Show Sweet Fight in Order as Rival Sugar Interests War far Over Tariff By RODNEY DUTCHER NEA Service Writer Writer- WASHINGTON WASHINGTON-W When WASHINGTON W hen r e n rival sugar interests get to warring over the tariff tart Its It's a sweet fight They They're re redoing doing that now and the ramifications are as thick as p petals als on 0 a chrysanthemum beet interests supported sup sup- The be beet t sugar ported by the Louisiana cane sugar interests demand a higher tariff on Cuban sugar The duty there now now stands at 1 76 cents a a. pound lOund and anything between 2 and 3 cents would satisfy the domestic producers producers pro pro- American companies raising sugar In Cuba whence whence comes come 50 per cent of ot the sugar America eats are working with the Cuban Cuba government government gov gov- against a boost and have I even applied for tor a reduction Both rival groups would like Uke to I sock the Filipinos by restricting I free duty Imports of ot Philippine I sugar to or BOO tons a year ear Congressman TImberlake ot of i Colorado has Introduced a bill to to limit them to The Filipinos say that in case of such a restriction they must have Independence and if it they arent aren't r re restricted restricted re- re nat naturally rallY would be quite happy along with the beet people to see a higher duty slapped on sugar from Cuba The rhe battle is being fought out both in the open and under cover Somehow al all the conflicting Interests interests interests inter Inter- ests have come together under the roof root of the National Press Club building which is perhaps as good gooda a place as any foni t om ont wh which ch to to fire publicity barrages The United States Sugar association association association asso asso- a dollar billion combination tion of ot 25 American and Cuban companies has its main mail offices uptown uptown up up- town but has opened publicity headquarters in In 11 the Press build build- ing The rhe U U. S S. S Beet SUg Sugar r association association asso asso- clation has a sumptuous suite on the s same ime floor noor The Domestic Sugar Producers' Producers association has elaborately furnished on the floor below and the Philippine press bureau n now vitally interested interested interested inter inter- ested in both sugar and independence independence dence functions on on the floor above The Th big tariff tart fight of ot course concerns Cuban sugar The U U. S S. S Sl Su Star association ar says the present duty rate is equivalent to 93 per percent percent cent ad valorem far higher than that on any other common food item and an Import imports nt nt factor In the annual national sugar bill of t Cuba already receives a preferential rate But being a a. theoretically sovereign state she hasn't t the advantage advantage advantage ad ad- vantage of ot free trade as have Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii Ha Ha- the Philippines and Porto PortoRico Rico Rica Sugar m means ans so much to Cuba herself as well weIl as to the American Interests concerned that her government government government gov gov- has been making the most frantic efforts to prevent what might be a domestic deb debacle cle if if the duty on It were raised I She She- has offered to make tariff concessions on her Imports from the tho United States In return for an In Increase increase in- in crease of ot her present sugar tariff differential of 20 per cent to 40 percent per percent cent The sugar tariff is the worst of leer her troubles but she also worries worries wor wor- ries about possible Increases on to tob tobacco tobacco to- to b bacco co to say nothing of various minor minor minor mi mi- nor nor agricultural exports It IL is reported that Senator Smoot powerful chairman of the senate finance c committee and champion of the beet sugar in interests interests interests in- in rece recently sent word to Ambassador Ambassador Ambassador Am Am- Ferrara of Cuba warning him to make less noise Soon afterward aft- aft erward ld the ambassador left len for C Cuba ba President Hoover is said to f favor the position of ot the American American- Cuban Interests Interests' but with Smoot and the tho Filipinos on the other side silo he may decide to favor tavor a status quo quoi Politically it might be dangerous to antagonize Cuba The beet Interests demand tariff protection for a domestic industry and then in common common with the Cuban faction hasten to whoop against the Filipino menace They point out that the Philippines l I pro produced ro- ro 84 tons In 1904 and cent in increase increase increase in in- tons In 1928 a per crease and shudder at the thought that the Islands have less than 20 per cent of ot their good soil under under cultivation The Philippines are sending a boatload of ot their their most prominent officials politicians and business businessmen I Imen men to argue that tariff restrictions s on their products are unthinkable They are prepared to make the loudest squawk heard at the capItal capital capital capi capI- tal In fn modern times All Ail puns aside it Its ifs a a sweet Bwee fight tight |