New-York tribune., 1919-12-13
Passes McNarv Bill to
Extend Federal Board
a Year Longer and Buy
Next Crop in Cuba
Zone Distribution
System Dropped
President and Economic
Adviser Assailed for
Costly Delay This Fall
Ner York Tribune
Washington Bureau

Nem York Tribune
Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. Dec. 12.-The
Senate today passed the McNary
bill extending the life Of the Sugar
Equalization Board for another year
from January and providing for
the purchase by the government of
the Cuban crop for 1920, to relieve
the sugar famine. The bill was sent
tc the House, where earS passage is
expected.
Senator McNary called up the bill
shortly after the Senate met. His
motion that the Senate proceed to its
consideration was adopted without
opposition.
Senator Mckeilar, Democrat, of
Tennessee, at once presented an
amendment abolishing the zone sys-
tenn Of sugar distribution, estab-
lished by the Sugar Equalization
Board, and providing that it should
not again be put into effect during
the life Of the board This amend
ment had previously been submitted
to Senator McNary, author of the
bill, who had accepted it, and to
Senators Ransdell and Gay, of
louisiana, who were opposing the
McNary measure After long de-
bate the amendment was adopted by
the Senate.
Privides Reasonable Price
As passed by the Senate the McNary
bill authorizes the President 10 con-
tinue the Sugar Equalization Board
during the year ending December 81,
1920, and 10 exercise MS control over
the board ''in such manner as 70 au-
thorize and require them 20 adopt and
carry out until December 81 1920.
plans and methods for securing 81 ade
quate supply al reasonable price ard
an equitable distribution OF sugar a
fair and reasonable price. The board
may buy and sell both foreign and
domestic grown sugar, but the control
Of the domestic sugar crop, il 5 speci
fed in the bill shall end September 80
1920, when The crops III this country
come in. Producers, re.iners ard dis
trbutors shall not De lcersed IS un-
der tie provisions Of the Lever food
control act
Zone Plan Opposed
The Louisiana Senators agreed 20
cease their opposition 20 the bill If the
Mckelar amendment was adopted
They said Il met their principal ob-
lection by removing government con-
tro of the distr button OF the Louisiana
lrpr md kc
of this sugar was limited to certain
areas within the United States, and This.
1t was contended, was unjust 20 Louis
lana producers.
Senator Pomerene, Democrat. Of
Ohio, asked Senator McNary whether
1t was fact that the Sugar Equaliza-
ton Board had recommended the pur-
chase of the Cuban crop last August.
and whether Professor Taussig, q
member of the board, had advised
President Wilson against buying the
sugar
Those are the facts" said Senator
McNary
Can you tell US how the price Of
sugar last August compared with the
prlce which we will have to paw for
the rest of the Cuban crop now avail
ble? asked Senator Pomerene.
Cuban sugar sold last year at 5ia
N''.NS o PoUHd, itplleQ senator Nc
Nary. "ln August and September last
1t was selling, | think, for about els
cents; about five weeks ago | was told
that it could be bought for 1912 cents
and | have since been informed. al
though | am not certain of it, thai
spectators who have gone into Cubs
are paying 1919 cents"
Net Increase Cents
$50 that the net result of the delay
In getting hold of the Cuban sugar ha.
been an increase of about a cents
pound to the American consumer" Sem
ator Pomerene continued 81 want tt
observe for the benefit of the Sen
ate that this is evidence of the fact
that by adhering to the advice of &
professional economist their sugar i:
going to cost the American people
cents pound more than it would have
When you consider that 10000 0OC
people use the sugar and the con-
sumption per capita for this year has
been estimated at ninety-two pounds
you can see how much the advice has
cost US. If some of these professional
economists would take course in
practical business common sense it
would be excellent for the public
purse"
Senator Walsh. Democrat. of Mon
tsna, declared he was "astounded" at
Senator Pomerene's criticism of Pro-
fessor Taussig.
Senator Overman. Democrat. North
Carolina. insisted that IN his opinion
most of the trouble could be laid at the
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