The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-21
Tariff Commissions Move
 Will Give Administration
 Leaders Argument Against
 Rate Revision By Congress INDEPENDENTS WOULD FORCE TAX REDUCTION
Democrats Determined To-
 Obtain Relief For Public
 Which Has Suffered As Re- suit Of Price Increase
WASHINGTON BUREAU l
 THE AGE-HERALD Washington. D. C.. Oct. 20

The conclusion of the federal tariff commission to initiate Q real inyes- tigation into the sugar rate of the Fordney McCumber tariff act will afford the administration wing of the republican party in Congress an ar gument against effort of independent republicans to force a revision in such rate ny act of Congress.
 Democrats contend that the con clusion of the commiss1or was taken for exactly that purpose, and also to give republican orators. in the forth coming election period, ar argument to compose those who have suffered from the spectacular increase in the price of sugar.
 Nevertheless, tbe democratic na- tional committee, in formal state ment today, predicts that the att tempt in ths last session to investi- gate the sugar rate, made by Sena- tors LaFolleIte and Brookhart, re- publicans, and blocked by Senators Curtis and 5moot, repu blicans, will be renewed.
 Two Efforts Foreseen. V
 Tt is learned" declares the com mittee. that two separate efforts will be made in the next Congress to compel the republican majority and the President to lessen this exhorbi- tant tax on sugar. There will be renewal of pressure for the investi- gation of the sudden rise in the price of sugar beginning last February. This inquiry was urged by Senators LaHFo1ette> and Brooxhart, repubIi- cans, and successfully cbstructed by Senators Curtis, republican whip of the Senate, and Shoot. republican. who owns stock in the Utah-Idaho Sugar company.
 "Concurrently with this move for 8 scrutiny in this advance (estimated to have cost consumers to date $300,- 010 000) there will be represented a bill calling for a reduction in the existing duty Ii the republicans re- fuse to act in defense of the users of sugar, among them millions of voting housewives, the next republican, pres idential candidate will have to ex- plain why his party in Congress favored the beet sugar trust at the expense of the public"
 The committee, in an effort to cite the effect of the tariff on the sugar trusts. states the case of the Great Western Sugar company. It says:
 AS the compsny's dividend on it's sl5,000.000 preferred stock is limited to IS per cent per annum, it's re- sources are sufficient to pay 200 per cent on it's S15.000.000 of common StOIh N illSti was so much water" according to testimony of it's president, Chester Mercy, in the suit of the United States versus the American Sugar Refining company.
 "The Great Westerns latest divi- dend on it's common stock was i per cent quarterly. A dividend of per cent per year has been paid on preferred stock since organization. Recent quotations on preferred stock were l04s and on common stock. S5. Dividends on the common stock were per cent in 1910 to 1915: per cent and a stock dividend of 49 per cent in 1916 2T per cent in 1917; 47 per cent in 1920: 17h per cent in 1921.
 Resumes Dividend.
 While the Fordney- McCumber tar if bill was in process of enactment no dividend on commorl stock was declared. Tn December. 1922, follow ing the pass1gs of the profiteers' tariff. the company converted the l50,000 shares of common stock, par value S100, into S00.000 shares par value $25
 "On this par basis of s25 per share the company resumed the payment of dividends at the rate ot per cent. This is equivalent to It per cent on par basis cf S100 per share.
 "The company has declined to pay sugar beet farmers more than ST a ton for beets which yield 275 pounds Of granulated sugar. The company rays farmers 2.eG cents per pound for the sugar it has been selling the public at 10 and II cents pound"