The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-01-22

anu tue SAFE Oh TSBIieu SddS Su5HA
should be limited to S1.30 per hundred
pounds. The pre-war differential had
averaged about So cents and Increased
costs were found to have been impos-
ed by the war in increased cost OF re-
fining losses, cost of bags, labor, insur-
ance, interest and other things, rather
more than cover the difference. After
prolonged negotiations the reflners
were placed under agreement estab-
fishing these limits on October l, and |
anything over this amount to be agreed /
extortionate under the law.
'In the course of these investiga- |
lions it was found by canvass OF the I
Cuban producers that their sugar had, /
during the first nine months of the
past year, sold for an average of about
$424 per hundred f. o. b. Cuba, to
which duty and freight added to the
refners' cost amount to about Sabb
per hundred. The average sale price
Of granulated by various refineries, ac-
cording to our investigation, was about
$50 per hundred, or differental or
S1S4
"In reducing the differential to Sl.2O
there was q saving to the public OF ~
| 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 S24S0O 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 is TO
divide the sugar imports pro rata to
their various capacities and see that
absolute justice is done to every re-
finer
.. A conn = ee comprising three rep
resentatives of the English, French
and Italian governments; two repre-
sentatives of the American refiners,
with member of the food administra-
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 witt
the Cuban government, and l wish tt
state emphatically that all of the gen
tlemen concerned as good commercial
men have endeayored with the utmos
patience and skill to secure a lower
price, and their persistence has re
duced Cuban demands by 10 cents pc
hundred. The price agreed upon i
about S4G0 per hundred pounds, f. o. b
. Cuba, or equal to about Sc duty pai'
D., New York.
: "This price should eventuate,"
Mr.. Hoover said, "to about S7.3O
o per hundred for refined sugar from
Y the refiners at seaboard points or
d should place sugar in the hands OF
the consumer at from SJ2 to
~ cents per pound, depending upon
-. locality and conditions of trade, or
.r at from / to cents below the
a prices of August last and from one
Il. half to a cent per pound cheaper
- than today
VI There is now an elimination {
c~ speculation, eXtortionate profits, al
ia in the refining alone the America
people will save over $23,OOOO00
M the refining charges last year. A pa
ed ~ these savings goes to the Cuba
II Hawaiian, Porto Eican and louisiana
10. producer and part to the consumer.
is appeals to prejudice against t!
~ food administration have been MAJ
ur because the Cuban price is "a cen
Of ! above that of 1917 1t is said in effe
n that the Cuhans are at our mere
he that we could get sugar cent lowe
)OA we made exhaustive study of the &C
be- of producing sugar in Cuba last We
through our own agents in Cuba, a
VT | we ma II averages 5000, NHliS uit
the producers are at a higher level. \
red found that an average profit OF
isis least a cent per pound was neceSsa
ita. in order to maintain and stimuli
rn production or that a minimum price
ion S4.37 was necessary, and even Z
yer would stifie some producers.
his THE price ultimately agreed was
by cents above these figures, or about o.
una fifth of a cent per pound to the Anne
hen can consumer, and more than t
and amount has been saved by our red
by ton in refiners' profits. If we wish
was stife production in Cuba we co
use take that course just at the time of
-. times in our history when we WI
sid production for ourselves and the
the lies. Further than that, the state
ar partment will assure you that sucl
ly course would produce disturbances
if Cuba and destroy even our pres
n supplies, but beyond all these mate
is reasons is one of human Justice. I