The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1918-01-26

anything over this amount to be agreed
extortionate under the law.
I'm the course of these investiga-
lions it was found by ava of the
Cuban producers that their sugar had,
during the first nine months of the
past year. sold for an average of about
N424 per hundred f. o. b. Cuba, to
which duty and freight added to the
reiners' cost amount TO about S5.66
per hundred. The average sale price
Of g%ranulated by various refineries, ac-
cording to our investigation, was about
" 30 per hundred. or . d~ifferential of
S1.S4
IN reducing the differential to S1.W
there was a saving TO the public or ~
cents per hundred. Had such a dit-
~ferential been in use from the Isl OF
January. 1917. the public would have
saved in the first nine months OF the
wear about S24 800 400"
Next Year.
With a view to more efficient organ
ization of the trade in imported sugar
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 10
divide the sugar imports pro rata to
their various capacities and see that
absolute justice is done to every re-
finer
>. A committee comprising three rep-
resentativeS OF the English, French
and Italian governments; W o repre-
Sentatiyes of the American refinerS,
with a 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 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.
III (OlllllllltCs LIN " oR'CbS
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
--1 -I;n 70 rAnu no n nXvnr
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, f. o. b.
Cuba, or equal TO about Sc 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 at from 8Ha to 9
cents per pound. depending upon
locality and conditions of trade, or
at from l to 2 cents below the
prices of August last and from one
half to a cent Fer pound cheaper
than today
There is now an elimination of
speculation. e~Xtortionate profits. and
in the refining alone the American
people will save over $25 .000,0 900 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
Appeals to prejudice against the
food administration have been made
because the Cuban price is g. cents
above that of 1917. 1t is said in effect
thai the Cubans are at our mercy
that we could get sugar a 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 1t averages $3.50, while many
producers are al a higher level. We
found hat an average profit of al
least a cent per pound was necessary
IN order to maintain and stimulate
production or that Il minimum price of
si.37 was necessary. and even this
would stife some producers.
The price Ultimately agreed was %
.ents above these figures, or about one
fifth of a cent per pound to the Ameri-
ean consumer, and more than this
mount has been saved by our reduc-
ion in %refiners' profits. If we wish TO
lie production in Cuba We could
AXE thai course just at the time of all
lines in our history when we want
production for ourselves and the al
les. Further thar that, the state de-
anrtment will assure you that such a
course would produce disturbances in
Cuba and destroy wen our present
~snrnlies. hut beyond all these material
REASONS is one of human justice. This
ereat country has no right by the
mishr Of its position TO strangle Cuba.
Therefore there is no imposition
f,on the American public. Charges
ave been made before this commit
fa hat Mr.. Rolph endeavored to ben
81 the California refinery of which ne
us manager by this "a cent increase
d Cuban price. MIR, Rolph did not fix
'e price. II does raise the price to