Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-11-25
GOVERNMENT MAY
RATION SUGAR To-
PREVENT A FAMINE

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-Sugar
has been placed under wartime re-
strictions, and will probably be ra-
toned to the people in an effort to
avert a threatened sugar famine. Be-
cause of the gravity of the situation
President Wilson has revived the
wartime food control laws, still in
effect, and has transferred authority
of the food administrator to Attor-
ney General Palmer.
With the new cloak of power, the
attorney general can exercise juris-
| diction over all food supplies if he
considers it necessary. He will not
do this, it was said, except as an
extreme measure, and will confine his
present duties toward regulating
sugar distribution.
Heavy purchases for foreign &C
counts were said to be the chief
cause for the present sugar Short
age. The United States has been Sc
curing 100000 tons of sugar from
Cuba annually, but this year it was
reported European dealers have al
ready purchased more than 1000,
900 tons from Cuba, and it was fear
ed continued foreign buying would
cause a dearth of sugar for the
United States.
Among the first acts Of the de-
partment of justice it is understood,
will be the establishment of a price
of twelve cents a pound wholesale
for all sugar, except the Louisiana
crop, the price of which already has
been fixed at seventeen cents. This
increase of price was said to be nee
essary to prevent a famine during
the early part of next year.
Sharp curtailment of sugar con-
sumption by candy and soft drink
manufacturers also will be ordered
as officials declare the present
shortage is due in a measure to the
increased consumption of candy and
soft drinks which has followed the
enforcement of prohibition. Details
as to this curtailment remain to be
worked out.
While the margin between the
wholesale and retail price of sugar
has not yet been determined, Off
Gals are known to have tentatively
considered 1.54 cents, making the
retail price approximately IA cents
a pound. This, however, is subject
to change, depending upon a varie-
ty of conditions.
Howard Figg, assistant to the at
torney general in charge of food
sales and distribution, has worked
out plans for carrying out the drastic
regulations proposed as soon as APP
prevail has been had by the several
government agencies, which it will
be necessary to consuIt,
Clothed with their new authority,
department officials will sign an
agreement with beet and cane sugar
refiners whereby the latter are to
go into the Cuban market and pllr-
chase all available stocks. The sup
ply of Cuban sugar in it's raw stats
is estimated at 100000 tons.
A sugar distribution committee
also will be set up by the depart
ment of justice. It will sit con-
stantly and will have entire charge
of the ALLEGATION Of stocks. Rein
ers who enter into the agreement
will be compelled to sell their sup
plies through this committee. 9th
erWise their transactions will not be
materially restricted, it is said. Off
Gals believe this plan will eliminate
the possibility of concentration of
stocks at one point as we'll as pre-
vent boarding.
Officials freely admit next month
will see the supply of sugar in
American warehouses practically ex-
hausted. The American crop ordi-
narily is about 100000 tons While
the annual consumption average APP
proximately 100000 tons. For the
reason that European dealers. are
rapidly buying up the Cuban crop
officials said it woul dbe necessary
for American representatives to act
quickly if that source of supply was
not to be cut off entirely.