New-York tribune., 1919-10-17
Sugar Scarcity
Forces Return
OF w ar Rules
Enforced Rationing Impossi-
BILE, but Restrictions Will
BE Placed on Manufactllr-
ers and Restaurants Here

Wartime sugar restrictions for New
York City and the HIorthwestern part
Of the United States are practically
inevitable until January L. Henry L.
Costello, chairman of the raw sugar
division of the United States Sugar
Equalization Board, declared ycster-
day.
only 100000 tons of sugar TO cover
a normal consumption of 750,0 900 tons
IN territory embracing 80 100000
people is on hand" Mr. Costello said
I'VE will pull through if we can obtain
some of d surplus of 100000 tons of
beet sugar that will be available in the
Middle West in the next three months"
Enforced rationing will be impossible
as it was a year ago, Mr.. Costello said
because the food administration has
no money to pay the expenses of over
seeing the work of distribution. Mr.
Costcllo's committee, however, has al
ready restricted big manufacturers Of
candies and non essentials to supplies
equal to 80 per cent of their pre-war
supplies. The public Will be urged to
limit its purchases to two pounds Re
moval of the sugar bowl from res
taurant tables and similar wartime
methods may al5o come, Mr.. Costello
Indicated.
Pinch To BE Felt on Coast
The pinch will be localized to tho
Atlantic coast, Mr.. Costello declared
According to Il statement on the sugar
situation issued yesterday by the
Equalization Board, the balance Of
sugar available this year for consump-
tion is S55,o00 tons, against only 726,-
600 tons at this time last year. The
difficulty, however, viii be in getting
! To l, Il, ,f,i.. 4
in curbing the public's appetite for
sweets. which Is largely responsible
for tho shortage.
Mr.. Costello declared himself utterly
unable 10 account for the fact that al
ready in 1919 this country has CON
{. sumed 100000 long tons more sugar
than was expected.
He blamed the increased prosperity
of the workingman, prohibition. the i'll
crease in canning brought about by the
Food Administration and panicky buy
ing by housewives in fear Of a short
age.
Ship Strike First Cause
In May. declared Mr.. Costello there
was not the slightest ntimaton of the
present condition. The real trouble
started. he declared, with the shipping
strike in the summer which tied up $50
ships, and Increased with burst Of
oVer-buNing in June.
If supplies of Western beet sugar
can be obtained, manufacturers will be
urged to use these and leave the cane
sugar for home consumption At the
same time it was thought that supplies
of German beet sugar might be avail
able late this fall. Germany is also
short OF sugar 1t was stated, but is so
much more in need Of coal that it IS
believed she would sell sugar for coal
|. /. l. 4
buy what sugar she needs later at
higher prices.
There will be plenty of sugar next
year if there is 10 boarding or un-
necessary buying, Mr. Costello said
but probably at slightly higher price
Christmas Candy Shortage
A shortage of Christmas candies viii
result from the sugar famine, locu
candy manufacturers declared. Candies
with nut and fruit centres Will be
featured as to reduce the amount
OF sugar required; The output of maple
sugar sweets Will also be Increased
The American Chicle Company ant
Wrlgley's also are reported short OF
sugar for gum.
Stenographcrs and sales girls, bet
ter paid than ever before, are reported
revelling in candy because Of their in
creased salaries. The sugar shortage
mas also been aggravated by the ship
ping strike, twenty vessels being tiec
up at refincries with raw sugar to be
unoaded
While the Sugar Equalization Boaro
declared that if boarding and unneces.
sary buying were barred there would
be plenty of sugar next year at &
signify higher price, brokers estimated
that sugar would retail at IS cents a
least, and that big manufacturers Nigh
NN lN1,lr
through competition. Sales Of suga
rot affected by the Sugar Equalization
b board were yesterday reported at price,
ranging from 13 to II cents.
Cuba Holds Key TO the Problem
1he cruX of the whole situation. ac
cording to local brokers, is the dspo
sltion of the Cuban crop, estimate,
this year at A.500,ooo tons. OF thi
over 100000 tons have already beer
sold. If eign buyers are able t,
buy the remainder this country vii
have to buy next year from abroad
But this danger is minimized becaus
foreign buyers are not able to swim,
the deal financially.
The United States cannot buy thi
crop unless Congress passes a bill nov
pending to continue the Equalization
Board and to extend its regulator
powers to American cane and bee
/ sugar. Sugar brokers, however, dc
| clare the farmers VIII not allow thi
| blll to pass, because it would fix tn
| nrlce of beet sugar, and beet suga
| VIII constitute more than 80 per cen
! OF the American supply in 1920
! Brokers declared that every means
| being used TO obtain sugar. On
| method of evadng the price fixed b
| the Sugar Board ON Cuban sugar is
| make buyers take equal amounts c
| rice and sugar the rice bearing tn
| illegal price addition demanded fc
| the sugar. Another method of cvadin
the law against boarding is for larg
lrms to "chase" warehouse recent
for stored sugar, legally Keeping tn
sugar in transit
The first addition to the local A
lantlc sugar supply came yesterda
when the Baltimore & Ohio Railroa
voluntarily assigned to the Fcdcr
price commission 10000 pounds ,
sugar accumulated at Baltimore as III
claimed freight