Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-04-12

Hoover said, "an examination was
made of the costs and profits of refin-
ing and II was finally determined that
the spread between the cost of raw
and the sale of refined cane sugar
should be limited to Sl30 per hundred
pounds. The prc-war differential had
averaged about IS cents and increased
costs were found to have been impos-
ed by the war I'm Increased cost of re-
filming, 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 /, and
anything over this amount to be agreed
extortionate under the law.
"In the course OF these investiga-
lions II was found by canvass OF the
Cuban producers that their sugar had,
during the first nine months OF the
y ~ year. sold for an average Of about
S424 per hundred I. o. b. Cuba, TO
which duty and freight added to the
refners' cost amount to about $500
per hundred. The average sale price
OF graduated by various reflneries, nc
cordlng to our investigation, was about
$3.50 per hundred, or differential OF
S1Si.
an reducing the dlfferential to S1.3O
there was saving TO the public OF "a
cents per hundred Had such diff
ferentlal been in use from the LIST or
January. 1917. the public would have
saved In the first nine months OF the
year about s24.SOO,OO0"
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:
I. 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 refiners,
with u member of the food adminlstra-
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 Mt 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 Is cents per
hundred. The price agreed upon Is
about $500 per hundred pounds, I. o. b.
Cuba, or equal to about SO 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 8H to
cents per pound, depending upon
locality and conditions Of trade, or
ut from I to 2 cents below the
prices Of August last and from one
half to a cent per pound cheaper
than today.
"There is now an elimination OF
speculation, eXtortionate profits, and