Evening star., 1925-06-30

President Coolidges rejection of the
report of a majority of the Tariff
Commission in favor Of reduced sugar
rates has drawn attention to the fail
ure of the Government agency to put
over" it's decision. This has resulted
in discussion as to the value of such
body, even though composed of ex-
perts.
Upon the prospect Of large further
growth in the sugar industry. states
the Chicago Daily News, rests in no
small degree the hope that the Ameri-
can farmer within a few more years
will win a reasonable measure of pros
perity. In these circumstances 1t is
not surprising that President Coolidge
declined to reduce the tariff on raw
sugar as recommended by the major
ity members of the tariff commission" ="
president Coolidge has, Of course" a"
according to the Chattanooga Times,
''the New England passion for pro-
lection, and he would seem to be right
in his contention that II we are deter
mined to protect the manufacturer
and that is what we are-we ought
likewise to protect the farmer when
ever it can be done to his profit"
Common sense is credited to the Presi-
dent by the Portland, Me-, Express
in his decision not to cut the sugar
tariff "He went outside the report
of the commission" says the Express
found that the price of sugar was
not unreasonably high, and that the
proposed cut would mean loss of rev
enue of $40,000.000 and would fnjure
If not destroy The beet sugar indus
try" Importance is given by the
Grand Rapids Herald to the cleavage
in the Tariff Commission, by which
it divided three to two in it's recon-
mendation. THE President is entire
ly right" asserts the Herald, "in con-
Guiding that SO important a domestic
industry with an eye particularly to
beet sugar. should not be put to the
hazard of lowered tariff protection
when so doubtfully proposed"
"Michigan, as one of the big beet
sugar producing States" remarks the
Lansing State Journal, certainly has
no reason to quarrel with the re-
fusal of the President to lower the
present tariff on sugar imports. Pro.
tecting the beet sugar industry Of the
State from keener competition from
imported sugar will mean many thou
sands Of dollars for the beet raisers
Of the State" The Trenton Times
adds that "once the farmers give up
raising sugar beets, the cane growers
will get control of the industry, and
lhousekeepers, confectioners and bakers
will find the prices of all grades of
sugar greatly increased. The added
statement that there can be no
complaint at this time of the price of
sugar" Is made by the Allentown Call.
The explanation of differences within
the commission is given by the Bos
ton Transcript, which notes that they
were due not so much to individual
high or low tariff leanings, as some
surmised, as to disagreements- as to
what costs should be taken as a basis
for reports"
Taking exception to the attitude OF
l the President, the Utica Observer
Dispatch declares that 1.-The reason the
decision is important is that it is a
deadly blow to the whole principle OF
scientific determination of tariff rates
by q fact-finding commission charged
with taking care Of the interests Of
producers and consumers alike" After
reviewing the long history Of the case
! the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette con-
tinues: 1.-THE sugar tariff touches
every spoonful of sugar for lie. .000, ,000
mouths. 1t has taken two years tc
discover that the commission, dealing
with a real occasion, cannot be trusted
to know what it is about"
| y 4 \ .
The ''farce" has continued entirely
too long, asserts the Oklahoma Cts
Daily Oklahoman, which asks: why
should taxpayfng people be required
to pay the upkeep of a commission
tRhose findings OF fact are certain t.