Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1918-07-04

Hoover said. IAN examination was
made of the costs and profits Of REIN.
ing and II was finally determined that
the spread between the cost Of raw
and the sale Of refined cane sugar
should be limited to S1.3O 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-
timing, 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 l, and
anything over this amount to be agreed
extortionate under the law.
I'm the course Of these investiga-
tons 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
s424 per hundred I. o. b. Cuba. to
which duty and freight added to the
reflners' cost amount to about S568
per hundred. The average sale price
Of granulated by various refineries, &C
cording to our investigation. was about
$50 per hundred. or differential OF
$1.S4.
I'm reducing the differential to 81 80
there was a saving to the public OF "a
cents per hundred. Had such Diff
ferential been In use from the 1st OF
January. 1917. the public would have
saved In the flrst nine months Of the
year about s24.sO0OOO."
Next Year.
With view to more efficient organ.
,zation 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 Is to
divide the sugar imports pro rata to
their various capacities and see that
absolute justice Ii done to every re-
finer.
=. A committee comprising three rep.
resentatives Of the English, French
and Italian governments; two repre-
sentatlves Of the American refiners,
with member Of the food administers
ton. Only two of the committee have
arrived from Europe, but 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 final
voice. This voice has rested In the
governments concerned. together with
the Cuban government. and ! wish to
state emphaticany that all Of the gen.
tlemen concerned as good commercial
men have endeavored with the utmost
patience and skill to secure lower
price. and their persistence has re-
duced Cuban demands by Is cents pei
hundred. The price agreed upon II
about $4.60 per hundred pounds. {. o. b.
Cuba. or equal to about SO duty paid
New York.
"This price should eventuats,"
M. Hoover said, ITO 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 0H 70 .
cents per pound, depending upon
locality and conditions Of trade, Or
at from I TO cents below the,
prices Of August last and from one.
halt to 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 $4,000, 900 Of
the refining charges last year A par1
OF these savings goes to the Cuban
Hawaiian, Porto Rican and Lousianiar
producer and part to the consumer.
Appeals to prejudice against ths
food administration have been made
because the Cuban price u "a cent?
above that of 1917. It II said In effect
that the Cubans are at our mercy
that we could get sugar cent lower
We made exhaustive study Of the cos'
Of producing sugar In Cuba last veal
through our own agents In Cuba. ant
we ,nd It averages $3.50. while manj
| producers are at . higher level WI
found that an average profit OF q
least cent per pound was necessar,
In order 70 maintain and stimulate
production or that q minimum price d
t4.37 was necessary. and even thia
would stihe some producers.
"The price ultimately agreed WAS 2;
cents shove these figures, or shout one
nth OF . cent per pound to the Amefi
can consumer, and more than THU
amount has been saved BY our reduc
tion in reflners' profits. II We wish Il
stine production In Cuba we coult
take that course Just at the time Of 81
times IN our history when we want
production for ourselves and the al
lies. Further than that, the state Do