Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-10
Withdrawing Sugar>Control

| a uncomfortable feeling must possess the
| country as it realizes that the Federal
| government is about TO leave the American
people at the morcy OF sugar shortage
abandoning all control over this vital COM
modify in so far new supplies and distri-
button are concerned, on the first OF Jan.
uary. AT that time the Sugar Eauniisation
Board a wartime institution set up to pur.
chase and eQuitably distribute the stocks OF
American and Cuban sugar, will pass out OF
existence and only the Department OF Justice
VIII be left TO offer meager protection 20 the
consumer against either famine or profiteers
lhlS Shock comes at time moreover
when the scarcity of sugar is most acute
IL comes during period of harvest both in
the cane fields OF the South and the hcr,
hcids OF the West, but when there arc little
or no supplies in any community i'm the
East, Notwithstanding the new stocks which
are supposed TO be on the domestic market
Anu the people generally will naturally Won
oer what they have to expect during the com
ing months If they arc unable now 10 buv en-
Huch as pound Of this product without n
mad scramble
me Department OF Justice announces that
II mas neither the power nor the machinery
LOT the control OF the sugar supply of the
country. All that it promises is to prosecute
inc dealer who undertakes to make excessive
profits as result OF the shortage and that
Is Il very indefinite promise al best. Since
'"c'c is no legal machinery for fixing tho
margin oi profit and since the government
ALREADY has announced that the Louisiana
supp! may he sold AT one price the bcrt
sugar AT another. and the Cuban sugar a,
announcer thcrc IL little opportunity for tbc
.onsu"'er 10 Know what he ought to pay
and practically no opportunity for him IN
ascertain which brand OF sugar he is buyipr
Both Congress and the admnist ration /,
may De remarked have had fun motto, IF
the necessities OF the present situation
months ago the Sugar Equalization Board
called upon the President to Issue an oyocr
i've order which would extend the Htc and
powers OF that board for another year. Civ
ing II authority TO go into tho Cuban n,rr.,,
lot at icast three-ifths OF the islands SUNNY
supply which added to the domestic on,
put would have provided reasonable
amount OF the product for every American
family But the President. for some nm.
accountable reason, did not act
men the board laid the case before Con
srcss' special committee of tho Senate
""s created 10 inquire into the emergency
- 'h"' som H'l''ee AT single sitting be-
came convinced that famine conditions wonId
result in this country If action were No, ,,to,,
Immediately. The McNarv bill emnoworinr
'ne equalization Board to function for an
o'ner year was brought out, but that hoard
reused TO serve unless the additional power
Vi licensing sugar producers refncrs and
dealers should be granted influential mem
oers OF both the House and Senate served
ho'lce forthwith upon the McNary commit.
zee that they would prevent the passage NJ
any legislation creating a license svstnm
ana no legislation was passed
u may be too late now for the rovorn
neh' 10 intervene. The greater part of tbe
cuban crop has been sold to Eurone and onI,
d snort time must elapsc before tho Sus,r
equalization Board will pass out 81 c,is,.
eace For this shorts ightcdncss tho Amori.
can people must probably suffer not only
from scarcity of sugar, but from OUTRAGEOUS
prices Tor what small stocks may be offered
for sale :"