Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12
HIGH SUGAR TARIFF
FOES HOLD FLOOR
But Proponents Find Outlook
for Vote on Tuesday Is
Encouraging.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Opponents of a higher sugar tariff
held full sway in the third day of de-
bate in the Senate yesterday on the
pending provision to raise the levy on
Cuban raws from 1.76 to 2.20 cents q
pound. The Democrats warned of the
probable effect in the next elections
If a higher duty Is granted.
Advocates of an increased tariff
however, began counting prospective
votes on the issue and found the out
look encouraging. A vote Is not ex-
pected before Tuesday. 81
Senator Harrison, Democrat, Missis-
sippi, whose substitute proposal to re-
tain the present rate is the pending
question, ripped into those favoring
higher duties. He cautioned that OPP
ponents in the coming primaries of
every Senator seeking reelection would
scan the votes OF these Senators on the
sugar question.
Characterizing the pending bill as
an Outrageous invasion of the homes
and happiness Of the American peo-
ple," Senator Copeland, Democrat, New
York. said IL would cost the consumers
large enough to maintain the beet-sugar
industry than to continue tariff rate
which Is out of reason"
Senator Borah Of Idaho, leader Of
the Republican Independents. has ad-
vanced the bounty idea tentatively, and
has said he would advocate it unless 1t
could be shown beyond doubt that q
higher tariff would benefit domestic
sugar interests. ~
La Toilette AssaiIs Smoot.
The only other participant in the
days debate was Senator La Toilette Of
Wisconsin, another Republican inde-
pendent leader and an opponent Of q
Smoot, Republican, Utah, for making
what he said was an erroneous" state
ment concerning report on agricul-
tural tariffs, including sugar. which
was made by three University OF Wis
consin professors Of economy.
Smoot had said that w. T. Raw
leigh, q Freeport, Ill, manufacturer,
and described as o "multi-millionaire
operating a tariff investigating bureau
In washington, had purchased the
services" of the three Professionalism
jamin H. Hubbard. Smoot had re-
sented their tariff report being "foisted"
on the people as an unbiased analy-
sis" and said inquiry had shown some
Of the conclusions Of the professors on
sugar were "idiotic errors"
La Toilette said these remarks came
with Ill grace" from Smoot, because
the three professors had received no
money for their study and reports and
were entirely free from outside pres
sure"
THESE three professors are economists
Of note in their respective fields of en-
deayor," he said, adding that their in
vestigations had been made impartially
and with a desire to get the facts ana
report them.
Pref. Rawleigh Unselfish.
He said Rawleigh. had supported the
progressive movement for years and
had supported the senior La Toilette in
his independent campaign for the presi-
dency in 1924, despite that the La Fol-
lette-Wheeler platform favored high in
come and inheritance taxes which
would have affected Rawleigh's interests.
Harrison said the domestic sugar In
terests were the most selfish" OF all
industries which have asked Congress
for higher tariffs.
IF certain captains OF sugar COM
panies in the United States would spend
one one-hundredth part of the time
back home trying to run their organiza-
tons efficiently and economically and
give them some good business advice
instead of remaining here in Washing
ton appealing constantly for increased
tariff rates, then business would be in
better shape probably than 1t Is today"
Consumers Pay Billions.
The Mississippian said the sugar
tariff in the last 20 years had cost the
American consumers nearly $4,000, 000,-
600. or more than twice as much as
Federal appropriations In that time for
all kinds of agricultural relief, including
road building.
eff I had my way" said Copeland,
"the sugar schedule would be recon-
mitted to the finance committee with
instructions to work out plan which
would reduce by at least 100000, 900
the anticipated tax upon sugar under
the present law, and to make up in a
bounty to the American producers a
sum sufficient to maintain existing in
terests but not SUFFICIENT to encourage
extension of an uneconomlc and unduly
expensive industry"
The New Yorker added there would
be greater resentment against this tax
upon sugar than any one item in this
outrageous bill"
TT is unthinksble that We shall meet
the wishes Of the majority Of the
finance committee" he continued. 1T
simply cannot be done. Already our
people are grooming under the burden
Of the taxation. To place tens Of mil
lions of dollars more upon their break
ing backs is a thing we must not con-
code for a Y,aouoenf +"