The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-11-04
Senator McNary, Author of Bill,
Declares Serious Situation
Will Ensue if Control Is Not
Continued.
PRESENT FAMINE IS
NOT DUE TO SHORTAGE
Committee Insists Board Should
Have Authority to Acquire
Domestic and Insular Crops
of 1920.

Washington. Nov. 3.-The McNary
bill proposing continuation of federal
control over sugar during 1920 was re-
ported today to the senate and placed
on the calendar with a view to early
action.
In majority report, Senator Nc
Neary, republican Of Oregon. author Of
the bill and chairman Of the senate
agricultural subcommittee which in
vestigated the sugar shortage, declar-
ed "a serious situation will ensue" If
the sugar equalization boards control
over sugar is not continued another
year.
Minority views, presented by Sena-
tor Ransdell. democrat, of Louisiana,
expressed agreement In the plan to
continue the sugar board, with author
ity for its purchase Of Cuban sugar.
but opposed giving the board power
to buy and sell domestic sugars as an
interference with natural
economic laws and as likely to unduly
depress prices OF Louisiana and other
domestic sugar.
Senator McNary's report suggested
that the present sugar famine condi-
tions largely are psychological and not
due to present shortage but to fear Of
future shortage and the anticipation
Of this situation is reflected by specu-
lation in the sugar trades Data in
the hands of the committee, the re-
port states. shows about 100000 tons
of Cuban and domestic sugar are avail
able for distribution until january /,
which quantity will provide for con-
period. The world shortage OF sugar
was estimated at 1000, 900 tons over
the p-e-war average.
The Cuban CROP" the report stat
ed. 'if not controlled by this govern
ment working through the sugar
equalization board, will supply a field
for competition with the resultant ef-
feet OF extraordinary high prices for
raw sugars with corresponding reflec-
ton Of increased prices to the con-
sumer"
American sugar consumption per
capita annually, the majority report
stated, has increased from rs to go
pounds, due in part to larger con-
sumption Of sweet meats and fountain
drinks containing sugar"
Regarding the senate committee's
refusal Of the sugar boards request to
provide for licensing power in the
sugar trade the majority report said:
While serious misgivings are en-
tertained by the sugar equalization
board to license manufactures and
dealers in sugar, it is the opinion of
your committee that serious situa-
tfon will ensue il the law creating the
sugar equalization board is permitted
to expire. 1t is believed that = Ne
life of the sugar board is extended
until December 81, 1920, and by ap-
propriate legislation, the board IS au-
thorized to acquire the domestic and
insular crop of 1920 plus the Cuban
crop, that its power to regulate the re-
finer and his charge to the broker and
their charge to the final consumer can
be fixed by the control the board would
exercise over the 1920 crop by reason
ing acquitted the product, it is reasona-
bic that the refiner and the dealer
who must have the sugar will uncom-
plainingly conform to any rule or reg
ulation imposed by the board"
Conceding that large part of the
Cuban crop of 1920 already has been
sold Senator McNary said the COM
mittee believes the two-thirds remain
ing can be acquired reasonably al
though at prices higher than il the
board had been authorized to buy it
last summer. In this connection the
report detailed failure OF President
Wilson to respond to recommendations
Of the board for power to purchase the
Cuban sugar.