fbhNbN"tCu AANooJ
Washington, Dec. 19.--EXtend
ed arguments for and against re-
tention Of the present temporary
duty of 16 cents a pound on Gu
ban raw sugar were presented to-
day to senate tariff trainers.
Spokesman for American sugar
companies operating in Cuba de.
clared that the rate would prevent
rehabilitation of the industry
there, while representatives of the
beet sugar industry in this coun'
try asserted return to the Under
wood rate of one cent pound
would prevent development of that
industry, IL it did not destroy 1t.
Those representing American
companies in Cuba declared that
more than tariff question was
involved; that the rehabilitation OF
Cuba depended on the sugar in
dustry and that the United States
was morally bound to aid that
country. They also argued that
there were $1,000,000,000 OF
American capital invested in the
Cuban industry as against $780,
100000 in the industry in this
country.
Tax on American People.
1t was also argued that the duty
proposed to be made permanent"
by the Fordney bill was the highest
imposed in thirty years and that
it represented tax of $4,000
900 annually on the American
people, $S1,O00,000 of which would
go to American sugar producers.
Attention was also called by wit
nesses that Cuba imported last
year $515,000,000 worth of Amer
lean products and, that since the
economic life of the island de-
pended on its sugar crop, much
of this trade would be lost unless
the United States helped rehabili-
tate the Cuban sugar industry.
Finally 1t was argued that the
clause in the Fordney bill permit
ting American refineries to import
at three-fourths of the normal duty
two pounds Of sugar for each
pound of domestic sugar refined
from beets or cane was violation
of the spirit. If not the letter of
the reciprocity treaty with Cuba
giving a preferential rate of 20
per cent below the full rate on i'm
ports from that country.
1t also was cOntended that this
was a discrimination in favor of
certain American interests and in
furious to others.
Smoot Takes Exceptions.
Senator Smoot, republican, Utah,
took exceptions to many of
the statements OF the witnesses
the case for the Ameri-
can companies. He declared con-
ditions in Cuba were no worse than
those in this country and announced
that he favored the protection of
American capital invested in this
country as against American cap
ital invested in other countries.
Spokesman for the industry in
the United States testified that the
beet sugar industry had been de-
veloped in seventeen states; that
there was invested in it 100000
600 with ninety-five factories.
1t is now producing annually one
tons of sugar, or nearly one
fourth of the domestic consumption
and is retaining waste land be-
cause the beets will grow where
other produce will not. The acre
age now is $4,000 and the farmers
the crop number 100000,
who give employment to an ad-
ditional $4,000.
Expansion Is Possible.
Given proper protection, the wit.
nesses argued, the industry would
expand where 1t could supply most
Of the domestic demand and in case
of war make the country independ-
ent of foreign countries. 1t also was
contended that the raising Of beets
improved farm lands.
AS to the tax on the people repre-
sented in the duty, 1t was contend.
ed that this amounted to only s1.44
for each inhabltant each year and
that the industry was worth such
an expenditure.