Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-10-09


In brief. the cane sugar producers
are prepared to contend that as mat
tiers now stand, a nOn-prOduCirg Gle.
ment OF the sugar industry has been
placed in a virtual domination OF the
producing interests. This. the cane
growers believe, might spell practical
ruin to the Cuban producers, whose
desire to do their bit" in meeting
the allies war demands for sugar has
imposed financial burdens already
great, in preparation for :. 1918 rec
ord crop of around $500, 900 long tons.
1t is understood that the Cuban com
mission will show Mr.. Hoover and
his associates that despite strenuous
efforts by President MenoCel and the
Cuban governme.-t, and the voluntary
REIMBURSEMENT of any excess war
profits by/all Cuban cane growers,
the present price of Cuban raw sugar
is not only justified, but will be es-
sential to the salvation of the grow
ers from business disaster.
A remedy is available, however, to
protect the American and other allied
consumers, and tn. lies, the commits
sion is convinced, in federal investl-
CATION and revision downward of the
refner's extravagant profits. 1t is
understood likewise that the cane
growers of Louisiana, Porto Rico, Ha-
waii and the Philippines are pre-.
pared to support the Cuban planta-
ton owners in this connection. Sen
ator Broussard of Louisiana likewise
has compiled statistics which he says
shows beyond question that the blame
for high sugar profits rests solely on
the refining interests.
Several days will be required by
the Cubans to present their informa
ton TO Mr.. Hoover 1t is unofficially
asserted that among the interesting
facts hitherto not made public re-
garding sugar price control are the
following:
/. Western beet sugar interests
which pledged their crop to the
food administration at 1925 cents
had made prior contracts with
beet growers which, if enforced,
will cause a heavy loss to them.
2. Whereas the cost of produc-
ing sugar from cane has risen to
record heights, and the profit to
Louisiana and Cuban plantation
owners has been proportionately
reduced, the refiners today are
making a greater net profit from
the consumer than at any time
in recent history.
5. The offer of the reiiners to
Mr.. Hoover to guarantee the sup
ply of 100000 tons Of sugar
month for the use Of the army
and navy, was made at a time
when. the refiners were behind
as much as five weeks in their
trade deliveries.
4. The offer likewise was made
by signers who do not produce
a pound of sugar in a year, but
simply are middlemen, occupying
a quasi.parasitical, position eco,
nomically.
5. The closing of the New York
sugar exchange, designed to cur
tail unwarranted speculation, in
reality has placed the cane sugar
growers at the mercy Of the re-
finers' buying clique which, while
practically debating the price it
shall pay for raw sugar cane, still
gains inflated profits on the re-
fined product.
Inasmuch as prior to today, the
Cuban cane producers have been
handicapped in not having had a
voice in the conferences that led to
their present crisis, it is believed
here that a readjustment will ensue,
now that they are having their day
in court Despite the pessimistic
outlook, the Cuban cane growers at
titude is said to be tina. of I'm.
qualified loyalty tt the United States
government as Cuba's ally and friend,
and they are convinced that the food
administration will take any justified
steps to curtail the refiner's war
profits, before any further move is
made which would tend II unstable
ize and jeopardize Cuba's economic
position as the principal reliance Of
the allies for their sugar supply.
NEW YORK, n. Y, Oct. 9.-Cuban
sugar planters are far from satisfied
with the price for raw cane sugar set
by the sugar commission of the food
control administration.
Representatives of the leading Gu
ban sugar companies met and con-
ferred here yesterday. 1t was deter.
mined to send a delegation to Wash
ington to confer with the food admin
istration, the national sugar commit
tee and the international commission
and seek to obtain concession which