Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-26
HOOVER RECITAL
IS MADE PUBLIC
Statement Concerning Sugar
Shortage Issued From the
White House.
STRICT ECONOMY NECESSARY
American Gluttony Must Be
Curbed or Country's War Eff
forts Will Suffer Harm.
ECONOMY NECESSARY
By Associated Press.

WASHINGTON, December 2J.-Food
Administrator Iioover's statement on
the sugar situation. which he tried un-
successfully 20 get before the senate
committee investigating the sugar
shortage, was made public to-uigh, at
the White House. 1t attributes the
shortage here to the heavy movement
OF sugar from the Western Hem
isphere to Europe. and asserts that
without tho fixing OF prices by agree
ment sugar would have been selling
for % or 80 cents a pound, and more
than $500. 600 probably would have
been pro:!tccred from the American
people by this time.
The statement contains the food ad-
!ninistrator's reply 20 charges made be-
fore tho committee by Claus Spreckels.
pres!den; OF the Federal Refining Com
pany. that the sugar situation was
misnanaged. and sets forth in detail the
administrators efforts TO keep sugar
prices down while supplying large
quantities 10 the allies.
The committee, OF which Senator
Reed is chairman. no, only had refused
10 make the statement a part Of the
ConCressions! Record. but has declined
thus far 10 permit Hoover to take the
stand 10 answer Spreckcls's charges.
When the hearing IS resumed Friday,
however. II is understood. Mr.. Hoover
Will be permitted 10 tell his story
Al the outset the statement presents
the world situation as it existed prior
TO the European war. The allies then
produced much OF their own supplies
and purchased the remainder from
Germany. Before the war they took
only 100000 tons annually from the
western Hemisphere. This year they
have taken 100000 tons
That" says the food administra-
tor. is the cause OF the sugar short
asc, and nothing else"
HANDLED WITH IDEA OF
MAINTAINISG SUGAR MORALE
The statement says the food admin
!E:ration has handled the situation
with view OF sustaining tho morale
OF France and England, where the
sugar ration has been extremely low
Tor months. and At the same time pre-
venting jump in price TO 20 or 20
cents here.
Since the food administration was
created. in August. the United states
has exported TO the allies ll0,S56 tons
period Cuba has shipped to Europe
2f6.i35 tons OF raw product. This. il
Is declared. is just the amount of the
shortage in the United States.
Even with these shipments. i: is
pointed out, the supply in England and
France has hecn inadequate. Consump-
ton in England is twenty-four pounds
a year for each person; in France four
teen. against II consumption in America
o. iifty-!ive pounds.
The shortage. the food administrator
declares. Will continue during next
year as ii is the duty OF the United
states TO continue to feed the allies.
Next year. the statement says. Amer
lean supplies will he short 10000 to
100000 tons unless the allies so 10 Java
for supplies. which would require an
extra amount of shipping sufficient TO
transport 10000 or 100000 American
soldiers to France
III statements that there Will be an
abundance OF sugar next year arc be
ieved by the American public the
statement says. 1t will do this coun-
try's war efforts incalcuiablc harm. The
number OF troops we can send across
is limited II wc. in our greed and
giuttony. force the allies either to re-
ducc their ration OF to go TO remote
markets after sugar. We will have done
tremendous damage 20 our abilities TO
win tho war"
DENIES STOCKS REMAIN
UNNONI:D IN COUNTRY
Charges that tho food administration
has permitted sugar stocks to remain
in parts of the country unmovcd arc
denied, as arc statcmonts that sugar
was left in Cuba while an effort was
made u beat down cuban prices.
AS to tho iXjnE of sugar prices the
food administration has this TO say:
In order to prevent proftccriuE out
OF the situation, the food administra-
tion considered strong action was nee.
cssary. and imposed a maximum profit
on rctincrs and Wholesalers The re-
fincrs' margin was Sl.S4 per hundred
the nins months before the food ad-
ministration came into existence; il
was reduced 10 $3.50. and II saving OF
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