The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-02-21

Ing and II was dnally determined that
the spread between the cost Of raw
nnd the sale Of refined cane sugar
should be limited to $3.50 per hundred
pounds. The pre-war differential had
averaged about IS cents and increased
costs were found to have been impOs-
ed by the war In increased cost Of re-
fning. losses, cost Of bags, labor, insur-
ance, interest and other things, rather
more than cover the difference. After
prolonged negotiations the reflners
were placed under agreement estab-
fishing these limits on October 1. and
anything over this amount to be agreed
extortiOnate under the law.
"In the course Of these investiga-
tions II was found by canvass Of the
Cuban producers that their sugar had,
during the first nine months Of the
past year. sold for an average Of about
A2i per hundred T. o. b. Cuba, to
which duty and freight added to the
rcfincrs' cost amount to about $586
per hundred. The average sale price
II r~nnulnted by various refineries. ac-
cor''ng to our investigation. was about
$75O per hundred. or a difrerential Of
$751;
I'm reducing the di-crential to $1.30
~ 20 was saving to the public Of "a
cents per hundred. Had such diff
frrcntinl h"pn In use from the lst OF
Jn""arv I017 the public would have
snv"d IN the first nine months Of tho
year about s24sOO ooo."
Next Year.
With a view to more efficient organ
izntion OF the trade In Imported sugars
next yeur two committees have been
formed by the food administration:
|. A committee comprising repre-
sentntives Of all Of the elements OF
American cane refining groups. The
principal duty Of this committee is to
divide the sugar imports pro rata to
their varirls capacities and see that
absolute justice Is done to every re-
finer.
=. A committee comprising three rep
resentatives of the English. French
and Italian governments; two repre-
sentativeS Of the American refiners,
with member of the food udministra-
tIOn. Only two of the committee have
sent the allied governments. The du-
ties OF this committee are to determine
the most economical sources from a
transport point OF view of all the al
lies to arrange transport at uniform
rates. to distribute the foreign sugar
between the United States and allies,
subject to the approval Of the Ameri-
can. English. French and Italian &C. =
ernments
views rs to the price to be paid for
Cuban sugar. has not had the dnal
voice. This voice has rested In the
governments concerned, together with
the Cuban government, and l wish to
state cmphatically that all Of the gem
tlenen concerned as good commercial
men have endeavored with the utmost
patience and skill to secure a lower
price, and their persistence has re-
duced Cuban demands by Is cents per
hundred. The price agreed upon 10
about $4.eO per hundred pounds. I. o. b.
Cuba. or equal to about 50 duty paid
New York.
"ThIs price should evsntuate,"
Mr.. Hoover said, ITO about $3.50
per hundred for refined sugar from
the refners at seaboard points or
should place sugar In the hands Of
the consumer at from sH to Q
cents per pound. depending upon
locality and conditions Of trade. or
at from to 2 cents below the
prices Of August last and from one
half to a cent per pound cheaper
than today.
There is now an elimination Of
speculation. extortionate profits. and
in the refining alone the American
people will save over $25OOO.OOO Of
the refining charges last year. A part
Of these savings goes to the Cuban,
Hawaiian. Porto Rican and Lousia mum
producer and part to the consumer.
Appeals to prejudice against the
'nod administration have been made
ccause the Cuban price Is "a cents
above that Of 1917. 1t Is said In effect
that the Cubans are at our mercy
that We could get sugar a cent lower
We made exhaustive study of the cost
of producing sugar In Cuba last year
through our own agents In Cuba, and
we find 1t averages $3.50. while many
producers are at higher level. We
found that an average profit Of at
least cent per pound was necessary
In order to maintain and stimulate e
production or that minimum price Of
$4.37 was necessary. and even this
would stifie some producers
The price ultimately agreed was ~
cents above these figures. or about one
nth Of cent per pound to the AmerI-
can consumer. and more than this
amount has been saved by our reduc-
ti"n I'm refiners' profits. II we wish to
stIhe production In Cuba we could
take that course just at the time Of all
times In our history when we want
production for ourselves and the al
Hes. Further than that. the state de-
partmcnt will assure you that such u
cours" would produce disturbances In
Cuba and destroy even our present
supplies, but beyond all these material
reasons Is one OF human justice. This
great country has no right by the
might Of it's position to strangle Cuba.