The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-10-22

General Palmer notified beet sugar
refiners that the sugar equalization
board had decided that 10 cents
was a fair price to wholesalers, and
that charges in excess of that amount
would be regarded as violation of
the food control act. The ruling
price has been cents for several
months Beet refiners have been
holding up their output. but are now
expected to cnocur in this ruling and
TO Immediately market supplies.
New York city was put upon ra-
ton basis last week, in an attempt to
curb boarding and to divide the sup
ply as eQuitably as possible. The al
lotment is $4,000 tons a month and
candy and gum makers will get but
so per cent OF normal requirements.
while consumers will be asked to
deny themselves as during war days.
The candy men claim that they have
sweets stored for Christmas, and this
must be also true in Chicago, where
the candy and gum men contributed
many carloads Of sugar to relieve the
pressure, few days ago.
Tremendous Consumption
1t is estimated that America has
consumed 100000 tons more of sugar
within a year than ever before, at
least that extra tonnage has dlsap-
peared. 1t is possible, of course, that
a lot of this sugar is in hiding, await
ing the open market to follow when
the life of the sugar control act ends.
1t is hoped, however. that congress
will extend the time of control for
another year, and the bill is now in
committee.
We are informed from Washington
that there will be no objections to
the passage of this bill if price sat
isfactory to the Louisiana planters
can be fixed" Just little matter Of
political expediency, be it observed,
for the price is amply high right now,
for legitimate profit.
Prohibition a Factor
That prohibition is partly res
ponsible for added consumption is
readily apparent. The whiskey drink
er does not crave sweets, nor does the
beer drinker care for candy, for the
alcohol contained supplies them with
sugar. Lacking these, candy, sweet
pastries and drinks are requisites and
ice cream enjoyable to men who erst-
while turned to the cold bottle and
the highball. The country has been
flooded with soft drinks, as never be-
fore and pop" men have used more
millions of pounds Of sugar than ever
in our history.
Another cause is the fact that
money has been plentiful, and that
with the passing Of wartime regula-
tions and restraint the people have in
dulged freely in sugar and in confec-
tons, for after all, sugar has been and
still is relatively cheap, food values
past deprivation, and are no longer
counting the Jumps or spoonful, or
rather, were not until these days OF
temporary famine.
The talk Of a coming shortage in
connection with the efforts of Cuban
planters to advance prices on the pres
ent crop, has doubtless led to some
boarding in private homes. Farmers
who formerly came to town to get a
meagre allowance finally took home
a sack at time, and the city woman
of means undoubtedly went the far
mer one better in thousands of in
stances. This is unQuestionably true
and in the aggregate these family
hoardings may total many millions Of
pounds, divided among 20,0OO,000
homes, even though the ma jority of
us are sugarleSs.
Chicago Prices Fixed.
Advices from Chicago Wednesday
are to the effect that Chicago is soon
10 be relieved by receipt Of sugar from
Colorado and Utah beet refineries.
The fair price committee will irsti-
tute a wartime method of distribution
to dealers, and the price to consumers
is to be u cents per pound cash and
carry, and 1912 cents delivered to the
/ home.
Major A. A. Sprague declares that
! there shall be no profteering in sugar
/ at Chicago. He is chairman OF the
| new fair price" committee.