The Sentinel=record., 1917-12-26

nefe are no sugar stocks in thus country it is declared, which are not in course of distribution. Some 10000 tons held up by the embargo have been released for American con sumption All but a trivial amount of Cuban sugar has been exported either to the allies or to the United States. This is shown by the report from the American consul general in Cuba"
 As to the fixing of sugar prices. the food administrator has this to say:
 'In order to prevent profiteering ont of the situation, the food admins tration considered strong action was necessary and imposed a maximum profit on refiners and wholesalers The refiners' margin was $L84 per hundred the nine months before the ood administration came into exist ence; it was reduced to $l30 and a saving of more than $25,O0O, 900 per annum was effected.
 'As a further precaution against profiteering, the administration ob- tained a voluntary agreement with the beet sugar factories that they would not sell sugar at more than $7.25 a hundred pounds seaboard. Some who already had contracted at $9 rescind- ed their contracts. This was followed by similar agreements as to Louisiana, Cuban and Hawaiian arrivals.
 "The net results of these voluntary agreements was to reduce the ruling price of sugar 1 3-4 cents west of the Mississippi and north of the Ohio, and 1 cent on the Atlantic. Had these ar Judgements not been made, sugar would have risen to 25 or 90 cents a ITound.
 "Numerous prosecutions have been started against firms which have sold sugar at prices of 15 and 20 cents. "The consumers sugar bill, from the time restraints were imposed un- til January l, will be about $lS0, ,000.- 000 Every cent rise means about 1 $1S,000O00. Twenty cent sugar would have meant about $lS0000,OO0 prof. iteered from the American consumer There was no other way under the law to prevent protiteering except by vol untary agreement, us the food bill car ried no power to dix prices. These laereemelts have of necessity been made with the old manufacturers in- eluding the sugar trust.
 Independent refiners are repre- scented by majority on a committee whose duty 1t is 70 divide the imported
 sugar between all equally. This com mittee has no price fixing power. It has solely to do with distribution The independent refiners who have lteen fighting the trust for years could
 he depended upon to watch for any lunfair action.
 An appeal 10 prejudice has been
 made because the Cuban price is about &4 cents above that which prevailed
 in 1917, prior to September 1. It was
 said in effect that the Cubans are al our mercy, that we could get sugar one cent lower. We made an exhaust i've study of the cost of producing sugar in Cuba last year through our own agents in Cuba. We found that an average profit of at least one cent a pound was necessary in order to maintain and stimulate production or that a minimum price of $4.37 was 1 necessary and even this would stifle 1 some producers. The price ultimate iy agreed upon was 23 cents above ] hese figures or about One-fifth of 1 a cent per pound to the American con 1 sumner and more than this amount has l been saved by our reduction in re- | liners profits, and in net results sugar ! would be one cent cheaper to the Al lantic consumer next year than now.
 If we wish to stifle production in l Cuba we coull take that course just at time of all times in our history when we want production for our selves and the allies. Further than l flat, such a course would produce dis lturbances in Cuba and destroy even | our present supplies -but beyond all ] these material reasons is one of hu- man justice. This great country has l no IlBNL ny tue NiAbHb VI A'N 4'N'iNA0A' | to strangle Cuba
 The statement recounts the food administration to reduce consump- | ton to avert the shortage which was foreseen in the summer
 The fo l adUm.stfation has con- ,l,.ted .vstemaut tampaien for the lredecion of individual consumption" J says the statement The reduction ] has shown in the decrease in candy sales. etc.. but on The other hand a
 similar campaign 1or the preservation of fruit has increas cd The consumption in that direction
 Taking into consideration all factors il is not certain that there has been any increase m actual consumption,
 and considering the increase in the
 canning use there may have a de-
 crease
 Mir. Hoover emphatically denies the
 charge that Mr. Rolph endeavored to Itenedt the California refinery oi which he is head, through the ar
 rangement of he Cuban price.
 NEW DIRT TRACK RECORD.