New-York tribune., 1920-01-04
Prospective Supply Is Al
ready Adequate for All
Needs in 1920, Asserts
White House Statement
Licensing g Power To
Be Held in Reserve
Presidents Action i'm Not
Purchasing 1919 Crop,
as Suggested, Defended

Wilson has decided not to exercise
powers conferred in the McNary sugar
control bill authorizing purchase and
distribution Of the Cuban sugar crop,
according to statement issued to-
night at the White House.
I The statement said the President
had decided, on the basis of facts pre-
sented for his consideration and the
recommendation of the Sugar Equaliza-
tion Board, that this power should not
be exercised.
In long statement announcing the
Presidents decision the declaration is
made that apparently the available
sugar supply is sufficient for American
needs, "even on the present unneces-
sarily large basis of consumption" and
notice is given that the power Of price
control through the licensing system,
authorized by the bill. will be invoked
# necessary in cooperation with the
Department Of Justice.
Supply Declared Adequate
Figures attached show that the esti-
mated 1919 consumption in the United
States was slightly more than 4,500,000
tons, Of which normally only 100000
tons was domestic production. AS the
Cuban crop is unusually large at 4,800,-
900 tons, however, of which the Allies
will take about 1,250,000 tons, and as
the estimated Louisiana, Western beet,
Hawaiian and Porto Rican production
will reach 1000, 900 tons, the statement
foresees sufficient supply for Ameri-
can needs.
The American per capita consump-
tion of sugar, the statement said, had
risen from thirty-five pounds in 1865
to an average Of eighty-five pounds
ninety-two pounds for 1919.
Cuban Situation Explained
When the question of purchasing the
Cuban crop first came up in August
only one member of the sugar board
dissented from the conclusion that the
Cuban crop should not be purchas sed
unless the boards powers Of control
were made effective, requiring Congress
sional action, the statement said The
President had reached no conclusion
when he was taken i'll during his
Western trip.
Early in October the sugar board
recommended to Senate committee
the purchase Of the 1920 Cuban crop.
the board then feeling that its con-
tracts with both producers and re-
finers could be renewed. Congress did
not act, the statement adds, until De-
cember 20.
Conditions have so changed that the
members of the board feel that action
by it under the McNary act does not
offer way to securing regular sup
ply at reasonable price. There is
1n ~ vsyith
or Louisiana cane producers for the
1920 crop, and by October IL the con-
troll of the board applied only to the
remainder of the Cuban 1919 crop. the
statement said.
No Selling Agent Authorized
zone Of the elements which helped
materially to make the boards action
for the 1919 crop effective no longer
exists" it continues. "The board was
able to deal with the unified Cuban
selling agency for the 1919 crop and
to secure and control the entire crop
Now there is no person or committee
authorized to sell the balance Of the
1920 Cuban crop"
If the board now went into the
Cuban market, the statement said, it
would be able to buy only individual
lots in competition with private buy
ers, and with tendency to increase
the price.
The statement points out that under
the McNary act control of domestic
sugar would end June 30,> and adds
that, should the sugar board succeed
in purchasing Cuban sugar for deliv-
cry throughout the year, it would be
in the position Of trying to maintain
a uniform reasonable price over the
country, with no control whatsoever
over large quantities OF sugar from
Hawaii and Porto Rico, which come in
mainly after June 80, and over the new
Louisiana cane and Western beet SUI
gars."
"rhis, too,' the statement said, "at
thS time Of year when, il ut ALL,
absolute control of all sugars by the
board would be essential"