The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-11-06
ARMY SUGAR AVERTS NATION
WIDE FAMINE.
Twenty five Thousand Tons Releas-
ed for General Consumption.

Washington, D. C.-Controyersies
oyer the cost Of living, and
particularly the . sugar shortage,
have disclosed that there might
several weeks ago but, for the War
more than 50,O0O,O0O pounds of
this commodity tor sale to the public
during the past few months. AS a
result, the army now has reserve
of less than two and One-half
months supply and every, soldier
private is having his sugar supply
rationed.
The ordinary sugar reserve or the
army is at least three months sup
ply and usually nearer six months
supply, but the War Department has
reduced this to meet the civil de-
mands.
sugar Shortage in the early fall at
the end of the preserving season,
Secretary of War Baker had a
special survey of the army supply
made last summer and determined
that about $4,000 tons of the army
reserve could be released in an
emergency: Large lots Of this ri r SUGAR
ization Board, Notwithstanding the
anxieties =. expressed by many army
officers. But for the release of the
army's stock, it is declared the pub
lice would have felt the shortage
much sooner and much more acute
ly than is the case.
m Palf Ss2e n view is re e. hs
s shoulde asseo Of the War Departing emit
the blame for the present high liv-
ing cost. In publicity from the
partisan Congressional war "investi-
eating" committees it has been
charged that the Secretary Of War
and the selling force Of the War De-,
to boost the living cost:
Information from the office OF
the director Of army sales in France
were on a purely commercial basis,
and with the purpose of driving the
best bargain possible in getting rid
of the surplus that could not have
been practically brought back to
The sales department has, to date
disposed of approximately a billion
dollars worth of surplus material
that the army could not have used
under ordinary circumstances. On
these sales it has realized recovery
cost. This is conceded to, be an ex-
tremly high percentage Of recovery.
The Hare Commission, which. al
SO has been the subject of partisan
attack, went to France and has thus
far succeeded in making some ex-
cellent arrangements for the sale of
surplus war materials for. which
there was no market on this side:
This commission has been engaged
principally in finding market in
Europe for materials chiefly of an
industrial character, such as cotton
linters, machine tools and other
articles which had been produced in
this country. With this country re.
verting to a peace-time industrial
basis it was found that the
American industrial plants, were al
ready overstocked with the equip
ment authorized for sale abroad.
This commission was specifically in,
structed not to sell any staples that
could be used in the United States
as a help toward driving down the
cost OF living.
The Parker Commission in Paris.
under the direction of Judge Alton
B. Parker, was assigned to dispose
of the docks, manufactures, storage
plants and equipment. and supplies
of the American army in Eurone; 1t
is estimated that about S1?0,OOO,--
900 worth of material was disposed
of in smaller lots. Belgium bought
about $4,000, 600 worth or sun