The Starkville news. (Starkville, Miss.) 1902-1960, 1918-02-01

America will reduce itS sugar con-
sunaption 10, to 10 per oent. this
nation will be able to send 100000
more soldiers to France.
Sugar today sells at seaboard re-
ineries at $T.25 a hundred pounds.
The wholesale grocer has agreed to
limit his profit to 25 cents hundred
plus freight, and the retail grocer is
supposed to take no more than 80 cents
a hundred pounds profit. This regu-
lation was made by the food admins
tration, which now asks the housewife
to reduce sugar consumption as much
as possible, using other sweeteners,
and also reminds her that she should
pay no more than 8 cents pound for
sugar.
Control Of Cane Refncrs' Profits.
Immediately upon the establish
ment OF the food administration" Mr.
Hoover said, IAN examination was
made Of the costs and profits of refin-
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 S1.80 per hundred
pounds. The pre-war differential haS
averaged about IS cents and increased
costs were found to have been impos-
ed by the war In increased cost or re-
fining, losses, cost of bags, labor, insur-
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 agreed
extortionate under the law.
"In the course of these tnvestiga-
tions 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
S424 per hundred t. o. b. Cuba, to
which duty and freight added to the
refners' cost amount to about $3.50
per hundred. The average sale price
of granulated by various refineries, ac-
cording to our investigation, was about
ST so per hundred, or Afferential OF
S1.S4
"In reducing the differentfal to $1.3O
there was q saving to the public OF o.
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 s24,800,0O0."
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:
l. 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 reflners,
with q member Of the food administra-
tton. 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
ernmentS. |
This committee, while holding strong
views as to the price to be paid Tor
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 q lower
price. and their persistence has re-
duced Cuban demands by 15 cents per
hundred. The price agreed upon Is
about $4.60 per hundred pounds, T. o. b.
Cuba. or equal to about $6 duty paid
New York
"This price should eventuate,"
Mr.. Hoover said, ITO 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 8La to
cents per pound, depending upon
locality and conditions Of trade, or
at from TO z cents below the
prices OF August last and from ons-
half to a cent per pound cheaper
than today.
.'There Is now an elimination of
speculation, extortionate profits, and
oJr - "a A m norfran L