The Washington herald., 1917-10-30
WILL RELEASE
TONS OF SUGAR
Sweets to Be Cheaper Ow-
ing to Cooperation
of ReGners.

which will be Immediately utilized by
the refiners. Washington announces
that this food administration action
will the cooperation Of the sugar
producers and rehners will put an
md to the somewhat alarming short
age Of sugar in the United States,
and the very high price that has
been Of late charged for sugar.
But perhaps the most interesting
feature and to the consumer the most
important of this cooperation is to
be found In the fact that it makes
possible such restraint upon greedy
or prodteering retailers as will en-
able the consumer to buy sugar for
from ten to eleven cents a pound.
The problem Of reaching the re-
taller has been one OF the most dif-
ncult for the food administrators, ma
theless within a few days 1t has been
with respect to one importan food
commodity, solved In New York
State. This has been accomplished by
private or individual action which in
financial responsibility aggrgating
two hundred and nifty thousand dol
lars.
In the spring when New York State
farmers were seriously concerned lest
suficient amount OF seed potatoes,
George W. Perkins, upon his own re-
sponsfoility and presumably relying
upon his financial resources. bought
many carloads of seed potatoes in
Maine. These were shipped to New
York and almost all OF them TO that
agricultural section of the State which
in the past has been conspicuous for
its success in raising potatoes.
Perkins caused contracts to be
drafted whereby he pledged himself
to buy all OF the potatoes raised from
this seed and to pay the farmers 81
a bushel for them. There was an al
tentative contract which provided
that Mr.. Perkins would pay 30 cents
a bushel for the potatoes and in addi-
tion would pay to the farmers 80 per
cent Of the increase in the market
price OF potatoes over 90 cents.
They Chose Dollar Bargain.
without exception the New York
State farmers who availed themselves
of this shipment Of Maine seed pota-
toes accepted the contract by which
Perkins pledged himself to pay 81 a
bushel for the potatoes. There re-
manned the cultivation and then the
marketing OF the potatoes. 1t was the
wish OF Mr.. Perkins that the whole
transaction should be so carried out as
to make the farmers content with the
money they received for their potatoes.
and on the other hand to give the con-
sumers qualification at the reasonable
price at which they were marketed.
So, also. the reasonable interest OF the
retailers was considered.
The farmers harvester a very fine
crop OF potatoes. When a large crop
was assured several men who in the
past have been made a speciality OF
buying from the farmers their potato
crops and in boarding the potatoes or
in storing them and so manipulatin-
the markets that a very high price
would be obtained for them, thought
1t worth while to come to New York
and make propositions to Mr.. Per-
kins that they would take the con-
tract OF his hands. These men rep
resented the kind OF speculation in
food products which in considerable
measure explains high prices. Per-
kins told these men that as he and
those associated with him had
handled the proposition thus far sat
tsfactory II was not necessary to call
in any outside aid.
Now carloads OF potatoes from the
great potato section in New York
State are reaching New York City
and other large markets in the State
The farmres are receiving or have re-
ceived spot cash for their potatoes
and many OF them have spoken Of
their satisfaction with the way the
contract has worked out. They were
able TO make a reasonable profit upon
the sale of their potatoes at one dol
lar q bushel.
Reaching the Retailers.
These potatoes when they reached
New York and other markets repre-
sented a cost including transportation
charges OF from SIS to s1.3O bushel.
Mr.. Perkins set in motion his plans
whereby the retailers could receive a
reasonable profit and at the same time
the consumers be content with the
price charged for the potatoes they
bought.
The retailers are able to buy these
Potatoes for about $3.50 a bushel, a
sum which covers the entire cost, in
cluding transportation. But they are
not to be permitted to buy unless they
pledge themselves that they will sell
the potatoes at about cents a pound
or u-s0 q busheL. In that way the re-
tsIlers will receive a profit of 50 cents
on each busheI while the consumer
will be compelled to pay only cents
a pound for his potatoes.
The entire transaction involves
financing aggregating about $2JO,O00.
There was no speculative or profit
making purpose in the plan. Mr..
Perkins simply received back the
large outlay he made in purchasing
these potatoes. But he has demon
strated by this comparatively large
transaction, first, that 1t is possible
for the farmers to receive prices for
their products that represent reason
able profits; in the second place that
the retailers can obtain these COM
modities and market them at a price
which will yield them fair profits and
in the third place the consumer will
be able to buy potatoes of the re-
taller at as low a price as three cents
q pound.
It remained for a public-spirited
citizen utilizing his own financial re-
sponsibility to make a demonstration
OF the fact that producers, retailers
and consumers can. under a we'll
regulated system, receive prices or
pay prices for commodities which are
satisfactory all around. The govern
ment at Washington Is preceding in
the treatment Of the sugar situation
upon similar plan and 1t may be
that the experience of this will show
how all classes, producers. retailers
and consumers can be abundantly
protected and how abnormal high