New-York tribune., 1919-12-19
Louisiana Senators Refuse
to Permit Vote ON McNary
Measure, Including House
Licen ing Amendment
Supply Called Ample
Object to Buying the Cuban
Crop at Famine Price and
Say End of Shortage Near
New York Tribune
WGshin 0fO1r Hurenef


WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.-The Louis
lana Senators to-day again blocked the
final passage of the sugar bill in the
Senate. The measure would extend
government control and licensing dur
ing 1920.
Senator Harrison, Of Mississippi,
moved that the Senate concur in
amendments made to the McNary bill
by the House. Senator Ransdell, of
Louisiana, Immediately started fill
buster. Under an agreement that had
been reached by leaders on both sides,
there was to have been an hour and n
half of debate, and Senator Ransdcll
led q discussion that occupied all of
the time, thus preventing a vote.
Senator Ransdell protested against
the sugar industry being Singled out"
for Federal supervision during peace
times under war powers.
Infiicts lawful Punishment"
"The bill proposes to infiict awful
punishment on the sugar industry
alone" he declared. Senator Gay, also
of Louisiana, asserted that if the bill
is enacted the United States would
have to purchase the Cuban crop at
famine prices.
Vce-P President Marshall, during the
Justice discussed price questions with
dealers and promised immunity under
certain conditions.
Senator Ransdell, defending the de-
partment, declared that he could see
nothing improper in its action in ,di-
recting an informal inquiry by the
District Attorney of Louisiana which
resulted in fixing II cents as fair
price for the Louisiana crop of raw
and 1S cents for refined
"The department did not rush in," he
said. "and / do not think it wished to
begin prosecutions unless there had been
profiteering."
Calls Supply Adequate
1--WE need 100000 tons Of sugar in
this country and the supply is more than
adequate" said Senator Ransdell. "Therc
is plenty in sight. Louisiana produces
only onefortieth Of our neetls-1O0, 900
tons-and cannot control prices. Do
away with the sugar board and sugar
zones and let the people buy freely in
the open market, and there will be no
very great general increase in price
Public opinion against profteering
would prevent any eXorbitant increase.
People who would sell Cuban, Hawaiian
or Louisiana sugar at exorbtant prices
would be prosecuted"
Senator Harrison said he had taken
up with the department cases Of deal
ers charging 27 cents for sugar, and was
sat SIZED the department. was doing its
duty, although there had been no prose
cutions. probably for the reason that
there had been no grand jury action
Enough by February
Senator Smoot, Republican, Utah.
presented late trade statistics giving
Cuban sugar quotations at 1912 cents
a pound for December delivery, and
around SN cents for deliveries from
February to June. The quotations in
Smoot, with a crop more than sufi-
cient" for American demands by Feb
ruary.
passed calling upon Attorney General
the price of the Louisiana sugar crop
1t was charged by Representative
Tinkham, Massachusetts, author of the
resolution, that this act of the Attorney
General had added S94O 100000 to the
cost of living.
"The Attorney General" he said
"has absolutely no authority to fix the
price of any commodity"