St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1918-02-16

Hoover SaiG, an examination was
/ 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 We're found to have been impos-
ed by the war In increased cost OF re-
fning, losses, cost Of bags, labor, insur-
ance, Interest and other things, rather
more than cover the difference. After
prolonged negotiations the redners
were placed under agreement estab-
fishing these limits on October !, and
| anything over this amount to be agreed
extortionate under the law.
I'm the course of these investiga-
lions 1t 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
S4.24 per hundred I. 0. b. Cuba, to
which duty and freight added to the
refners' cost amount to about S6.06
per hundred. The average sale price
Of graduated by various refineries, ac-
cording to our investigation, was about
$3.50 per hundred, or a differentfal OF
1884
"In reducing the differential to $1.3o
there was 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 first nine months Of the
year about s24,s000o0."
Next Year.
With 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-
sentatlyes Of the American refiners,
with q 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
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
ernnents.
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.
uemen 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 per
hundred. The price agreed upon is
about $500 per hundred pounds, f. o. b.
Cuba, or equal to about Sc duty paid
New York.
"This price should, eventuate,"
Mr.. Hoover said, "to 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 eL2 to Q
cents per pound, depending upon
locality and conditions Of trade, or
at. from to 2 cents below the
prices Of August last and from enc
half to a cent per pound cheaper
than today.
There is now an elimination Of
speculation, extortionate profits, and
in the refining alone the American
people will save over $25,O00000 of
the refining charges last year. A part
Of these savings goes to the Cuban,
Hawaiian, Porto Rican and Lousianian
producer and part to the consumer.
Appeals to prejudice against the
food administration have been made
because the Cuban price is "a cents
above that of 1917. 1t is said in effect
that the Cubans are at our mercy !;
that we could get sugar cent lower.
We made exhaustive study Of the cost
| of producing sugar in Cuba last year
through our own agents in Cuba, and
| we find it averages $3.50, while many
| producers are at higher level We
found that an average profit of at
least cent per pound was necessary
! in order to maintain and stimulate
| production or that minimum price of
| S437 was necessary, and even this
would stifie some producers.
THE price ultimately agreed was %
cents above these figures, or about one
| fifth Of cent per pound to the Ameri-
can consumer, and more than this
amount has been saved by our reduc-
ton in ref1ners profits II we wish to
stifle production in Cuba we could
take that course Just at the time Of all
times in our history when we want
production for ourselves and the all
lies. Further than that, the state de-
partment will assure you that such a
course would produce disturbances In
Cuba and destroy even our present
supplies, but beyond all these material
reasons Is one OF human justice. This