The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-07-31
SUGAR TAKES
LEADING PART
IN CONSERVATION
All HOnsehOldcrs Should BE More
Careful Now About the Use of
Sweetening in Their Homes.

Sugar now takes a leading part in
the conservation program. 1t is ne
cessary to place severe restrictions
on manufactures of sugar and the dis
tributing trade, and further develop
ments may make additional restric-
tons imperative. Measures have been
taken for equitable apportionment Of
sugar supplies in all markets of the
country.
The household allowance through
the month of July has continued as
heretofore and sugar for canning may
be had on the certificate plan outside
of that allowance. At the same time
households are urged to keep as far
within the allowance as possible and
to apply the rule in preserving of
maximum canning with minimum oG
sugar" 1t is pointed out that fruits
may be put upwithout sugar and that
fruit juices and pulps may be pre-
served without it, TO be sweetened or
made into jellies when the pressure
Tor sugar supplies is easier than it
will be for the next few months.
Sugar in countries where control of
price and supply is not fully effective
has cost around 90 cents a pound re-
tail this year. In the United States
the retail price by primary agree
ments and by rigid control of distrib-
ution has been held to 10 cents a
pound.
Every cent to the pound amounts in
the United States to $SO,000,O0O a
year on the national sugar bill. The
difference between control and unre-
stricted marketing in the United
States is therefore equivalent to $780,
! 100000 year in the cost of sugar to
the people.
The attitude of the Food Admins
tration toward prices is eXpounded in
u letter by Mr.. Hoover to United
States Senator Simmons, chairman OF
the Finance Committee, under date oi
July s, in response to an invitation
to submit his views.
Prices must be held high enough tC
maintain production, The cost OF
production and therefore the neces
sary price is not the same in every
district, nor in the same plant at diff
ferent seasons. To cnt the price t.
the point which will give no more
than a fair return to those in the mos
favorable situation will cut off a grea
many whose production is needed. Tt
offer prices that will give a profit il
every case will permit inordinate pro
fits for some.
In settling upon fair prices leve
is to be sought which will keep sub
stantially the whole industry going
There is usually a fringe of produc
ton that we must get along without
II would not do to raise the price t,
everybody, say, % per cent to max
it worth while for a few growers OIL
the edge of production to increase tn,
total by a small fraction.
On the other hand, as in the pack
ing industry, price level that woult
be sufficient for the large packers
would put many of the small packerI
out of business and the countr.
needs their production.
The remedy suggested to equaliz,
conditions is to establish prices al
nearly as may be sufficient to main
tain the industry as a whole and t
levy heavy tax on excess profits,
The proiiteer is abhorrent and hi
practices can not be oondoned, hu
prices must be allowed at level tina
will insure the production requires
for war needs.