The sun., 1919-10-21
SUGAR FAMINE LAID
TO WAR OFFICIALS
Secretary Charged With Re-
sponsibility for Selling Sup
plies to France.
AMERICA NEEDED ALL
Prices Lower in Europe Than
in United States as Result,
Bland Says.
specie, pe.patch to run srA

WASHINGTON, oct. 20--The War De-
partment was to-day charged by Repre-
sentative Bland Und), member OF the
committee that investigated the foreign
expenditures of the army, with being
partly responsible for the present sugar
shortage in the United States because
of its failure to return to this country
a large surplus of sugar in possession
of the American Expeditionary Force
which was sold to France.
Mr.. Bland referred to official figures
in the inventory Of the army supplies
abroad and showed that 22,000,o0o
pounds of sugar were sold to France
under the blanket contract The total
value of all supplies abroad was placed
at s1,739,00O,00o These were all sold
to France by tho United States Liquida-
ton Commission, of which Judge Edwin
y. Parker of Houston. Tex, is chair
man, for $500, 00O,OO
The Secretary of War is held di-
rectly responsible by Mr.. Bland for the
sale of the sugar and other supplies to
France at time when they are needed
In this country. He states that Judge
Parker testified before the committee in
Paris that it was the opinion of Secre-
tary Baker that none of the supplies
should be brought back.
The Secretary's position was that the
cost of transportation would exceed the
value of the goods, although the Gov
ernment assumed a loss of S1.3S9, 000,-
Oo0 when the sale to France was made.
Help to France shown.
THE whole transaction has had the
effect of greatly reducing the cost of
living in France and increasing 1t here, -
Mr.. Bland said. The large amount of
sugar would certainly be worth its
| transportation expense now. In addition
here is a list of other food the French
are now selling at much below prices In
| this country, all of which was pur-
chased from the American Army;
Bacon, $4,000 600 pounds.
Flour, 216, 100000 pounds.
Evaporated milk, 23.0oo,00o cans.
Tomat toes 10000, 900 cans.
Coffee. $4,000 coo pounds.
Cigarettes. 1,21S.000.00
Prices all over France and Belgium
are lower than in the United States as
the result of this. In addition, a sur
| p'us of 5000 900 pairs of shoes were
given TO the French at about 25 cents on
| the dollar. | bought a pair of shoes In
France for $3.50 that would cost SIS
here.
1T is time that the Government Of the
| United States turns its attention to the
people of its own country. We not only
bought all these supplies at high prices
I but assumed loss of IS cents to a dollar
on their resale"
The Department of Justice to-day no
| titled beet sugar manufacturers that q
charge for sugar in excess of 10 cents a
pound wholesale would be considered In
violation of the food control act The
sugar equalization board has held thai
1t cents a pound was a fair retail price
! Sugar Refiners Notified.
| Attorney General Palmer sent tele
| gram to beet sugar refiners, in which h'
| said:
| THE United States Sugar Equaliza
ton Board has notified the Department
of Justice that as a considerable par
of the country generally supplied at this
time of the year with beet sugar may bt
embarrassed because of the beet sugar
factories failure to sell beet sugar q!
produced, and this condition II turn Il
due to the uncertainty regarding price
our Judgment is that no higher price
than 10 cents cash. less 9 ger cent, sea
board basis, is justified, and We hops
that you will decide at once to begir
marketing your sugar on this basis anC
relieve the very serious situation.
II ask you to make your announce
ment OF prices based on the above. The
Department of Justice will treat as al
unjust CHARGE any price in excess of THU
and consider such a charge violation o.
Section 4 OF the Lever food contract act
as amended. Please wire to-day YOU
.. concurrence in the above"