Evening star., 1924-07-29
THINKS SUGAR MEN
DELAYING REPORT
La Toilette Calls on Tariff
Commission for Explanation
of SIoWness.

Declaring that he had reason to
believe" that representatives of sugar
interests were delaying a report by
the Tariff Commission upon an inves-
tigation into costs of sugar produc-
ton, Senator La Toilette today called
upon the commission for an explana-
tion.
The investigation which the COM
mission is making was ordered
nearly eighteen months ago, Senator
La Toilette said, id,.<"foilowing dis
closure that the Republican chairman
or the Senate finance committee, act
ing in conjunction with a member
of the Presidents cabinet, had sought
to use the tariff-making power as a
means to compel Cuban sugar grow
ers to reduce their production and
thus to increase sugar prices to the
American consumer"
Issues Formal Statement.
In formal statement the Wiscon-
sin Senator reviewed the history of
the commissions investigation into
the sugar tariff. asserted that the
sugar interests had been powerful
enough to delay action through the
highest official channels of this Gov
ernment." and added that attempts
have been made to intimidate and
otherwise obstruct the action Of the
commission" He directed a letter to
the chairman of the commission ask
ing for the complete record case.
The investigation should have been
completed long ago. the Senator said,
and "for several weeks there have
been persistent reports that the re-
port of the commission was ready to
be made public"
Sugar Men Busy.
1T is we'll known that representa-
tives of the sugar interests have been
very busy in Washington" Senator
La Toilette continued, actively
using every influence and device to
delay the completion of the investi-
cation.
1T is obvious that if the report
is held back until the end of
the sugar year, in September,
The American people had seen in
recent years in the sugar interests,
he declared, "a striking demonstra-
tion Of monopoly control, not only of
|, prices, but Of their own Government" "
In 1920, under Democratic administra-
tion, he said, an artificial imitation
of sugar prices raised the rates to the
| consumer to 80 cents a pound, while
| in 1922 American banking interests
! which controlled 20 per cent of the
Cuban sugar properties" obtained an
opportunity during the consideration
of the Fordney tariff bill in Congress
| to affect the situation as to prices.
Cites Shoots Letter.
/ The Wisconsin Senator cited a let
| ter written by Chairman Smoot of the
| finance committee in January, 1922
| to Gen. Crowder, then in Cuba, ask
| ing that the President Of Cuba be
given a proposal by which the Amer.
lean tariff on sugar would be reduced
provided Cuba would limit her pro-
duction. The Cuban government fol.
| lowed up by sending a delegation te
! Washington, which had audience
with Senator Smoot, Secretary Hoov.
er, Gen. Crowder and c. C. Hamlin
whom Mr.. La Toilette characterized
as a lobbyist for American beet
| sugar interests"
"All of these gentlemen urged the
artificial Limitation of the Cuban
sugar CROP" Senator La Toilette con-
| tinued, 'in order to decrease the su.
gar supply imported for consumption
| by the public in this country. I
Rumors were circulated to the effec,
that the Cuban sugar crop has fail.
ed Evidence existed that many cane
crops controlled by American bank.
ers in Cuba were destroyed by fire
| thus tending to reduce the available
supply
| issuance of "a misleading Depart.
ment Of Commerce report" in Febru.
ary, 1923, dealing with sugar stocks
occurred during a period when sugar
prices rapidly; advanced. Senator
| La Toilette said, and the ''only pro-
lection afforded to the public by the
government" was the fling of 'ar
| unsuccessful injunction suit" against
| the New York Sugar Exchange in
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