The Butte daily bulletin. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1918-1921, 1920-01-16

tlict Attorney Day at Helena and it
is believed that within Il few days
action toward the prosecution of the
owners of the sugar and the parties
assisting i'll it's boarding will be taken
under the provisions of the Lever
food control act.
The first intimation received by the
federal agents Of the existence of the
vast sugar hoard, was given by resi-
dents of the neighborhood, who for
several weeks had seen trucks of the
EIutte Wholesale Grocery company
drawing up to the pumping plant and
unloading sacks believed to contain
sugar. Curiosity as to the use to
which the water company could be
putting the sugar led to general gos-
sip about the affair, which finally
reached tile department Of Justice Of
tcinls A visit to the plant yesterday
it is said disclosed the fact that the
suspicious OF the ncighborhood that
sugar was being stored in the plant
We're correct.
While the department of justice Of
ficials refuse to disclose the exact
count of the sacks found there, it was
learned on good authority that there
were many more than 800 full sacks
stored in the pumping plant. Specu-
lation is rife as to whether the sugar
was being boarded there by some
local company for an expected in
crease in prices, or whether it was
destined for use in the manufacture
of Illicit liquor. 1t was stated, how
ever, that the evidence tending to-
ward the latter premises is lnsuffl-
cient to warrant the federal officials
i'll basing any charges OF that char
acter against the owners of the sugar
hoard. For this reason, it was stat
ed, action will probably be taken to
seize the sugar and to prosecute the
owners under the provisions OF the
Lever act. The penalty for convic-
ton, it was stated by federal officials,
is fine of $4,000 or two years I'M
prisonment in federal prison, OF
both, at the discretion of the court
Slcuths connected with the depart
ntent Of justice are today busily en-
gagged in running down additional
evidence as to the ownership OF the
boarded sugar and Of its probable
disposition.
For some months past Butte has
been experiencing shortage OF sugar
and from statements made by whole
salers recently the shortage was ex'
pcctcd to grow more acute. Prices
for sugar have steadily climbed until
purchasers now are compelled to pay
approximately Is cents a pound with
intimations that because of the CON
tinued shortage, the prices would DC
still higher. The discovery that while
many families in Butte were being
deprived of sugar because of an al
legged shortage, there were many hun
dreds Of pounds cached in the Butte
Watcr company's Excelsior stree
pumping station, has aroused a storm
of resentment on the part OF sucf
citizens as became aware of thu
cache.
According to federal officials, thu
discovery of the hoard in the pump
ing plant yesterday is but the frs
of a number of such discoveries which
will come to light within a shor
while. It is stated that federal agents
are engaged in tracing down the loca
tions of other large boards of suga
which are known to be hidden il
Butte One other particularly larg'
cache is said to be located on th'
Eastsitle and this, it is said,- is th'
especial object of the attentions o
the federal agents.