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| Nelson Dingley. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Monday, January 5, 1903.
BIG SUGAR WAR.
All the Nations Will be Forced to Engage in It.
DUTIES TO BE REMOVED FROM IT.
France to Set the Ball Rolling in September—Other European Nations Must Follow on—How it Will Affect the United States—The Kartel System—Legislation is Probable and Necessary.
Washington, Jan. 5.—A big sugar war is in prospect. It is no mere fight between rival companies that threatens, but a Titanic struggle in which all of the leading nations of Europe and the United States will be engaged.
The Action of France.
The first gun in the battle royal has already been fired by France. This government has just been notified that France has agreed to carry out the terms of the Brussels sugar convention. That convention decided that all bounties on the production for export of sugar should be abolished. Although the delegates were duly accredited it was necessary for the several governments participating in the conference to confirm the action taken by means of special legislation.
This France has now done. The chamber of deputies has already adopted a bill to abolish sugar bounties in that country and providing as compensation to the producers that the internal revenue tax on sugar shall be reduced from 60 francs to 25 francs. This bill will be passed by the French senate within a few days and become a law.
Other Nations to Follow.
There is no doubt that England, Germany, Holland, Italy and Belgium will shortly take similar action confirming the decision of the Brussels conference. Russia, which was not represented there, and Austria whose delegates were in attendance, are now engaged in a desperate effort to find some way of meeting the conditions that will then arise. It is believed that both will finally be forced into line to avoid the countervailing duties that will otherwise be imposed upon their sugars, but it will probably mean the destruction of the sugar industry in Austria.
Effect in United States.
The point that is of particular interest to the United States sugar producers from cane or beet, is that as soon as the new order of things goes into effect, and no more bounties are paid on sugar by the European countries, that section of the Dingley tariff law which authorizes the imposition of countervailing duties on bounty fed sugar imported into this country will become obsolete. Without additional legislation to keep it out, the doors of this country will be opened to a flood of European sugar estimated at 1,500,000 tons annually.
To the sugar trust, so long as the differential duty on relined sugar is retained, this would mean increased profits to the extent of 12 1/2 cents on every hundred pounds of raw sugar admitted. But to the cane sugar growers of Louisiana and the beet sugar producers of the West, it would mean ruin because it would knock the bottom out of prices.
The Kartel System.
In the meantime the European sugar growers are preparing to safeguard themselves by an extension of the Kartel system which is already in successful operation in Germany, Austria and Belgium.
The Kartel concentrates in a few hands the control of all the sugar produced in the country in which it operates. It maintains the prices in the home market in excess of the natural or actual value of the product. By running their refineries all the year round the refiners can lessen the cost of production, but it is necessary to secure a market for the product. Accordingly they agree among themselves to hold up the home prices and allow those refiners who can best do so, to export their product and the difference between the export price and the unnatural forced home price is divided so as to give all a profit.
Condition, Not a Theory.
The Brussels convention fixed the date at which bounties should cease in September of 1903. The sugar producers of the United States will then be face to face with a condition that will threaten their very existence. The Kartel system cannot be reached by existing legislation because it is purely an individual or corporate scheme without assistance from the government of the country in which it operates. The countervailing duties of the Dingley act can only be imposed upon sugars that are produced or exported under the stimulus of government bounties.
There is no doubt, therefore, that sugar legislation will be an important subject for discussion and action in the next congress. This will be especially necessary if the Cuban reciprocity treaty and the bill reducing the tariff on products of the Philippine islands become laws in the meantime.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
The Railroads in 1902.
During 1902, according to the compilations of the ''Railway Age,'' 5,549 miles of track were laid on 349 lines of railroad in forty-four states and territories, exclusive of second track and sidings. New construction was largest in Indian territory, 540 miles; Oklahoma, 532; Texas, 479; New Mexico, 357, and Arkansas. 307. The states west of the Mississippi river built 3,800 miles, which is more than two-thirds of the grand total, and the states south of the Ohio [river] and east of the Mississippi added 848 miles, leaving only a little over 900 miles to be credited to all of the states north of the Ohio and east of the Mississippi. The only states reporting no new mileage are: New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware, Idaho and Wyoming, although Maryland, Vermont and Massachusetts show only 4 miles each.
New construction in recent years has been as follows:
The main line mileage of the country at tbe close of 1901 was 198,787 miles: at the end of 1902, 204,336 miles. The mileage of Great Britain, Europe and Asia combined is 208,560.
Four railroads went into hands of receivers in 1901 and five in 1902. There has been a rapid decrease since 1893, when there were seventy-four receiverships.
The ''Railway Age'' has compiled from its weekly records a statement showing that during the year 1902 orders were placed for the building of 185,000 freight cars, 4,700 locomotives and 2,700 passenger equipment cars of the various classes, including baggage, mail, and express. A corresponding record published on Jan. 3, 1902, showed totals of 193,000 freight cars, 4,340 locomotives, and 2,879 passenger cars. An extraordinary business is in sight for the railroads in 1903, and their demands upon car-builders will be very heavy. The demand for materials and structural material of all kinds will be heavy, also.
Cortland County Judge Joseph E. Eggleston.
KIEHL CASES GALORE.
Three Proceedings Simultaneously Put on For Today.
TWO ARE NOW TAKING A RECESS.
Case Before the Grand Jury is the Only One Now Moving Forward—Coroner Santee Rests to Await Outcome of Certiorari Arguments—Mrs. Fenner Now Included in the Latter.
The Kiehl murder case was pending in three courts today. The examination of Mrs. Fenner and Mrs. Kiehl before Coroner E. M. Santee, acting as a magistrate, was resumed this morning. District Attorney T. H. Dowd presented the matter to the grand jury, and the writ of certiorari, by which Attorney R. L. Davis hopes to secure the release of his clients, is still before Judge J. E. Eggleston.
At the conclusion of the reading of the evidence that was taken at the inquest Coroner Santee this morning adjourned the examination until after Judge Eggleston had decided in the matter of releasing the prisoners.
A writ of certiorari was served upon Sheriff A. R. Overton last evening to show cause why Mrs. Addie Fenner should be detained in the county jail. This was issued by Judge Eggleston and was made returnable at 9 o'clock this morning. In the chambers of the court this morning the writ was made returnable at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning, the same time that the one which was obtained for Mrs. Kiehl was set down for.
As a result the grand jury case is the only one now proceeding.
ALLEN'S AUCTION HOUSE
To be Closed Out When the Lease Expires.
Geo. W. Allen, who for a number of years has conducted an auction house and secondhand store on South Main-st., is making arrangements to close out his business and will give up possession of the premises April 1. His lease expires at that time and Allen has decided to change his location and will probably remove his business to some other place than Cortland or close it out altogether and go on the road for a nursery firm with which he was formerly connected.
Shy of Judge Dougherty.
This is the fifth day of the administration of Attorney James Dougherty as city judge of Cortland, and thus far there has not been a single case for him to decide upon. It is evident that each of the law breakers is standing back to see what the new official is going to do with the other fellow before he cares to face the tribunal.
Brother of S. J. Parmiter.
Mr. W. A. Parmiter of Groton, a brother of Mr. S. J. Parmiter of this city, died at his home yesterday afternoon at about 5 o'clock, aged 66 years, 11 months and 15 days. The remains were brought to Cortland yesterday, and the funeral was held from Mr. S. J. Parmiter's home at 2:30 o'clock today.
Funeral of Mrs. Riley.
The funeral of Mrs. Ann Riley was held this morning at 9 o'clock from the home of her daughter, Mrs. Daniel Keenan, and from St. Mary's church at 9:30 o'clock. Rev. John J. McLoghlin officiated and in his remarks alluded most touchingly to the beautiful Christian principles which guided the life which has just departed. The funeral was very largely attended by friends and relatives. Among those present from out of town were Mr. Edward Moran and Mrs. Martin McDonald of Hamilton, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Burns, Mrs. Perry Macksey, Mrs. John Kelley and daughter Mary, Mr. Jerry Holy and Mr. James Gaffney of Sherburne, Messrs. Michael and Thomas McAuliffe of Syracuse, Mrs. George Wells of Utica and Mr. and Mrs. John McAuliffe and Mr. and Mrs. John O'Connor of Truxton.
Automobile in Watertown, N. Y.
Watertown City lodge, No. 291, I. O. O. F. of Watertown will give away a $650 automobile during a fair that is to be held in that place from Feb, 2 to 15, and several Cortland lodge men and others are interested in its disposal. G. W. Chalfant of this city is a member of the Watertown lodge.
Death of Mrs. Boyd.
Mrs. Jane H. Boyd died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. J. E. Perry, 37 Grant-st., at 1 o'clock this morning, aged 76 years. The funeral will be held from the daughter's home at 2:30 o'clock tomorrow afternoon. Burial will be made in Cortland.
Death of Harvey Sholes.
Harvey Sholes, an aged resident of Blodgett Mills, died at his home in that place last Saturday. The funeral will be held in Blodgett Mills tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.
BREVITIES.
—A regular meeting of the W. R. C. will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock.
—The Normal school and the city schools opened this morning after the Holiday vacations.
—It is expected that Ithaca's federal building will be ready for occupancy in the spring of 1904.—Ithaca Journal.
—A special meeting of the L. O. T. M. will be held in Red Men's hall at 7:30 this evening. A drill will follow the meeting.
—William Welsh has purchased the farm owned by the late V. D. Crandall, located on Locust-ave. near Wickwire roller mills.
—The N. P. L. will meet at 7:30 o'clock tomorrow night at Good Templars' hall. Special business of importance will be presented.
—Twenty-six new houses are to be erected upon the Cornell Heights tract at Ithaca in the spring. That is rapidly getting to be the fashionable part of that city.
—The new display advertisements today are—M. W. Giles, Inventory sale, page 7; Warren, Tanner & Co., Ladies' underwear sale, page 5; G. H. Wiltsie, Ginghams, etc., page 5; McGraw & Elliott, "North Wind cream." page 4.
—Cortlandville lodge, No. 170, F. & A. M. will confer the first degree in full form at its regular communication Tuesday evening at 7:30 o'clock. After conferring the degree refreshments will be served by the newly chosen officers.
—The attorney for Harlow Casar of Peruville who was sentenced to Auburn prison for attempting to blackmail $12,000 out of Hon. Benn Conger of Groton, is preparing the papers for an appeal and is confident of a reversal of the judgment of conviction.
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