Arizona republican., 1920-01-04
POWER ID BUY CUBAN SUGAR CROP NOT TO
 BE EXERCISED
Wilson Follows RecOmmen- dations Of Sugar Equali- zation Board = Believes American Supply Suffi- cient

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-PresidenI Wilson has decided not to exercise the powers conferred in the McNary sugar control bill, authorizing purchase and distribution of the Cuban Sugar crop, i according to statement issued to- night at the White House.
 The statement said the president had decided on the basis of facts pre- scented for his consideration, and the recommendation of the sugar equali- : zation board that this power should not be exercised.
 In a long statement announcing the presidents decision, the declaration is made that apparently the available sugar supply is sufficient for Ameri- can needs, even on the present neces- 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 if necessary, in cooperation with the department of justice. Figures aI- tached show that the estimated 1919 consumption in the United States was slightly more than 4,5OOOOO tons. ol which normally only one million tons was domestic consumption. As the Cuban crop is unusually large at A. sO0,0o0 tons, of which the allies, be- cause of limited purchasing power. will take about 1,250,000 tons, and as the estimated Louisiana, western beet Hawaiian and Porto Rican production will reach 100000 tons. the statement loresees sufficient supply for Ameri can needs.
 Consumption Nearly TrebIed
 The American per capita consump- tion of sugar, the statement said, had risen from B pounds in 1866 to an av- craze of S5 pounds during the 1914 1918 period, and to 95 pounds for 1915
 When the question of purchasing the Ctihqn gust, only one member of the sugal. board dissented from the conclusion that the Cuban crop should not be purchased unless the boards power Of control were made effective, requiring congressional action. the statement said The president had reached no conclusion when he was taken i'll dur ing 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 it's con tracts with both producers and refin- CTS 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 1t under the McNary act does not offer a way of securing a regular SUD- ply at a reasonable price, the state i B. western beet sugar or Louisiana cane producers for the 1920 crop, and by October Is the control of the board applied only to the remainder of the Cuban 1919 crop, the statement said
 One 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 nor committee authorized to sell the balance of the 1919 Cuban crop"
 Would Increase Prices Cuban market, the statement said, it would be able to buy in competition with private buyers and with a ten- l 1ency to increase the price.
 The statement points out that under ] Inc McNary act, control of. domestic | sugar would end July 30, and adds that | should the sugar board succeed in ] purchasing Cuban sugar for delivery i throughout the year. it wiuld be in the | position of trying to maintain a unf- | 'orm reasonable price over the coun- | ny, with no control whatsoever over arge quantities of sugar from Hawaii | md Porto Rico, which come in mainly | liter June 30., and over the new Lou | siana cane and western beet sugars
 This, too" the statement said, "at | he time of the year when, if at all, | absolute control of all sugars by the board will be essential"
 -O-
 PAPERS INCREASE PRICES
 BUFFALO. N. Y-. Jan. 3.-BuffaIo's