Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-21
SUGAR SALES CUT BY
FOOD ADMINISTRATION

Orono. Nc. June 2o.-Retailers in
every part of Maine have been mott
fed by Federal Food Administrator
Leon s. Merrill to limit sales of su-
gar to town or city consumers 10
two pounds and sales to rural con-
sumers to five pounds. This regu-
lation is effective Immediately and
was ordered by the United States
Food Administration at Washington,
ID. c.
Additional difficulties have arisen
in securing sugar, chief of which is
the submarine menace in Atlantic
coast waters and the losses already
experienced in the sinking of ship
ments Of raw sugar.
| Dealers in sugar have already been
warned that they must not sell more
than three pounds per person per
month. Evidently this regulation has
! not been fully complied with, as Food
Administrator Merrill has received
reports of "rcpeaters' in some sec
tons.
This practice of individuals pur-
chasing in excess of three pounds
per month must be stopped and this
warning to the retail trade is final"
said Food Administrator Merrill to
| day. we realize that report of all
sales of sugar will entail consider
able work on the part of all con-
cerned and it is hoped that such a
program will not be forced upon the
Food Administration by careless dis
tribution of sugar on the part of GER
tain retail dealers.
Dealers must limit sugar pur-
chases for home canning to % pounds
until further notice This order is
effective at once and sets aside the
previous limit Of IS pounds. This
order is absolute and must be COM
piled with.
Sugar for home canning may be
secured by householders on a home
canning and preserving sugar certifi-
cate, copy of which consumers may
secure from dealers upon applica-
ton. Returns we have received
show that some dealers are not care
fully checking the amount of sugar
requested with the amount needed.
This must be checked in every case.
/ Further caution is emphasized con-
corning total amount of sugar sold
to an individual.
Dealers must not sell on home
canning and preserving sugar GER
tificateS to individuals living in other
states, more than % pounds of sugar.
Niolators of this regulation will be
asked to appear before Food Admin
iStratlon officials and present reasons
for being allowed to continue in
business.
! In addition to the home canning
and preserving sugar certificate. an
entirely different certificate is fur
nished by this Office to firms or per
sons using sugar in the manufacture
; of commodities for sale.
Sugar sales must not be made 10
such firms or persons unless sugar
certificates from this office are pre-
scented. This includes all stores or
persons making for sale--ce cream,
soda water, soft drinks, candies, CO.
Goa, chocolate. etc
! NO commercial firms or individ-
/
Of business using sugar in the man
utacture of their commodities are en-
! Titled to buy sugar anywhere except
upon the presentation of sugar Ger
tlflcates granted by this office and
signed by myself. This list would in
clude druggists who make syrup FOR
medlclnal purposes, who use sugar in
the preparation of soda water or soft
drinks, or who manufacture their own
ice cream. IL would also include
! candymakers or any firm or person
using sugar in the manufacture of
any. commodities for sale Whatsoever.
The procedure of the dealer is 90
inquire with each sugar sale. how
ever small, if such sugar is to be
used for manufacturing purposes,
and refuse to sell in the absence of
manufacturers certificate. If the
dealer has any suspicion that the
regulations are being violated by peo-
pie who are seeking sugar for man.
ufacturing purposes under the guIse
OF small purchases on the three
pound per person per month basis.
the retailer should Immediately re-
port suspicious to this office, ANY
violation on the dealers part in this
matter may operate in closing up his
business.
1T is the small sales which need
careful watching. For in case of the
larger sugar purchases dealers arc
hot likely to neglect to demand a
manufacturers certificate or homo
canning and preserving sugar Ger
tificatc properly signed before deliv-
s.ins the sugar. The retailers IN
1haine are not Yet heluin9 ns In RI.