Evening star., 1923-04-05
SEES PLOT TO RUIN
PRODUCERS
Smoot Declares Refiners
Conspire to Break Ameri-
can Growers.

The present high price of sugar in
the United States is part of a con-
spiracy on the part Of the sugar re-
finers to put American sugar pro-
ducers out of business. Senator Smoot.
republican, OF Utah. declared in a
statement issued today
Senator Smoot, a member Of the
Senate finance committee. took
prominent part in the drafting Of the
Fordney- tariff act. He
said today that he hoped the inves-
tigation OF the increases in sugar
prices would be vigorously prosecuted
by the government and the blame
placed where II belonged. Senator
Smoot has just returned to Washing
ton from Utah.
The present price of sugar" said
Senator Smoot, is but the carrying
out of the program OF the sugar re-
liners. They have three-fold OBJ
ject i'll view
First. to secure a reduction in the
rate of sugar
Second, to create a prejudice
against American sugar producers,
with hope that the American peo-
pie Will demand a reduction in the
duty on sugar low enough to destroy
the American industry and give them
control of every pound of sugar con
sume,i In the United States and at
a price ixed by them.
"ThirL TO reCoup their lost profits
sustained during the early part OF
the year 1929. when they reduced
the price Of Cuban IS per cent sugar
TO $l.67 per hundred pounds for the
purpose of dealing a death blow to
the beet sugar producers OF Amer
NIh hr ID l..
farmers for beets at $l2 per ton for
the yield of beets for the year 1922,
DenIt Heavy Blow.
The greater part of the sugar
made from these beets was neces-
sarily marketed in the early part of
the year 1922. The sugar companies
Of America lost lens OF millions of
dollars Their credit and capital
We're impaired and the ref1ners would
have been successful in their we'll
planned deaf blow to the sugar pro-
ducerS OF our country IL outside as
sistance had not been secured.
The Fordney McCumber act re-
cents per hundred pounds. not Sc
per hundred pounds as the refners
are now trying to have the American
sugar consumer believe
hope for an early investigation
Of the present high price Of sugar.
as we'll as to the necessary rate of
duty required to save the Industry to
America. ] have no fears whatever
s TO the results
II would like to have the tariff
commission call Senator Simmons as
a witness and ask him to explain
how II is possible to reduce the price
or sugar by importations from Europe
while Europe secures large part OF
its sugar from Cuba. Note the rates
OF duty European countries are pay
ing today as compared with our duty
Of $l.f6 per 100 pounds Italy, So IS
per 100: Germany. s3.1s per 100: Bel
GUM. $3.50 per 100: England and
United Kingdom, $500 per lO0
Greece. s6.3l per 100; Spain, S15.75
per 100.
The refiners control the production
of sugar in Cuba and the price at
which IT is sold. Reports show that
they own 3.3aS,549 acres of land capa-
BILE of producing s,lsS.00O tons of
sugar. that being over 100000 tons
more than is consumed in America.
With lower rate of duty they can
destroy the American production, and
when that is done, God help the Ameri-
can consumer. To lower the rate
would be loss TO the Treasury and a
further gain TO the refiners
This is farmers battle, for he
receives for the beets grown IS per
cent of all that Is received from the
sale of the sugar made from his beets'