Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-09-02

-ASHINGTON, D. c., August 28.-The
M dealer who seeks to profiteer in sugar
w is showing poor judgment. In the
case of almost any other commodity, 1t is
a question just what is fair price and what
constitutes profteering. But, although most
people do not seem to realize it, sugar is
still being sold under the wartime regula-
tions made by the food administration, and
vigorously enforced by that organization dur
ing the war.
The food administration is now a mere
whispering shadow of its former self, but
this sugar agreement remains as a monu-
ment to it's days of glory, and makes 1t easy
for the department of justice to get the man
who seeks to gouge the public on sugar
prices. Three wholesale dealers have recent
| y been arrested, and one jobber has had his
license revoked, for charging excessive prices
for sugar
"Our desire is to secure fair price to
the consumer" said Attorney General Palmer
in announcing a rigorous enforcement Of
sugar regulations. 1--WE do not wish to pur
sue wholesale policy of recommending can
collation. of licenses. Where trade adjusts it.
self to fair price for the future, past VIOLA
tions, unless fragrant, will not ordinarily be
made the basis of a recommendation by this
department for the cancellation of the
licenses"
Any housewife who pays more than IL
cents pound for sugar is overcharged, &C
cording to the food administration. The
producers and refners are getting the same
price for sugar today that they received dur
ing the war. That price is to continue in
effect for the remainder of the year. by agree
ment between the refners and the govern
INIT. If more than IL cents is charged the
consumer, profteering is going on, aad the
government agents will take summary action
against the profteers.
Reports have reached the food administra-
ton that retailers have been getting as high
as 16 cents a pound for sugar in Chicago.
Many cities report that the rtailers are charg-
ing IA and Is cents, while right here in
Washington, under the very nose of the food
administration, grocers are charging as high
as 13 IL cents.
There is positively no justification for an
increase in the price of sugar at this time.
Last October the sugar equalization board,
which is part of the food administration,
purchased the entire domestic and Cuban
crops of raw sugar. The Cuban crop alone
| is estimated at more than 100000 tons.
| One-third of this crop was allotted to Great
Britain. There remains about 1000, 900 tons
| of the American portion of the Cuban crop,
and this is now available for distribution in
| this country just as fast as it can be shipped
and refined.
| The equalization board sells raw sugar to
retiners at 1928 cents a pound. Refiners are
under contract with the board not to charge
more than cents to the wholesalers. The
latter are allowed a maximum margin of profit
| OF 68 cents per 100 pounds for handling,
while the retailers are permitted to make
a profit of "a cents pound, making a fair
price of IL cents to the consumer.
| Every sugar dealer in the country binds
himself to live up to the price arrangement
made by the, food administration when he
! takes out license to deal in sugar. This
| license can be revoked at any time by the