New Britain herald., 1929-04-26
TRYING TO RAISE THE. PRICE. OF SUGAR

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 As is customary in tariff debates nothing much of general interest happens until the rates on sugar are reached Then comes an attempt 10 protect" the American sugar raiser 10 the detriment of the Gu ban growers. Cuba. though inde- pendent, is economically dependent upon the United States, and any rates so high as 10 bar Cuban sugar from the American market would at once produce an acute problem in Cuba, where much American money is invested in the sugar bus- ness.
 The present idea is to make the duty on sugar three cents pound. so as 10 protect the domestic beet and cane sugar producers Under the I'ordney- McCumber act the rate is s.2 cents pound. The new rate would be an increase Of 36S per cent. Under tine reciprocity treaty Of 1908 with Cuba, however. which grants Cuban sugar tariff pref erencc of 70 per cent, the effective duty on Cuban sugar would be only about tenths Of cent higher than the present rate Of l.7S cents on he product testing oS degrees under the polariscopic test. l. takes about lo1 pounds Of this 96 degree raw sugar to produce loo pounds Of fully refined sugar. Tn. existing tsrlf rate upon each pound Of sugar in the form consumed is esti- mated at 1.>S cents. Under the new tariff 10 be debated this rate would be raised,
 If the general sugar duty is 10 be raised to cents pound. and bearing m mind the 2e per cent reduction under the treaty with Cuba, the duty on raw sugar firm Cuba wuld be 2.4 cents pound This IS the figure that is indorsed by all the American sugar produ- cers. Beet sugar growers however want a higher Tate; and the power tul American Farm Bureau Fcder- alton wants duty of sig cents d pound on ss degree Cuban sugar Sugar from Porto Rico. Hawaii and the Philippines Is admitted free Of duty. But the plan of the demes- tic sugar prducers in the continen. tai United States is that such duty free sugar from the Philippines be strictly limited. This plan is not like ly 10 succeed. and indeed, was given short shift in the ways and means committee of the House
 Behind the sc' nes is a clash of CUbaU and Philippine sugar inter. ts' Last year S."9 per cent O. the sugar imported by tho United State, came from the Philippines. In l919 the imports from the Philippines was only 1.7s per cent. Philippine sugar interests. therefore. are well satisfied 10 sec higher duties placed upon the Cuban product, feeling certain that this will help the Phil Ippine industry provided no limita ton is likewise set upon Philppin, imports.
 The final determining influence ir the sugar tariff discussion will be tho American housewife. Is she inter cstcd in being taxed in order to ex, pand native sugar industry 1T which she has no interest? The do ''iNSNiN 'u sal iIlAu S1it " uS realize, proceeds under difficulties sugar is ErWn more easily ant cheaper in more temperate climates Why should she be taxed in erde to sustain species Of hothous, growth. even If it helps compara lively few Americans?
 The tariff is a great system unti it hits the pecketbook in a way l. be notice&bl Then it doean't pleas everybody. And that is why the taril on sugar is going to attract nor attention than any other rate; an, tinkering with the sugar schedule will prove a greater source of worr to politicians than anything else O the list. The women, by the xs, have votes.