The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-24

during the war by so
per cent and as a result had tre-
mendous carry-over at the begin
ming of the year.
A few weeks ago the Harding adj
ministration endeavored to bring
about a reduction in Cuba's sugar
crop but it now develops that these
efforts have proved abortiye. The
Cubans are keeping up with their
production and have already pro-
duced to date 80 per cent OF last
years output for the same period.
The estimates reaching here point
to a 100000 ton crop as against
2 800, 900 pre-war and to this must
be added Cuba's 100000 tons car
ry-over.
Domestic producers are telling
the Harding administration thai
the absorption OF any such guam
tity by the United States would
be hurlful to the sugar growers OF
this country. The seaboard REIN
ers and the American promoters
of the Cuban sugar industry are
countering with a campaign IN Ia
vor of a lower duty on Cuban su-
gar. arguing that it would mean
cheaper sugar to the consumer. In
answer to this the domestic pro
! ducers point to what happened
during the war when the price Oh
sugar went up beyond all previous
bonds and when Cuba was vital
factor in supplying world neeus.
In other words, they contend that
the prices will follow the demand
and that if the American producers
are forced to curtail their produc-
| ton through economic necessity
| Cuba will again ignore the duty
and sell sugar at high flgure TO
the American householder. Inc
United States, of course, mas no
control over Cuban monopohes or
price fixing. Secretary Hoover OF
| the department of commerce IS
taking a particular interest IN the
sugar situation because when ne
was food administrator he founo
that certain Cuban sugar pro
ducers combined to force up the
price of the 1917 Cuban crop and
the advance of 16 cents alone
would represent an added tax upon
the American people of over $50
900 900 by the end Of December
Again in 192O-21 Cuba held back
her crop for higher prices even
though Americans were paying 50
cents per pound for graduated at
retail and Cuban raws were sell
ing in New York at % cents per
nound. 1t is estimated that TINS
cost the American consumer $ooo'-
0c ,00c.
It seems certain that the farm
bloc will stand back Of the domes-
tic producers because the members
of congress from agricultural
states represent districts with ap-
proximately 100000 acres of land
devoted to best sugar productloI
and the price of sugar controls the
amount paid to the farmer for his
beets. The farmer claims he can
not produce at pre-war cost be
cause transportation and otnei
items have gone up in costs.
While there are a few senator:
from the refining states who VII
advocate a duty considerably lower
than the present one, it is safe Il
predict that in the final analysis
duty will be imposed at rate sum
ciently high to confine Cuba to thu
normal supply of so per cent o
American requirements. Mean
while domestic producers are care
i fully scanning the farm produce
marketing law recently signed b.
President Harding to learn Whethe
by its provisions some freight cost
i and wasteful methods of distrlou
ton may be eliminated.
But the nub of the problem !
. regulation of the Cuban output. III
j forts thus far to have Cuba arrang
4 her laws so as to conform VIII
] American economic conditions hav
so far failed. Laws passed at thl
time can always be repealed wne
the cubans wish it. Nothing shor
of a treaty binding Cuba to reel
procity agreement would satisfy tn
q elements in the American congress
who insist that the domestic indus
try must not be left at the mercy c
Cuban promoters and manlpulator
oT Droduction and tariff duties.