Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-09-12
THE OUTLOOK FOR SUGAR CONTROL.
Facts About Sugar !


Enough has become known Of the plans and pur-
poses of Food Administrator Hoover make it evi-
dent that sugar is of the commodities hat is to
be subject to very complete measure Of control
from now until the termination of the The
suspension of trading i'll futures and the arrange
ment for providing sugar to meet the needs of the
army and navy only the first steps in we'll
defined plan of procedure that is likely to be ear
ried forward until every movement in the progress
of sugar from the mill factory of the producer
to the retail shop supplying the consumer is made
the subject of strict surveillance and regulation.
This condition was forecast in these columns long
before the food control bill became law. 1t was
pointed out that Mr.. Hoover was firmly convinced.
as result of his experiences in Europe, that the
two most urgent food requirements of tie Allied
nations were first wheat and second sugar To sat
sfy these needs fully as possible, without injury
to the American consumer became immediate OBJ
jects of his soliciude upon his appointment as the
executive of the food administration. 1t has been
a hard matter for some of those engaged in the
sugar trade to bring themselves to realization that
the control of distribution, of prices, and of profits
was to be translated from subject of abstract
discussion to thoroughly concrete reality. Some
few seem unable to grasp the fact now, but it
unquestionably will be the part of wisdom for them
to prepare to adjust themselves to conditions under
which the entire movement of sugar from the pro-
ducer to the will be marked by very thor
ough supervision.
One of the early objects to receive the attention
of the food administration in dealing with the
sugar situation undoubtedly will be the elimina-
ton of competition among representatives of the
American sugar trade and buyers for the Allied
nations in purchases of supplies. The powers re-
posed in the food administrator, his position as ad
visor in food matters to the exports council and the
ready cooperation certain to be extended by the
agents of the Allied nations engaged in sugar buy
ing will make this matter of great difficulty.
A following step that possibly may next be taken
may be an endeavor to stabilize sugar prices-to
provide for a uniform and unvaryng scale of prices
for sugar at each point in it's movement from pro-
ducer to consumer. Voluntary agreement among
the various interests engaged in production and dis
j tribution, or between them and the food admins
tration, probably will be the means by which this
will be sought to be accomplished. The prompt and
hearty cooperation displayed by the various
branches of the sugar industry in complying with
every request and suggestion advanced by the food
administration thus far makes it reasonable to as
sumo that this method will be relied upon in what
ever further steps undertaken.
i 1t is quite within the range of possibility that
sooner later the licensing system authorized by
the food control law may be applied to sugar. This
is not anticipated because Of any expectation that
there will be dimnuton of the present readiness
on the part of those engaged in the sugar industry
to cooperate in fulfilling every reasonable request,
but merely because it will supply a simple and
ready means of assuring uniformity. Thus far there
has appeared no evidence of disposition on the
part of representatives of the food administration
to act oppressvely in applying the law nor of any
a0n6 in no indu Strv
to take undue advantage of the present unusual sit
uation. 1t is to be hoped that this Prevailing atti
Itude will be maintained on both sides.