The Washington times., 1919-10-03
FEAR SUGAR
SHORTAGE IN
WASHINGTON
Dealers AppTehensive as to Out
COme-May Have to Ration
Reserve Supply.

Washington today faces being
placed on sugar rations" as a result
Of the most serious shortage OF that
commodity ever felt in the Capital.
wholesale groeerymen today express
ed the belief that washington is now
in the opening stages, OF a sugar
famine, relief from which, judging
from the present outlook. Is far in
the future.
While maintaining a supply to the
Consumers, dealers today stated it
can be done only by selling small
amounts 10 the customers, practically
adopting for themselves the war
time sugar rationing. II Is stated that
no supply can be had at present from
the refineries, while orders given for
November and December may not be
filled until the first OF the year.
Clarence R. Wilson, Federal food
administrator for Washington, today
addressed a letter. characterized BY
himself as ian urgent appeal" to
sugar rehneries IN New York asking
that a supply Of sugar be sent 70
Washington Immediately. He asked
this as Federal Food administrator
and not as chairman Of the fair price
committee.
Reserve supply Waning.
'eThe fair price committee can DO
nothing in this case" Mr.. Wilson said
today. "Its a question OF obtaining
the sugar, not selling IL. Some whole
salers are unable to obtain any sugar
at ali. and there is little reserve IN
store in the District The reserve -
being fast depleted"
Asked today for causes OF the short
age Of sugar, wholesale dealers in the
commodity stated il is vSriously at
tributed to the large exports from the
country, closing of rehneries because
Of Government control, and holding
OF large amounts OF sugar IN Porto
Rico destined for shipment to the
United States. The Porto Rico ship
ments are being held for higher
prices. amounting practically to food
boarding.
Already some % the retailers in
washington are resOFtihg TO the
sugar ratinoninE allowing their Gus
toners only small amounts Of the
commodity at a time. In this way
they hope to carry themselves through
the famine" They are. as a whole,
pessimistic over the outlook for the
future, although some hold out hope
for relief from a Congressional inves-
tigation into the shortage of sugar.
It is believed BY some dealers that
Congress will dnd the cause and sup
ply the remedy, cut down the exports
to some extent. or IL the Government
control be the cause, change 1t or
lift It
Charged With GOuginE.
The names Of three dealers who
have been charged by consumers
with selling food over the prices
given in the fair price list issued by
Clarence r. Wilson's comuittee Of
food dealers and consumers are in
the hands OF officials Of tbe Depart
ment Of Justice. Mr.. wilson stated
today that these men are being in !
vestiEated, and IL the charges Of l
prohteering are true, the Department
Of Justice will take steps to award
suitable punishment.
The fair price list issued yesterday,
Mr.. Wilson stated today, may be
changed next week. Market cOndi-
tions remaining the sAH e, thr list
will be continued in force until a
change in prices is necessitated.
Watch out for the profteering re-
taller in Government supplies"
This warning was given today from
the Government retail store in Lib
consumers in Washington who. may
suffer from small grocerymen who |
buy from the store and sell at ad-
vanced prices.
Sell at Big Gain.
Several cases Of grocerymen who /
come to the store with six and seven I
and buy the maximum |
amount of food allowed a purchaser, !
onIv 10 take IL and sell If af ad-
vanced prices again, have come to the |
attention OF officers in charge Of the /
sale of surplus army /
supplies from the Liberty Hut estab- |
lishment. Some Of the retail grocery /
dealers, who cannot buy the goods /
from the wholesalers at the prices |
offered by the Government store, have /
been known to come to Liberty Hut |
and by a series Of repeats" in buying /
supplies thrown themselves open to /
discovery by the Government off,
cials.
Cohee, Of a good grade, may be .
put on sale soon at - and IS cents
a pound, it was stated. Good tea is
already selling at the store far below
the prices charged for this com
modify in the Washington retail
stores. Although plans are tentative
1t present, Il IS stated a supply Of
sugar may be obtained. The army, /
however, is holding on TO all the \
sugar, not yet Offering II as surplus. /
The strength OF the future regular /.
army, when decided. will influence the
sale Of sugW Washington may
therefore expect small relief from |
The shortage Of sugar from the Gov
srnment store at present, however.