New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1919-08-02
WHAT SHALL THE PRICES Be
FOR THE COMING LOUISE
ANA SUGAR CROP.

Considerable inquiry is devel-
| opinp among the sugar planters
Inf Louisiana as to what course
they shall pursue in regard to the
disposal of the coming sugar crop.
The scarcity Of sugar throughout
the entire world and the fact that
the invisible supply of sugar was
specifically entirely exhausted be-
fere the cessation of active war IN
europe between the Allies and
The entente powers lead us all to
the belief that for some years the
prices Of sugar will be sustained
and probably advanced. This vast
vacuum must be filled before nor
NAL conditions can be reached. AS
the situation now stands every
scattering lot Of sugar that can
be found anywhere is brought INTO
the market for the relief OF the
American public under the semi
sugar famine that is pow pre-
vailing.
MANY persons have thought that
the Board of Equalization, now IN
control of sugar, would continue
it's control until after peace shall
have been publicly proclaimed for
the president Of the United States.
This date, Judging from the pres
ent situation in Washington, will
be very indefinite and may occur
within two months or possibly
after another wears delay, or pos
sibly not at all, a condition which
would doubtless call for a new
peace convention in Europe. So
far as the control Of the q. 5.
Board of Equalization is con-
<eerned, it's purchase Of the entire
3Euban sugar crop and its ar
7 rangement for the gradual deliv-
ery of that crop would indicate
the presumption of the existence
of that Board, now in control OF
sugar, until January or February
of next year. 1t will be remem-
bered that the present crop was
taken over from Cuba on the basis
of 5 ~ cents f. o. h. Cuba and the
previous crop at AGO cents f. o. b.
Cuba and that the earlier sugar
last winter was coming into the
United States at two prices the
fragments 80 the cold crop at
40. the old CROP price, and the
1888 crcr at the new $50 t. o.
b. Cuba price.
The fact that the price OF sugar
was held down bv government
control and the price of wheat
= held bv the government control,
involves a seeming injustice and
ANY wov it is now leading to SER
ious discussion as to what would
Y 3 the price Of sugar without gov
( eminent control. AS the existing
methods of control are brought
about by the sugar refiners them
selves they having been placed in
control by Mr.. Hoover, and as
with the dissolution of that first
hoard aud the creation Of the
EQUALIZATION Board the sugar re.
f,ners secured favorable considera-
ton, it is fair to infer that their
consent to the present situation
was brought about by the liberal
margins allowed to them and the
Inference Of many thinking people
is that if the sugar controls was
removed, the prices of sugar
would at once attain a higher
level. This has been conspic'
uously the case in rice, in which
our state is interested to the ex
tent Of many millions Of dollars
and our sugar planters are now
called upon to decide what they
IN best do for the coming Louis
lana sugar crop. Some parties
[ not very familiar with the work
OF the Louisiana sugar committee
may not be aware Of the option
held by the sugar producers II
the agreement with the United
States Food Administration as Il
Louisiana sugars and we quote
from Article 10 Of that agreement
as follows:
ssThis agreement shall remain il
full force and effect from October
/. 1918, until the final disposition
Of the crop Of 1888 and fol
each succeeding year thereafter
until the existing state Of war be
tween the United States Govern