land market as a table honey in competition with the producers of that article there. The Hawaiian product does not come in competition with the table-honey trade of the mainland in any way, the entire product being shipped in bulk for the baking and confectionery trade. The matter of retaining, and if possible increasing, the present tariff of 20 cents per gallon, or 13 cents per pound, on honey directly interests every bee keeper in the United States, and the National Bee Keepers Association has passed resolutions to the effect that an aggressive effort should be made in this direction. At the annual meeting held in Detroit in October a separate resolution was also passed recommending further that a tariff of 10 cents per pound be placed on beeswax. Herewith I submit four tables, compiled by Dr. E. F. Phillips, in charge of apiculture, Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., which will give you all the available information concerning the imports and exports of honey and beeswax into and from the United States. On a separate sheet you will find the tariff schedules of honey and wax in the different laws. These tables tell exactly the sources of the honey and show also what country is our main competitor. The price given under "Imports" is the price at the port at which consigned. Freight rates from Cuba and other countries shipping honey to the United States can not be obtained, but the rates imposed on the Hawaiian producers are necessarily far in excess of the Cuban rates. It costs the Hawaiian producer not less than 1 cent per pound to market his honey. The cost of production is not less than 2 cents per pound, and the gross returns do not average more than 4 cents per pound. The honey industry is one that appeals to a man of small means. The product is not perishable and can be stored until a sufficient quantity is obtained to enable the producer to take advantage of the lower rates of freight that prevail for large shipments. It is an industry that can be carried on independently on a large scale, where the territory will permit, or one that can be taken up as a side issue in conjunction with other pursuits where the territory is limited. Not more than 60 per cent of the territory of these islands capable of offering pasturage for bees is now occupied by apiaries. The industry is being gradually developed and extended, but, as is the case with all minor industries, has met with many difficulties, and much experimental work has been necessary to determine the best methods of apiculture for the semitropical conditions met with in these islands. The Hawaiian Bee Keepers' Association feels that it is of paramount importance that no reduction in the honey tariff be made. The industry is one along the line that Congress has repeatedly urged those in authority in Hawaii to undertake, and every encouragement should be offered to those engaged in apiculture in Hawaii, to bring the industry to a permanent and profitable basis. Any reduction in the honey tariff would ruin the bee-keeping industry in Hawaii. Yours, very respect fully, D. L. VAN DINE, Secretary Hawaiian Bee Keepers' Association. Tariff schedules on honey and wax under the different laws. Imports of honey into the United States, 1901-1908, by countries from which a Custom-house returns of honey are given in gallons, assumed here to weigh 12 pounds. Imports of honey into the United States are subject to a specific duty. Values. The values of all imported articles, whether subject to ad valorem or specific duties or free of duty, are regulated by the act of Congress of June 10, 1890. The actual market value or wholesale price of such merchandise as bought and sold in usual wholesale quantities at the time of exportation to the United States in the principal markets of the country from whence imported, and in the condition in which such merchandise is there bought for exportation to the United States or consigned to the United States for sale, including the value of all cartons, cases, crates, boxes, sacks, and coverings of any kind, and all other costs, charges, and expenses incident to placing the merchandise in condition ready for shipment to the United States. Valuation deceptions. The value of imported articles subject to ad valorem duties is believed to be determined with more accuracy, according to the legal method of valuation, than other imports, with specific duties or free, and exported articles. The valuations of dutiable imports and of exports dutiable in foreign countries tend to understatement, and the valuations of imports that are free of duty are often inflated for the purpose of trade deception. countries. EXHIBIT B. Imports of beeswax into the United States, 1901-1908, by countries from which • Imports of beeswax into the United States are free of duty. Values. The values of all imported articles, whether subject to ad valorem or specific duties or free of duty, are defined by the act of Congress of June 10, 1890, as The actual market value or wholesale price of such merchandise as bought and sold in usual wholesale quantities at the time of exportation to the United States in the principal markets of the country from which imported, and in the condition in which such merchandise is there bought for exportation to the United States or consigned to the United States for sale, including the value of all cartons, cases, crates, boxes, sacks, and coverings of any kind, and all other costs, charges, and expenses incident to placing the merchandise in condition ready for shipment to the United States. Valuation deceptions.-The value of imported articles subject to ad valorem duties is believed to be determined with more accuracy, according to the legal method of valuation, than the value of imports with specific duties or free of duty or the value of exported articles; the valuations of dutiable imports and of exports dutiable in foreign countries tend to understatement, and the valuations of imports that are free of duty are liable to inflation for the purpose of trade deception. |