The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-11-15
REFINERS FREE;
RETAILERS ARE NOT;
SUGAR TANGLED
By WILLIAM r sANeoRN.

Lacking the gift Of prophecy we
shall not attempt to tell you what may
happen to the family sugar bowl. pend
ing some ruling nationally Affecting
the price OF sugar. We are now in
formed that while the jobbers' profits
are stu limited to Z OF cent, and
the retailers to ~. cents, the basic
prics to be charged by reGners has
no limit All restrictions are Of For
the present at least, the refiner Is
working in an open market. he may
buy wherever he can find raw sugar
on sale. then refine It and charge his
own price, Just as in pre-war days
This, as near as we can learn, Is
tho status Of the easteIu reflner, at
the moment; but a new ruling may
change conditions any day. We are
frank to admit that there should be-
no radical advance as long as tho
government can control or does con-
troll the price OF Cuban raws. still sell
ing at 1928 per 100 pounds, for SO
degrees centrifugals. This price has
ruled for quite long time and Is the
base upon which refiners have been
working. according to the sugar al
lotted to them by the sugar board.
Who'esales 22c per Pound.
Pending some settlement by the
government, and unless that comes
quickly, sugars viii rule higher II
placed on a competitive basis today,
In view Of the shortage, we would
most likely SEQ 20 cent sugar, and
many would chcerfu1ly pay that price,
rather than shut down their plants,
and to have their employees scattered.
As matter OF fact, sugar has sold
as high as % cents per pou1d in car
lots in New Orleans, within. few
days, according to the New York Jour
nal Of Commerce. Listen to this, good
people: "a New Orleans report mail
ed last Friday says:
1.-THE sugar market was more active
and Indications that considerable
sugar will be here in few days were
reported. Receipts OF sugar from
Louisiana were 7e7 barrels and sales
amounted to 701 barrels. OF this 81
barrels was prime yellow clarified,
which was sold at 20 cents per pound.
1t was not quoted officially because
under 100 barrels is not quoted under
the rules. Plantation graduated sold
at 2Oh cents a pound, drop Of &c
from the last sale"
The official quotations to which the
Orleans Sugar and Rice Exchange,
and it will be noted that the granu-
lated quoted at 201a cents a pound
showed "a drop Of 2 cents from the
last quotation"
The buyer Of that sugar no doubt
sold it at his own price, and prob
ably at a good profit, at wholesale.
Just what the consumer paid for it
would be interesting to know.
In the meanwhile we had supposed
that the sugar control board was do
ing business for all America. Why
not? And this view is further en-
dorsed by this fact, another surprise
as you will admit. It is reported from
Washington that as the result OF a
conference Of Louisiana planters with
Acknowledgement Palmer that the lat
ter has approved the price of "Seven-
teen cents for prime yellow clarified.
and Is cents for plantation granulated.
both f. o. b. plantation, as maximum
prices"
Just how much below the maxi
mum" the planters and New Orleans
jobbers will sell these sugars depends
}>pon the competition in their own ter
yitory, first CT all, and next upon how
greatly they love their fellow man.
New Orleans refnes sugar all the
year, and nearly 100000 pounds Of
raw sugar has been tied up at the
wharf because of the longshoremen's
strike. We do not think these refiners
work under any scale Or ruling that
does not also apply to al! cane sugar