Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-06-15
u. S. TO APPORTION
SUPPLY OF SUGAR
Gamers and Preservers Will Get
First Preference, Then Grocers
and Candy Men

Washington. June 15.-Prefcrcntial
distribution of sugar rathcr than, ra =,
tioning is to be the method employed
by the government TO prevent the sugar
shortage from reaching famine condi l.
tions this fall
AS the result OF an agreement between
the big producers and consumers OF
sugar. the Department of Justice will
proceed with the formation of the ma :
tional sugar distributing committee. il
was announced Yesterday by A. W.
Riley. special assistant attorney gen
eral, who has been in charge of high =
cost Of living prosecutions in New
York. Mr.. Riley said the committee
would be functioning within two weeks
He predicted it would operate to as
sure the canning and preserving. inter :
ests and the housewives an adequate
supply of sugar for the summer season
and the lean months before the 1920
sugar crop IS harvested.
The distributing committee. Mr.. Riley
said, will consist of representatives of
the refners, the importers and brokers,
the Gamers and preservers, tho whole
sale grocers and the candy. soft drink
and ice cream manufacturers. He in
dicated that arrangements already have
been completed by which the rcfiners
get their needed supply of sugar. Under
the plan the distributing committee will
divert sugar first to the commercial can
ners; second, TO the wholesale groccrs
for retail distribution to domestic con-
sumers, and last, to the candy and
soft drink manufacturers. An existing
contract for future delivery. Mr.. Riley
said, however, will not be interfered
with.
An embargo on sugar exports from
the United States also Is advocated by
Mr.. Riley and may be given serious
consideration by the Department of Jus
tice Although the attorney general has
been delegated the power Of food ad-
ministrator under the Lever act, there
is grave question as to whether an eX =
port embargo could be ordered without
special act of Congress. \ bill au-
thorizing an embargo was introduced in
the Senate before adjournment, but was
not acted upon.
In explaining his advocacy of the EN-
barge Mr.. Riley today cited the fact
that American exports of sugar for the
first five months Of this year had cx-
cecded the expectation of American
owned sugar during the whole of 1919.
The sugar exports from this country
from January l 10 May 27 totaled, he
SnlQ, zSU,UUU long lOuS, us against Ill .
600 tons during 1919 The total export
of all sugar from this country in 1910
amounted to G5S, $3.50 long tons, but
447 $3.50 tons were owned by the British
Sugar Commission and was refined in
the United States under the war ar
rangement by which the American Gov
ernment bought the entire Cuban crop.
Buenos Aires. June 15.-Bascd on
the domestic price at which Frederic J
Stimson, sUnited States ambassador to
Argentina, obtained $4,000 tons of
sugar for the United States, plus the
transportation cost, it is estimated
the sugar will be landed in New York
at fifteen cents a pound. 1t probably
will require five ships to transport the
sugar.
President Irigoyen's action in waiv-
ing expectation restrictions is consid-
cred here as special favor to the
United States.
In addition to the sugar obtained by
Ambassador Stimson, it is learned that
private interests have contracted for a
total of 10000 tons for expectation to
the United States.