The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1918-01-31

POUNDS. Inc pre-Waf QlnerentlaI n00
averaged about IS cents and increased
costs were found to nave been impos-
ed by the war in increased cost Of re-
filming, 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 l, and
anything over this amount to be agreed
extortionate under the law.
"In the course of these investiga-
lions it 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 f. 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 graduated by various refineries, ac-
cording to our investigation was about
$3.50 per hundred, or differential Of
$1S4..
'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 LIST OF
January, 1917. the public would nave
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
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. committee comprising three rep
resentatives Of the English, French
and Italian governments two repre-
sentatives 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 3
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 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 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, 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 81 to 9
cents per pound, depending upon
locality and conditions of trade, or
at from 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
in the, refining alone the American
people will save over $25,O00O0O of
the refining charges last year. 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
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- I
can consumer, and more than this !
has been saved by our reduc-
ton in refiners' profits. If 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 al |
lies. Further than that, the state de- |
M vt,nopt will aSSura vOu that Such a