The Washington times., 1923-04-05

4
and interested sugar capitalists for
many years.
It has been figured that the
average cost Of production t. o. b..
factories in Hawaii is $44.50 per
ton: in Porto Rico, $52.29, and in
Louisiana, $3.50. The average
production cost of Hawaiian sugar
is 2.697 cents pound; Porto Rico,
2.628 cents, and Louisiana, 2.S75
cents. No figures have ever been
furnished as to the cost per pound
for producing Cuban raw sugar.
When the Fordney- McCumber
tariff schedules were being debated
in the last Congress lobby battle
was waged. 1t was q battle ex-
tending all the way from Cuba to
stretching to the principal financial
centers OF the United States. One
lobby contended for low rates on
Cuban products and the other de-
manded,. and finally obtained, In
creased rates. And the point on
which they won their battle was
the appeal Of protection to Ameri-
/ can Industry one-eighth sugar
beet industry.
Adds Two Cents Pound.
AS already stated, the tariff pad
dies an extra cost OF over q cents
a pound to the American consum-
er and the question naturally arises
as. to who receives the benefit of
this extra cents. Surely not the
Government. for, of the 5000, 900
| tons Of sugar consumed in, this
country : last year. one and one
quarter millions was duty free and
three and ope.half millions came in
on reduced tariff from Cuba
/ Who are the domestic best pro-
ducers who receive the additional
cents q pound, and is q tax inn
/ posed TO protect them a justifiable
charger We have already seen
that the American Sugar Refining
Company owns a substantial part
of the domestic beet sugar pro-
ducers, and that 80 per cent of the
output OF domestic beet sugar is
controlled by seven American cor.
porations, the financial reports Of
which show that they have been
extremely profitable. Under the
circumstances does It seem equit-
able to tax. the American working
men to protect the sugar industry.
STILES Competition.
Impartial economists point out
that the difference between the
tariff impositions on Cuban and other
sugars interferes very materially
with competition from sugars that
pay full duty, such as San Domingo,
Peru, Brazil. etc, and compels them
to seek other markets.
Finding themselves Disseminated
against TO the extent Of nearly half
cent a pound, the same countries
which come to America with other
important products are compelled
to seek other markets for their
| sugar. IL this differential were cut
down. even slightly. 1t would cause
increased competition between full
duty sugar and Cuban and domestic
sugars and in accordance with the
/ working of the law of supply and
demand, lower prices for the Amer
| lean consumer.
An off-shoot of the tariff debate
was the raising of question that
had often been debated in times
past, namely, that Of curtailment
of the Cuban sugar crop to $780,
600 tons. 1t was argued that this
curtailment would stimulate Ameri-
can production of raw sugar and
perhaps lead to greater competition
| by Europe and other full duty"
producers. However, curtailment OF
sugar production is as difficult as
cotton curtailment or any other
similar propositions that have been
considered in America. Each planta-
ton wants curtailment 10 come
from the plantations on the other
side Of the road and 1t is practically
| impossible to arrive at salts
factory agreement. Besides, it is
extremely doubtful to what extent
the curtailment of Cuban produc-
ton would have stimulated the
increase of beet sugar at home.
President Can Cut Duty.
President Harding's tariff COM
mission should have no difficulty
lin tracing the course OF these high
exactions for tariff and protection
from the pocketbook of the con-
sumner to the sugar profiteer, and
in the reservations of the Fordney-
McCumber tariff measure he has
been provided with remedy.
He can cut the sugar duty so
per cent If he wishes!
The question is, will he apply
that remedy and transfer the pro-
lection to where it is most needed
to the little leather wallet Of the
American working man.
The head of one of the largest su
gar refining companies said: 1.-The
tariff on sugar imposes an unneces
sary. burden upon American con
sumers of sugar, who are gouged Out
of millions of dollars per year tt
protect the investments of Wal
street bankers. With. duty.free raw
sugar and a fair and equitable mar
ket OF the raw sugar industry In
Cuba and elsewhere, the American
people can be supplied with all the
sugar they need at less than cents
per pound. The sugar business
ought to be strong enough to stant
on its own feet and not be com
PEELED to seek official props in the
form of tariff or political favoritism
hope that the people Of this coun
try will open their eyes and demand
their rights in this as in other i'm
portant matters affecting their daily
welfare"
How speculation on the New York
Sugar exchange has added S3l2, 900,
900 10 the American consumer 81
gar BIN will be Disclosed In the fInal
article By Mr.. Cousins tomorrow.