The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-03
HOOVER EXPLAINS
SUGAR SHORTAGE
Shoulders All Responsibility
for Work of Food Ad-
ministration
FAVORS POOLING
COUNTRY'S SUPPLY
Tilt With Chairman Reed in Course of
Days Testimony Before Senate In
vestigating Committee--Lodge as Ex-
aminer

vestigating Committee-Lodge as Elk
aminer
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 Government
purchase and sale 10 consumers OF al
sugar used in the United States and CON
troll OF the amounts and kinds OF food to
be served in public eating places were ad-
vocotcd To meet the abnormal war condi.
liona, by Food Administrator Hoover vc4-
terday in testimony before senate com
mittec investigating sugar lie said add
tional legislation comforting upon the food
administration such powers should be en-
acted by congress
| Food conservation came up only cas-
ually during al all-day examination OF
Mr. Hoover. but the administration re-
vcalcd hat results from conservat ION
plans formulated Tor hotels and restau-
rants had been Disappointing because OF
the deliberate failure OF some 10 cooper
ate with the administration Those seek
ing TO help had been forced 10 abandon
their efforts, Mr.. Hoover said, III order to
meet competition. The witness believed
/ housewives generally were conforming Ia
! the conservation Recommendation
Chairman Reed OF the committee who
has been the chief critic OF the food ad
mlnlStration in the senate. did not que7-
ton Mr.. Hoover, Senator Lodge conduct
ing the examination most Of the day.
Late in the session, however Senator
Reed and Mr.. Hoover engaged III a rather
heated discussion when the witness; asked
10 have admitted 10 the committee re-
IordS the statement on the sugar situation
which Mr. Hoover sought to submit be
lore the holidays and which later was
made public at the White House
Chairman Reed said he wanted 10 cx-
anime the statement overnight and that
the question OF admitting il To he rec.
ords would be determined later. He add
cd that he wanted To question the uitnc4.
further on it. Mr. Hoover finally de
elarcd with an apparent show of heal
that he did not care whether i; was III
Rroduccd or not
Mr. Hoover said the sugar supply ioi
next year promised 10 be 3euoUu ton,
sifort- of Che estimated demand but i
was hoped to solve the shortage by con
servation and limitation OF supplying t,
manufacturers ot nonc~~ential foodatuil~
While he 1hnueh il might H. necc-Sar,
10 limit per capita consumption To thrc
pounds a month, the witness said he Iii,
not consider the principle ol limitation
| al personal consumption sound because /
tended 10 cause discomfort among I'll
lPeople
!. The administrator explained his desir
+ to have the food administrator yieN
Of the sugar situation presented early j
g the investigation by saying that test
i mony before In" committee that Their
,4,4x~
i not proved by the facts as he knew ther
Il and tended To offset the administration
! campaign Tor conservation.
In urging government purchase Of suga
c Mr.. Hoover explained 10 the rommitto
g that through that method alone could "
iiners he paid an equitable price. He sal
, some beet factories are making hug
n profits Mt the 7.95 cents Il pound agree
e upon for beet sugar, but on the 9th,
hand factory in Michigan and lone
u two in Colorado actually are losing MOI
q ev at that price. His plan, lie said, il i,
the government TO purchase from be,
H factories at different prices based on Il
7e cost OF production, buy cane sugars ;
tprice- on the same basis pool the enti
- lot and sell TO the consumer at one prize
The witness denied that the Cub(
III price had been fixed by 4 committ
~ formed Of retiner. at price advantagcor
TO them The prices, he said. We're iiN,
I'll by the state department and the intern
u tionnl sugar commission had nothing
III do with it. Mr. Hoover defended t,
~ food administration action in nami'
~ the president Of the American sugar 7
u timing company, an officer OF the Arbuck
refining company and Mr.. Rolph as I
American member. Of the committee, ,.t
ing this country could be represent
properly only by reiiners.
It's 1--WE are primarily dependent i'll the
times on patriotic men, who understa
their businesses" said the administrat
n 1T is impossible for me to 90 into detal
r. but | reserve final decision to myself q
CT | take full responsibility"