The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1918-02-01

alton was made by the food admins |
tration, which now asks the housewife |
reduce sugar consumption as much |
IS possible, using other sweeteners, |
and also reminds her that she should |
pay no more than 8 cents a pound for |
sugar.
Control OF Cane Refiners' Profits.
Immediately upon the establish
nent of the food administration" Mr..
Hoover said, ian examination was
made of the costs and profits of ref1n-
ing and 1t was finally determined that
the spread between the cost of raw
and the sale Of refined cane sugar
should be limited to $1.30 per hundred
pounds. The pre-war differential had
averaged about So cents and increased
costs were found to have been impos-
ed by the war in increased cost Of re-
fining, losses, cost of bags, labor, insur-
ance, interest and other things, rather
more than cover the difference. After
prolonged negotiations the refners
were placed under agreement estab-.
fishing these limits on October /, and
anything over this amount to be agreed
eXtOrtl0nate under the law.
"In the course of these investiga-
tions 1t 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
$424 per hundred t. o. b. Cuba, to
which duty and freight added to the
refiners' cost amount to about $3.50
N colo YlriNQ
Of granulated by various refineries, ac-
cording to our investigation, was about
$3.50 per hundred, or differential OF
$1S4.
"In reducing the differential to $1.30
there was a saving to the public OF 54
cents per hundred. Had such a dif-
ferential been in use from thP list OF
January 1917, the public would have
saved in the first nine months OF the
year about $24,S00,Oo0."
Next Year.
With a view to more efficient organ
lzation of the trade in imported sugars
next year two committees have been
formed by the food administration:
l. A committee comprising repre-
sentatives 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 various capacities and see that
| absolute justice is done to every re-
| finer.
2. A committee comprising three rep
resentatives of the English, French
| and Italian governments two repre-
sentatives of the American refiners.
| with a member of the food administra-
| ton. Only two of the committee have
| arrived from Europe, but they repre-
I 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 Amert-
can, English, French and Italian gov
ernments.
| This committee, while holding strong
views as to the price to be paid for
i Cuban sugar, has not had the final
voice This voice has rested In the
| governments concerned, together with
the Cuban government. and wish to
state emphatically that all of the gen.
tlemen concerned as good commercial
| men have endeavored with the utmost
| patience and skill to secure a lower
nrice. and their persistence has re-
duced Cuban demands by 10 cents pei
hundred. The price agreed upon Is
about S460 per hundred pounds, f. o. b
Cuba. or equal to about Sc duty PAID
New York.
"This price should eventuate,"
Mr.. Hoover said, "to about $3.50
per hundred for refined sugar from
the refiners at seaboard points or
should place sugar in the hands OF
/ the consumer at from sR to 9
II cents per pound, depending upon
locality and conditions Of trade, or
at from to cents below the
prices Of August last and from one
! half to a cent per pound cheaper
' than today.
'sThere is now an elimination
speculation, extortionate profits, an
/ In the refining alone the America
people will save over $25,00O,OOO
the refining charges last year. A pal
of these savings goes to the Cubai
Hawaiian, Porto Rican and louisiana
producer and part to the consumer.
Appeals to prejudice against tn
+ god administration have been mao
h, ,cause the Cuban price is "a cen
oh owe that of 1917 1t is said In effe'
| = - +ho Cubons arp at orr mercy