The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-12-14
BLAME HOOVER
FOR SHORTAGE
OF u. s. SUGAR
u United prcs. Leased Wire

MASni Dec. IL
Herbert Uoovrr's administration
was blamed by Claus spreckies
today for the sugar famine In
the United States.
Tcstifylng before the senate
sugar coal investigating commit
tee. Spreckels. leading indopcnd.
ent. stated that the food admin.
isiration had tied the hands Of
American rrfiDers by nm agree
ment which prevents their get
ting sugar To refine.
Chairman Reed. early IN todn 3 n
hearing. brought out the following
facts
There In no worlds shortage this
years crop W larger than lnnt years
the food administration made Ameri.
can refinerH agree not 90 import any
sugar. other countries have de.
creased their sugar consumption.
England and France 90 per cent.
sugar has been diverted 10 other
countries right thru the United
States. tho American Sugar Refining
Co. known as tho sugar trust. con,
truis nine-tonths Of tho output In this
country"
Sugar Gone Now
Gould you get sugar today 20 run
your factoryT" asked Kenyon.
mo. the sugar has been diverted. -
replied spreckela. we were anxious
10 pay tho price. but the food nd
niniarhtion would not let ua. NJ
refinery In not running now. II has
no sugar 20 refine We had an op.
portuniiy 60 buy sugar IN October
ana September. but the agreement
with tho food administration forbade
our buying H. Then some Of the
sugar wrnt 20 Canada II went right
thru New York"
Hoover was represented nj the SEES.
sion by Curtis II. i.indioy chief coun.
eel FOR tho food administration.
Chairman Reed explained at the out.
act that tho committee would decide
later whether Hoover would h. per
United 20 cross examine witnesses.
Iioov-r's Warning Read
S~eking 90 learn why Hoover re-.
Htricted importation Of sugar. Reed
read a statement made last May by
Hoover that FERROUS sugar short.
age was imminent unless the supply
was conserved This statement.
made last May. estimated the sugar
crop for i9i6lT would be i.a5o. 900
tons below that Of tho preceding
year.
AS a matter of fact. the crop was
IN exce@n OF the year before" said
sprcckclH
Rolph Had II soft
Sprcckels Naid rcfinerR Rt first re
fused 20 sign tho non importation
agreement. which included fixing OF
the price 20 the public
We had Is meetings with tho food
before the rrfincrs
signed tho agreement" said sprcck.
els
Sprcckcir stated that George NJ
holph. tho San Francisco sugar re
finer. who In one OF three American
-iemborH OF tho International sugar
named by Hoover. had
for the entire output OF
Hawaiian plantations.
His price OF IS cents less a hun.
crcd pounds than any price for i'm.
ported sugar. gave Rolph an advan-
taFc Of $500 900 year over us. his
riNals. said Sprcckcls
Would Have Paid More
The other members % the interna-
tional committee. Englishmen. had
no part In fixing a price for Porto
Hlcan sugar. according to Spreckels.
Sugar growers IN Cuba and Peru
forced tho committee 10 pay 1890
per 100 pounds, the producers own
figures
Sprrckels was willing 20 pay more
tn order TO obtain sugar. and stu
not raise the consumers prices but
Hoover wired him: "Othor refiners
have closed plants rather than pay
more than the price fixed"
Hoover added. This price is too
high. In fact, IL regarded Rs n hold.
up"
Good for Conservation
Hoover also advised Spreckcls. he
raid. that while it Is unfortunate
that this sugar shortage occurred. |
believe II win be compensated for
by conservation IN this country"
Read read into the record the non.
agreement made oct. /,
1917. at Hoover's behcst j; bound
= sgar rofincrp not to import sugar
leaving all importation In the hands
n the international committee.
Il objected TO Hoover that the
was refusing to pay
high enough price TO get sugar 20
keep our refincries running" said
Spreckeis
Receipt OF Hawaiian sugar enabled
the Rolph and two other rcfiners to
operate. Spreckels said. These re-
finerics had contracts not affected
by the agreement with Hoover
Nearly 100. 900 tons Of sugar avail
able for the United States was either
diverted or withhold. Sprcckels de.