The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1920-04-09

OUR WAsHINGToN i ETTERz

Prices Based on Louisiana Crop FAIL
e-Congressional Com mite e
Take Up Soldier Compensation
Poland to Get Grain Corporation
Flour Reeds Wants Senate Inves-
tigati0n of Charges by Spokane
Federal Grand Jury on Wheat
Manipulation-WO Women Give Con-
sumer's Case Against Packers.
Washington, D. C.-One-fortieth Of
the sugar used in the United States
is produced in Louisiana. The Louisi-
ana crop last year was q failure
only about one-thiId Of normal. It's
cost per pound was ruinously high.
But then so was the cost of the
wheat raised in eastern Montana and
western North Dakota, on the aver
age, any time these past four years.
The American public was not COM
PEELED to pay for its flour and its
bread price high enough to yield a
profit to the farmers who harvested
four bushels per acre in the drouth
area Of the Northwest.
Cuba's sugar crop last year was
100000 tons, or enough to supply
the United States It was offered to
the United States government at s Is
cents pound. Seven members Of the
sugar equalization board, appointed
by the president, urged that this Of
fer be accepted, as had a similar of
fer the previous year. One member
advised against it. Herbert Hoover
advised against it The president took
Hoover's advice, although Hoover had
been out of the country and knew
nothing of the situation. The Cuban
offer was made first in August and
again III September Meanwhile the
high retail price and the scant supply
of sugar had become national scan
dial. The president again refused the
offer of the Cuban crop, which would
have made the retail price of sugar
in the United States II or IL cents a
pound.
PALMER'S TELEGRAM
Then Attorney General Palmer,
who had announced himself as the
Jack who was to kill the Giant Of
high prices, sent this telegram to
United States District Attorney
Mooney, at New Orleans, on Novem-
Der s:
'Your wire of the 6th, detailing re-
suits of >conference. Consider agreed
price rather high, BUT HEREBY
CONCUR IN MAXIMUM FIXED
PRICE OF II CENTS FOR LOUISE
ANA PLANTATION CLARIFIEDS,
Is CENTS FOR LOUISIANA CLEAR
GRADUATED. Understanding that
all contracts for a higher price to be
abrogated. Further suggest, if pos
sible, you secure an agreement in
writing by authorized committee of
Louisiana producers and refners, to
be used as p1ima facie evidence where
prices are charged in excess Of agree
ment. You are hereby instructed to
Immediately prosecute any violator of
this agreed prices. PALMER
This telegram, according to Mr..
Zabriskie Of the sugar equalization
board, laid the basis for an immedi-
ate increase in the price Of the Cuban
crop to match the fixed price" which
was 20 be paid for Louisiana sugar
Today the people of the United States
are engaged in paying about $780,
100000 more, for their sugar for the
year 1920 than would have been the
case if the president had bought the
Cuban crop and if Palmer had not
made his deal with the Louisiana
crowd.
The house of representatives is So
worried at this deal in sugar that il
voted, by 1863 to 124, to conduct a
thorough investigation into the whole
scandal.
SOLDIER BONUS MOVES
Bonus legislation for war veterans
has been pretty fully threshed out in
hearings before the ways and means
committee, which has been. forced by
public opinion to decide that some
thing must be done for the boys who
served with the colors. It now seems
likely that the committee will repor,
bill giving 81 day for the time
served by each man, witt q minimum
payment which will be fixed some.
where between $75 and SIPS.
The American Legion spokesmeT
asked that the veterans be each of.
fered three alternatives either vo.
cational training or a $50 bond, or q
chance to develop a homestead or
land to be reclaimed by the govern.
ment for their use.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars sug.
gested a S1-a-day bonus, with $1O(
<@NoAS1OA0i 4OA CAlOSc WHO Wc0L Over
seas
The World War Veterans, Inc, anG
the Rank and File Veterans associa.
ton asked for 81 day, with mini.
mum Of $3.50.
The Private Soldiers and Sailors
Legion asked for a $500 lump sun
payment.
Most of the organizations are
agreed that vocational training is Of
great Importance, but that it shoul6
be dealt with in a separate bill anc
not confused with the bonus issue.
Veterans or others desiring to ex.
press opinions on these points shoule
promptly write to Chairman Fordney
OF the ways and means committee OF
the house, or write congressman Johr
NJ. Baer or Congressman J. II. Sin.
clair, House Office Building, Wash.
ington.
FLOUR ~ POLAND d,
Fifty million dollars is about to bt
given by congress to relieve starva
tion in Poland. Austria. Armenia an(