The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-08-15
BTTTERR0N
\ NEARS ON
LEVY

A propaganda battle of til
tanic proportions between
American sugar producers and
Cuban importers was mum
dating Congress today as the
Republican members on the
Senate Finance Committee
neared a decision on sugar
tariff.
The rumor prevailed that the
Republicans would approve 81
Cuban rate, as compared to SITS
in existing law and the $40 in
the House bill. The Republicans.
sugar producers, were ready to
fumultuous Democratic assaults,
gurated by the Democratic national
committee.
Sugar. the Republicans will say.
Il the cheapest food on the Amer
lean market. 1t is the only food
given away in American hotels
and restaurants. 1t is sold cheaper
.
competing with this country in
the economic marts of the world.
The House rate itself, they will
add. instead of putting some $780,
100000 additional burden on the
consumeIs-as charged by the
Democrats-will add but 43 cents
year to the food bill of each
American.
The tariff-makers will defend
the sugar duty as an economic
necessity standing side by side with
the embargo-like tariff against
Canadian wheat; similar tax upon
New Zealand butter; and a like
duty against Argentine beef. They
viii argue that sugar. the cheapest
of all foods, should not be singled
out for discrimination because a
handful Of Americans have invested
huge fortunes in Cuba.
To support their position, the
Republicans will point to the sugar
tariffs in other nations-to the
$17.61 tariff per hundred pounds in
Brazil: to the $9.42 rate in Peru: 10
the 1852 in Greece, and the $5.O4
in Belgium. Other national rates
cited will be $4.s2 in Spain; $4.57 IN
Poland; SAT- in Turkey; 1870 in
Norway: $3.50 in Russia: $2.27 in
Germany: $2.27 in the Irish Free
State; and the $1.81 plus national
bounty to local sugar producers IN
Great Britain.
The Democrats meanwhile have
not determined their program
toward the sugar schedule, other
than to oppose any rate approved
by the Republicans One group of
Democrats at least will demand a
rate as low as 1912 per hundred
pounds on Cuban imports-the cost
OF production differential once an
nounced by the Tariff Commission.
Senator Borah (R.) of Idaho, mean
while continued toying with the
idea of paying a bounty to Amer
lean producers-as Great Britain
does-plus low tariff rate for
revenue purposes. The bounty idea,
however, has been rejected time
and again by Congress when APP
piled to other farm products.
The Republican tariff makers were
making slow progress through the
sundries schedule, en- route to the
sugar decision. They placed man
ganess ore on the free list in re-
Spouse to the plea of the American
Iron and Steel Institute. which de.
clareG 95 per cent of the nations con-
sumption of this ore had to be i'm
ported. They also endorsed the
House rates on gold and platinum
jewelry, laces. corsets and sponges.
The House rate on cat. beaver and
rabbit fur was slightly reduced.
The followers of Izaak Walton
were treated generously. All the
tariff increases, placed by the House
on fishing tackle, were eliminated
and existing rates restored. On srti.
fetal flies. snelled hooks, leaders and
casts, this meant reduction from
IS to As per cent ad valorem while
on fish hooks. fishing rods, creels
and equipment, other than lines, the
slash was from 55 to As per cent.
The committee members hoped to
complete all schedules by Saturday
night. Then the rate sections will be
trrned over to the Democrats-with
the big war destined to open in the
Senate September A.