New-York tribune., 1919-06-07
BUSINESS NEWS BUREAUs
Tribune Building
154 Nassau Street
Fixed Sugar Price
For Another Year
Urged by Planter
DR.. Ferrara, Member of
Cuban Chamber of Depu'
ties, Says Regulation Is
Needed to Curb Market

0r Orastes Ferrara, member Of the
Cuban Chamber of Deputies ana q
large producer of sugar, yesterday
r,red that the plan of stabilizing the
price Of sugar adopted during the war
be continued for another year at least
"A crucial question that awaits de-
c;s;or is the price at which sugar Will
sell during the next year. In the last
two years OF the war we had nHeo
price and a single purchaser. "na'
about next year? Will the prlnclple
of price fixing last or will there be
free compensation Although per
sonailv producer. I am in favor OF
continuing a fixed price, because other
vi, the speculation in sugar Will be
rnbridled
"rhs cupboards of the world are
without sugar. and Cuba, which be-
rore the war produced one-seventh OF
ehe worlds output, will supply nearly
one-third ~ all that is produced IN
to coming season, If the market is
rec when this sugar is ready, the
1pctrat,ons in price will be enormous,
probably varying wildly from flVe TO
welve cents a pound. The price could
~ tbs ether hand. be stabilized, with
fairness 10 al concerned, at seven
cents pound
in,erican Capital in Cuba
D.. Te~rara. whose New York Office
: at ! Wall Street, was president OF
TIE Chamber of Deputies for eight
EARS. is Interested in five Cuban sugar
wills. is professor OF public law al the
avana National University, and also
IS r editor and publisher.
Sneaking of the opportunity Tor
Investment in Cuba, he said: "Amcri-
can capital invested in Cuba under the
largest guarantees could secure per-
marently an annual return of 10 per
cent. The ideal way for an American
20 enter Cuban enterprises is IN
partnership with natives, who can be
m the ground to safeguard the in
-t-nents. The Electric Light and
1ower Company. in Havana, and the
Cuban Telephone Company are run on
his basis with conspicuous success.
the investment of American capi
al in Cuba is already extremely ex-
.snsive, but there still is a larger field
~ it. New industries, new railroads,
Re purchase Of Cuban bonds and
'ooH5 from Europeans who desire to
Il them. are among the opportunities.
Big Trade With Cuba
The trade of the United States
,-'th Cuba is greater than with any
her country south of the States in
~ western hemisphere. In prewar
mes the United States bought so per
INT of Cuba's exports, but shipped
- tho island less than so per cent of
'ie merchandise it bought. During the
ar the United States practically had
-; IF Cuba's trade, but now the COM
atition of other nations may be ex-
ec-ed again. My advice to American
f--porters who are to participate in
= struggle is TO organize export COM
s3nies under the terms of the Webb
= TO study the needs. resources and
sycaology OF their foreign customers,
.rual and potential. In the past, we
oIrd tho American firms unorganized
,r foreign business, expecting the
ayers 10 come to them, only in rare
Instances sending competent statesmen
broad. think America ought to be
Die 10 retain so per cent of Cuba s
-oreign business permanently"