The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-02-02

| to 10 2-10 pounds year, or bit over
pound of sugar month. Even this
meagre ration could not be filled by
the French government II was found
early in the fall. America was then
asked for 100000 tons Of sugar and
succeeded In sending $1,000 tons by
December 1. The French request was
granted because the American house
hold consumption was then at least IS
pounds per person, and It was consid-
cred the duty Of maintaining the
French morale made our course clear"
Today the sugar situation may
be summarized by stating that II
America will reduce lts sugar con.
sumption 10 to is per cent. this
nation will be able to send 100000
more soldiers to France.
Sugar today sells at seaboard re-
Hneries at S7.25 hundred pounds.
The wholesale grocer has agreed to
limit his profit to rs cents hundred
plus freight, and the retail grocer Is
supposed to take no more than so cents
hundred pounds profit. This regu-
lation was made by the food admins
tration, which now asks the housewife
10 reduce sugar consumption as much
ns possible, using other sweeteners,
and also reminds her that she should
pay no more than 8 cents pound for
sugar.
Control Of Cane RehnerS Profits.
Immediately upon the establish
nent OF the food administration" Mr..
Hoover said, ian examination was
made Of the costs and profits of iefln-
Ing and 1t 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-
fining, losses, cost of bags, labor, lnsur-
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 1, and
anything over this amount to be agreed
extortionate under the law.
I'm the course of these investiga-
lions It was found by canvass Of the
Nthon vrndunnrc hot thnip hod
during the first nine months Of the
past year, sold for an average Of about
$4.24 per hundred (. o. b. Cuba, to
which duty and freight added to the
re1ners' cost amount to about $3.50
per hundred. The average sale price
of granulated by various reflneries, &C.
cording to our investigation, was about
$3.50 per hundred, or differential of
S184.
IN reducing the differential to $1.S0
there was a saving to the public Of "a
cents per hundred. Had such a diff.
ferential been in use from the list OF
January, 1917. the public would have
saved In the first nine months Of the
year about $24,SOO,000."
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.
2. A committee comprising three rep
resentatives Of the English, French
and italian governments; two repre-
sentatives Of the American refners,
with a member of the food administra-
tlon. 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 a
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 emphatically that all Of the gen.
tlemen concerned as good commercial !
men have endeavored with the utmost
patience and skill to secure a lower !
price, and their persistence has re-
duced Cuban demands by 10 cents per !
hundred. The price agreed upon is
about s4.60 per hundred pounds. I. o. b.
Cuba. or equal to about SO duty paid
New York q,
"ThIs price should eventusts,'