The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1919-11-26
CONTROL TAKEN
OF FOOD SUPPLY
Power Given Department of Justice to
Combat High Cost of Living.

washington, Nov. 21.-PreSident
Wilson today placed the government
again in control of the nations food
supply by transferring the authority
of food administrator to Attorney
General Palmer. Revival of the war
time functions Of Administrator Hoov-
er resulted directly from government
efforts to avert famine in sugar, but
the powers delegated to the head of
the department of justice will be used
to help put down the ever mounting
cost Of living.
For the present the attorney gen
cral will not put into operation all of
the machinery permitted under the
executive order signed by the presi-
dent but should conditions arise to
make it necessary the full pressure of
all the broad power vested in him will
be executed to meet them.
Mr.. Palmer's staff will begin imme-
diately to build up sugar tistribut-
ing system which will allocate all
sugar stocks in the country. 1t will
provide an equitable system of distrib-
uting supplies and will defeat any con
centration or boarding officials said.
Price Will Go Up.
Plans, tentatively decided upon, pro-
vide for increasing the price of all
sugar, excepting the LOUISIANA crop for
which price Of II cents already has
been fixed, to cents pound, whole
sale.
Throug hlhc increase, new sources
of supply are expected to be opened.
With assurances that fair margin of
profit, said to be about $1.54 hundred
pounds, would be allowed, sugar re-
finers are ready to enter the Cuban
markets and purchase all available
stocks, it was stated. Thus, officials
believe, the increased price will avert
a shortage which threatens to become
a famine during the next 60 days. I'M
mediate action also is contemplated in
curtailing the consumption Of sugar by
manufacturers whose products are not
regarded as essontian food. This will
apply particularly to soft drink deal
ers and candy manufacturers. The alb
normal increase of sales of these ar
ticles and the consequent heavy drain
on the sugar supply is traceable, Of
fcials declared, to the enforcement Of
prohibition.
Cut to Be Made.
While it has not been definitely de-
termincd, the cut in sugar supplies to
these classes of trade probably will be
about 60 per cent. Officials indicated
that if the exigencics of the situation
demanded, they would reduce the al
! lowancc to soft drink and candy
plants to 25 per cent. of their normal
requirements.
! Arrangements have been completed
subject to changing conditions of the
sugar situation, whereby beet and cane
markets Immediately. The department
however, will exact a signed agree
mcnt with firms entering that trade
to consign all of their purchases t.
this country. This will mean that
/ American dealers will get large pro-
:, portion Of the 100000 tons Of raw
q, sugar yet available in Cuba, officials
said.
Normal consumption Of sugar in the
United States is about 100000 tons
In other years about 100000 tons
was imported from the Cuban fields to
which was added the average produc-
tion of approximately 900 900 tons Of
native grown. But officials were
alarmed lest European dealers should
continue their heavy purchases al
ready in excess Of 100000 tons, in
Cuban markets and deprive this coun-
try of the full supply it usually gets
there. The refiners who have agree 1
to go into the Cuban trade have been
urged, it was said, to use all haste
that the stocks may not be exhausted
before this nation is supplied.
The danger Of sugar famine will
be greater next month. it was said
as stocks are RAPIDLY being depleted
and in many sections already exhaust
ed and the necessity for garnering al
available supplies from outside, be-
comes daily more urgent.
ShVc 70 m CERnIANc