New-York tribune., 1919-10-12
Greatest Crop in History
Goes toNipponcse, Where
as This Country Formerly
Got the Whole Product
Shortage Here Until 1921
Sen. Smoot and Colleagues
Attack Baker for Sell
ing Army Supply Abroad
Ncw York Tribune
IYa.hirct0n RnrenN


WASHINGTON, Oct. 11.--The sugar
shortage in the United States will con-
tinue until the crop of 1921 is manu-
featured, because of the fact that Japan
has bought the entire 1920 crop Of
Hawaii, Senator Smoot, of Utah. told
the Senate to-day.
The sugar shortage was discussed at
length by several Senators, who at
tackled Secretary of War Baker SELL
ing American army supplies of sugar
abroad instead of placing it on the
market in the United States to prevent
an increase in prices at home.
In letter to Senator Pomerene,
which was read in the Senate, George
a. Zahriskie head of the United States
Sugar Equalization Board. said that the
shortage was due more to an unex-
pected increase in consumption at home
than to an insufficient supply
Big Increase in Demand
Mr. Iabriskie said that since the
first of January this year the con-
sumption Of sugar in the United States
has increased about 25 per cent. This
increase, he said, was "entiraly unex-
pcctcd." The period covered BY the
increase comedies with the period of
kitchen experiments to alleviate the
drought caused by prob ibition, but Mr.
Zabriskie did not blame the extensive
use of sugar in the manufacture of
home made wines and other iutoxicants
for the shortage. In his letter he
said:
"We regret greatly the many com
plants being received about the diff
Guilty of getting sugar. The situation
GCEn1OnnI nNt : |, I,
an insufficient supply as from an in
ordinate demand. The country, accord
ing to our figures, from the first of
January to the end OF September con-
sumed this year 3263 600 long tons Of
sugar, against 1861 600 long tons a
year ago-an increase of about 500 900
long tons. This increase was entirely
unexpected, and is mainly responsible
Tor the present scarcity.
Explains American Exports
"The information given you in re-
spect to expectation is not quite cor
rect. When the Equalization Board
bought the Cuban crop, it resold to the
Allies one-third OF the purchase. OF
this one-third, the Royal Commission
on the sugar supply arranged to have
on toll. There was no objection 10 this.
inasmuch as it kept American indus
tries and labor in employ. This is
practically the only sugar that is now
being exported.
'On the first of July we asked the
refners to suspend all expert sales,
which request has been complied with
There were, however, some contracts
made prior to that date for shipment
% the Allies and neutral countries.
These contracts having been made in
GOOD
the rehners and must be lived up to-
The amount, however, is small and in
cur opinion not enough to affect the
American people"
Senator Sherman, of Illinois, opened
discussion of the sugar shortage by
reading reports of the sale of army
sugar to Europe. These sales were
prices in the United States, said the
Senator.
Prices Ought To Be "Disturbcd"
"These existing prices ought to be
disturbed" said Senator Sherman. "I1
high cost Of living we must disturb
prices"
Senator Sherman said that despite
the sugar shortage in the Unite(
States. the War Department has sole
22,000,00O pounds of sugar abroad.
IL was informed by one of the lead
ing sugar men of the United States,
said Senator Smoot, "that Japan ha(
purchased all Of the Hawaiian sugar
crop for this year; in other words
that the extra large crop raised Of
expected TO be raised this year will bt
taken away from the American mar
ket entirely and the whole sugar pro
duct of the Hawaiian Islands sent tt
Japan, or wherever Japan directs tha
it be shipped. If that be the case.
wish to saw now that the shortage o
sugar in the United States will con
tinue at least until the crop OF 1872
is manufactured"
"The Hawaiian crop am mounts, think
to over 600 1000 tons and heretofor
this country has had it all" inter
rupted Senator Lodge
"And this years crop is the larges
in the history of the islands, sal
Senator Smoot