St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1918-08-10
LOUISIANA ASKS CHANCE FOR
HER SECOND SUGARS.

Louisiana has about ten million
pounds of second and third sugara
on hand, which were worked up in
June. The sugar producers depend
ed upon the sales of these sugars to
provide much of the money for the
preparation for the harvesting and
conversion of the coming crop. The
price fixed for these sugars is fairly
satisfactory, but the planters say
there has been little possibility of
sale because of the sugar distribu-
ton system. With the industries cut
down to the lowest notch they nat
urally confine purchases to the high
est grade sugar so as to secure the
most sweetening the law allows. The
second and third sugars provide six
or more degrees less sweetening and
were. therefore, a drug in the market:
The planters claim that the rules
would force an eventual sacrifice to
the refineries, who would not reduce
their margin Of profit accordingly, so
that the refiners would be the only
people benefited. They urge an
amendment to the rules so that the
second and third sugars would be ad-
mitted to the allotment ON their
sweetening value, instead of on the
quantity basis. Geo. M. Rolph, head
of the sugar division of the United
States Food Administration, after re-
fusing to make any exceptions, argu-
ing that opening the door would
have a tendency to disrupt the en-
tire distribution system, has consent
ed to give Louisiana special hear
ing and an early conference will take
place.
Jno. M. Parker, Food Administra-
tor for Louisiana, has in the mean
time come to the rescue as far as
this state is concerned. The July al
lotment Of 100000 pounds was
cut to little over 100000 pounds
for August. A reduced distribution
was made among the dealers, bak-
ers, eating places and other essen
tials. The remainder is being divid-
ed among the non-essential and less
essential industries, and the outlook
was that many Of these would be
seriously crippled. In order to give
them as much sugar as possible with
out entrenching upon the short sup
ply of high grade sugars, Mr.. Parker
avoided further cutting down in a
large number of cases by permitting
them to purchase second and third
sugars in place of the higher grade,
which gave them nearly as much
sweetening material as they previ-
ously had. This will work a double
benefit, as the welfare of the state is
to a large extent bound up with that
of the sugar industry.
Official ban has been placed upon
sherberts just as it was upon the
"snowballs", the newsboys' summer
delight. There is an immense sum
mer trade in New Orleans and other
Louisiana cities. Outside of their
cooling effect, the only food value in
sherbert is the sugar contents. This
sugar demand made it impossible to
continue manufacture in view Of the
decreased allowance. Enterprising
soda fountain operators thought they
saw way out by utilizing concen-
trated syrups instead of sugar and
applied for permission to do so. The
matter was referred to Washington.
which has ruled that sherberts be
discontinued entirely without regard
to the manner Of their making. 1t
also intimated that Louisiana did not
spring anything new in the applica-
ton. The question had already been
discussed with the national refresh
ment industry, the use of ice as well
as sugar was involved, and the Ma
tional Ice Cream Manufacturers As
ISOLATION has voluntarily discontinue
ed the production of sherberts. Lou
isiana was, therefore, asked to smil-
ingly do the same Ice cream is
about the last resort of the tastes
which crave for combination OF cool
ness and sweetness.
Citizens from this and other states,
who recently have Travelled, con-
graduate Louisiana upon the patri-
otto manner in which she is observ-
ing the sugar conservation rules. Mr..
Parker, because of his Office, is in
closer touch with the spirit, for he
has had daily callers voluntarily con-
veying Information Of sugar posses
sion in excess of the government
limit with offers to surrender the
surplus The parish administrators
report many similar cases. Joseph
Ramirez, Administrator for East Bat
on Rouge parish, became convinced
that the Meyer Hotel, at the capitol,
had more sugar than the rules per-
mitted, and in order to find out he
and w. P. Connel, the District Ad-
ministrator, made charge In the
Federal Court which permitted a
search warrant. 1t proved that not
only were the hotels returns incor-
rect, but that it was boarding some
1900 pounds of sugar. A hearing be-
| fore E. T. Merrick, head Of the En-
forcement Division, at New Orleans,
| was marked with frank admission
of the Meyers, who said that the
legislature rush had forced them ia
depend upon employees to look after
the sugar matter and that the mixup
had resulted without their knowl-
| edge. In view of their wheatless and
other food conservation record, Mr.
Merrick ordered them to pay a fine
of $1,000 to the Red Cross and to
distribute their sugar among Baton
Rouge charities. The sentence has
been complied with. The court
| charge has been dropped, its main
object having been to obtain the
search warrant. C. d. Kalmbach
Food Administrator at Shreveport
obtained $500 for the Red Cros:
from a Greek caterer, for inducing {
dealer to sell him a few pounds o.
sugar against a certificate which h
had never obtained.
The rumored and expected change
in the -four rules have not eventual
ed, and the regulations still stand