Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-01-25

, made Of the costs and pronts OF rem.
ing aud Il was finally determined that
the spread between the cost OF raw
and the sale Of refined cane sugar
should be limited TO $3.50 per hundred
pounds. The pre-war diffsrential had
averaged about So cents and increased
costs we're found to haye,been impos-
. ed by the war In increased cost Of re-
lining, Losses. cost Of bags. labor, insur.
ance,. Interest and other things, rather
more. than cover the difference. After
prolonged negotiations the reiners
: were placed UNDER agreement estsb-
fishing these limits on October l, and
anything over this amount to be agreed
extortionate under the law.
I'm the course Of these investiga-
lions IT 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
y4.24 per hundred +. O. b. Cuba, TO
which duty and freight added to the
refiners' cost amount 10 about $3.50
per hundred. The average sale price
of granulated by various refneries, ac-
cordins to our Investigation. was about
$3.50 per hundred. OF q differential OF
S1.S4. see > @
. "In reducing the difrerential toi S1.S0
there was a saving 10 theipubuc OF "a
cents per hundred Had such diff
ferential been In use from the LIST or
January, 1917. the public would have
saved In the first nine months OF the
year about $24 500, 600"
Next Year.
With a view TO more efficient organ.
ization Of the trade in imported sugars
next year two committees have been
formed by the food administration
/. A committee comprising repre-
sentatives Of all Of the elements Of
American cane refining groups. The
principal duty Of this committee 10 to
divide the sugar imports pro rata 10
their various capacities and see that
absolute Justice 10 done 60 every re-
inner. 81
2. Ac0mmittss comprising three rep.
ressntativss Of the English, French
and Italian governments: two repre-
sentstivss Of the American refiners,
with 4 member Of the food ADMINISTERS.
ton Only two Of the committee have
arrived from Europe. hut they repre-
sent the allied governments. The du-
ties Of this committee are to determine
the most economical sources from q
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 gov.
ernments.
This committee, while holding strong
views as to the price to be paid for
Cuban sugar, has not had the nnal
voice This voice has rested In the
governments concerned, together with
the Cuban government, and l 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 q lower
price, and their persistence has re-
duced Cuban demands by Is cents per
hundred. The price agreed upon IL
about $4.60 per hundred pounds, (. o. b.
Cuba, or equal to about So duty paid
New York. e
"ThIs price should evsntuAts,"
Mr.. Hoover said, Ito about $3.50
per hundred for refined sugar from
the rsfiners at seaboard points or
should place sugar In the hands Of
the consumer at from "a to-s
esnts per pound, depending upon
locality and conditions Of trade, or
at from I to 2 cents below the
prices Of August last and from one
half to a cent per pound cheaper
than today.
There 10 now an elimination of
speculation. extOrtiOnate profits. and
in the refining alone the American
people will save over s25.OOO. 900 Of
the refining charges last year. A part
OF these savings goes to the Cuban.
Hawaiian, Porto Rican. and Lousianfan
producer and part TO the consumer.
Appeals to prejudice against the
food administration have been made
oeSedse hAS Nfucah PihNS WINS
above that OF 1917. 1t Is said In effect
that the Cubans are at our mercy:
that We could get sugar cent lower.
We made exhaustive study OF the cost
Of producing sugar In Cuba last year
through our own agents In Cuba, and
We .nnd 1t averages $3.50, while many
producers, are at a higher level. We
found that an average profit Of at
least a cent per pound was necessary
Ia order to maintain and stimulate
production or that a 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
fifth OF q cent per pound to the Ameri-
can consumer, and more than this
amount has been saved by our reduc.
ton In .redners' profits IL we wish to
stihe production In Cuba We could
take that course just al the time Of all
times In our history when We want
production for ourselves and the al
lies. Further than that, the state de-