Omaha daily bee., 1917-12-26

HOW PRICE KEPT DOWN. (
The statement contains the food ad-
ministrator's reply to charges made
before the committee by Claus
Spreckels, president of the Federal
Refining company, that the sugar sit
uation was mismanaged, and sets forth
in detail the administrations efforts to
keep sugar prices down while supply
ing large quantities to the allies.
The committee, of which Senator
Reed is chairman, not only had re-
fused to make the statement part of
the congressional regard, but has de-
clined thus far to permit Hoover TO
take the stand to answer Spreckles'
charges. When the hearing is re-
sumed Friday, however, 1t Ia under
stood, Mr.. Hoover will be permitted
to tell his story.
MUCH FROM WEST.
At the outset the statement presents
the worlds sugar situationas it existed
prior to the European war;, The allies
then produced much of their own sup~
plies 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.
Thai" says the food administrator.
us the cause of the sugar shortage;
and nothing else"
The statement says the food adj
ministration has handled the situation
with view to sustaining the morale
of France aud England, where the
sugar ration has been extremely low
for months. and at the same time pre-
venting jump in price to 20 to Is
cents here.
Many Tons to Europe.
Since the food administration was
created in August the United States
has exported to the allies ll0,Sso tons
of refined sugar and in the. same
period Cuba has shipped to Europe
246, l33 tons of raw product.
This, it is declared, is just the
amount of the shortage in the United
States. Even with these shipments,
it is pointed out, the supply in Eng
land aud France has been inadequate.
Consumption in England has been re-
duced. to "a pounds year for each
person and in France to Ia pounds.
against a consumption in America of
S. pounds. =
To Continue Year More.
The shortage, the food admins.
traitor declares, will continue during
next year as it is the duty of the
United States to continue to feed the
allies.
Next year." he says, "our supple.
will be short 250,000 to 100000 tons
unless the allies go to Java for sup
plies. This amounts to an economy
of about 10 per cent on our part. If
the allies arc forced to go to Java it
will require an extra amount of ship
ping which if used to transport troops
will move 10000 or 100000 Ameri-
can soldiers to France.
Statements that there will be an
abundance OF sugar next year are be-
lieved by the American public it will
do this country's war efforts incalcui-
able harm. The number of troops
we can send across is limited. If we
in our greed and gluttony force the
allies either TO reduce their ration or
TO go to remote markets after sugar
we will have done Tremendous DAM
age to our abilities to win the war;"
No Stocks Hoarded.
Charges that the food administra.
tion has permitted sugar stocks to
remain in parts of the country un-
moved are denied, as are statements
that sugar was left in Cuba while an
effort was made 10 beat down Cuban
prices.
There are no sugar stocks in this
country" it is declared, which are
not in course of distribution. Some
10000 tons held up by the embargo
have been released for American
consumption. All but trivial
amount OF Cuban sugar has been ex-
ported either to the allies or to the
United States. This is shown in a
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