The Leader, enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1915-1921, 1918-02-08


made Of the costs and profits of refin-
ing and it 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 IS cents and increased
costs were found to have been impos-
ed by the war in increased cost Of re.
dning, losses, cost Of bags. labor, incur
ance, interest and other things, rather
more than cover the difference. After
prolonged negotiations the refiners
were placed under agreement estab-
fishing these limits on October ], and
anything over this amount to be greed
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
$4.24 per hundred T. 0. b. Cuba, to
which duty and freight added to the
ref1ners' cost amount to'-about $500
per hundred. The average se,e Price
Of granulated by various refineries, &C.
cording to our investigation, was about
$3.50 per hundred, or a differential Of
$1S4.
''In reducing the differential to $3.50
there was a saving to the public Of "a
cents per hundred. Had such q Off.
ferential been In use from the 1st Of
January, 1917, the public would have
saved In the first nine months Of the
year abolt $2R, 100000"
Next Year.
With q view to more eficient organ
tzation of the trade In imported sugars
next year two committees have been
formed by the food administration:
!. A committee comprising repre-
lDeDtativss. of, all OF 10 dement's Of
American cane refining groups. The
principal duty of this committee is to
divide the sugar imports pro rata to,
their various caps cities and see that
absolute justice Is done to every re-
finer. "a
2. A, committee comprising three rep
resentatives Of the English, French
and Italian governments; two repre-
sentatives Of the American fefnerS,
with a member of the food administra-
ton. Only two of the committee have
arrived from Europe, bat they repre-
sent the allied governments. The du-
ties Of this committee are to determine
the most economical soufcea 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 Amerf-
can, English, French and Italian gov
ernmeuts. az
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 emphatically that all OF the gen.
tlemen concerned as good commercial
men have endeavOred with the utmost
patience and skill to secure a lover
price, and their persistence has re-
duced Cuban demands by Is cents per
hundred. The price agreed upon is
about $500 per hundred pounds, +. o. b.
Cuba, or equal to about SO duty paid
New York. 'iH
J "This price should eventuate,"
Mr.. Hoover said, ito about $3.50
per hundred for refined sugar from
the refsners at seabeard points or
should place sugar In tho hands Of
the consumer at from sM to
eents per pound, depending upon