The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-01-14
Why You Are Not Paying
80 Cents For Sugar

ID
then in London, which he described
as "a plan by which the Allies can
consolidate under one mead the
whole purchasing of food staples
from our market. and not only will
competitive bidding be abolished, but
by cooperative buying on our side
we can arrange the proper balance
:. between the rights of producers ana
consumers"
This plan was favorably received
by the sugar refining industry, which
had been on a war basis almost from
the beginning of the European War.
The war had brought the Allies
into the Cuban market. resulting in
severe domestic and international
competition, with no increased sup
:, plies. Naturally prices of refined
sugar, both to the American public
and to the Allies, rose under this
forced draft.
Domestic sugar retiners, since the
outbreak of the European War, not
only have safeguarded the United
States supply, but have maintained
the lowest sugar prices in the world.
This brilliant record is due large
, ly to the fact that sugar refining is
in the hands of large business units,
with an excess of refining capacity
sufficient to supply all domestic
needs, and so far all demands OF
foreign countries.
In the spring of 1917 there was
a serious attempt at the diSorganl-
cation of the sugar refining industry
following a long series of attempts
at destruction of sugar ships.
Accompanying these incidents
were widely circulated sensational
reports predicting a sugar famine
and sugar shortage, causing wide
spread apprehension.
At that time, even with the assur'
ance of ample supplies on hand, re-
tail sugar prices rose in some see
tons to 20 and 25 cents d pound.
The efforts OF the American Sugar
Refining Company to allay public
alarm, to check boarding, to accep'
a price less than that which it could
easily have secured, and to distrib-
ute its product fairly and evenly
among the trade, We're of real public
service.
While there were great supplies OF
sugar in far-away Java which ordl-
narily would have gone to Europe
yet the necessity for saving ships be
came so great that Europe turned to
Cuba for even larger supplies than
previously.
It takes a cargo ship $50 days to
make a round trip between England
and Java, while round trip be-
tween England and Cuba can be
made in so days.
Under these circumstances and
seemingly to avoid paying proposed
United States war taxes on refined
sugar the European Allies purchased
in Cuba the sugar which ordinarily
would have come to the United
States in the fall months.
These conditions, and especially
the necessity of saving ships, led
the United States and the Allied
Nations to urge upon the sugar in
dustry the adoption by voluntary
agreement of the original Hoover
under the authority OF the
Food Control Act, passed August 10,
1917.
The cane-sugar reiners and the
beet-sugar producers unanimously
agreed to the Hoover plan as pa
triotic act in the interest Of the
American people and as an aid to the
Allies.
This is the significance of the
appointment by the United States
Food Administrator of the Interna-
tional Sugar Committee to which
the Allies send representatives for
England, France, Italy and Canada,
and to which the United States con-
tributes three members.
Upon the success of the operation
of the International Sugar Commit
tee under the directions of the AL
lied Governments, actinig for prac-
tically half the civilized world, will
depend the REIMBURSEMENT of the
worlds sugar markets.
This plan is full of promise to ali
the nations party to the convention.
1t is an assurance that sugar, al
though comparatively cheap in view
of war conditions, will not by rea-
son either of competitive or specu-
lative activity be increased in whole
sale price.
Sugar will become stabilized in
price with sufficient profit to produc-
ers, refiners and merchants to main
tain and stimulate production and to
cover the cost of refining~and o,
distribution.
The marketing of Domino Cane
sugars in cartons and small cotton
bags has helped amazingly during
the pinch of the fall months in Civ
ing wide distribution among the
retailers of the reduced sugar sup
plies.
While barrel formerly was the
unit of the grocer the same amount
of sugar put up in cartons and small
cotton bags can now be divided be-
tween two or more grocers and SO
serve larger number of people and
prevent boarding.
1t will be necessary for grocers
and consumers to watch carefully
their distribution and purchases
during the approaching period of
REIMBURSEMENT The refneries are
now starting up and supplies of raw
sugar coming forward, but it will
take weeks, and possibly months. for