Evening star., 1923-04-22
PLANS BILL TO END
SUGAR GAMBLING
AsweIl Will Urge Regulation
OF Trading by Secretary
of Agriculture.

Drastic legislation to prevent gam
ping in sugar and the imitation of
sugar prices by manipulation will be
introduced in the next Congress by
Representative J. B. Aswell of
Louisiana, democrat. it was announced
last night.
Mr.. Aswell predicted that his bill.
which would place the regulation of
sugar trading under the Secretary OF
Agriculture, has already been done in
connection with grain trading. would
De passed by large majority!
me Louisiana representative de
ton suit brought by the adr:nist ra-
ton against the New York Coffee and
sugar Exchange and others would
prove ineffective
tordell Hull. chairman Of the demo-
cratic national committee, issued a
statement assailing the report of the
tar!ir commission, made to the Presi-
dent. that the new sugar tariff has
no relation TO the recent rapid in
creases in the price of suea~. He
characterizes the commissions re.
port as ridiculous"
Mr.. Asweil, on the other ha nd
maintained that the tariff was be-
side the point in this discussion"
1t has been eliminated" he said
by declarations Of the executive de
Farmers Not to Biame.
Reckless criticisms of the sugar
producers are wholly unjust. The
sugar farmer in Louisiana and the
beet grower OF the west have not
been parties TO the present sugar
gouge.
After consulting my colleagues. |
am preparing drastic legislation TO
BE- presented to the next Congress
which | believe will make it impos-
sible for the sugar gambler again
70 succeed in another such raid upon
the American home If he tries he
will land himself in Jail. where he
properly belongs
Government by federal Injunction
is a dangerous policy Ii strikes
at the fundamental principles Of
demoTatic government The suit
filed by the Attorney Genera! will
probably result in little good. II the
ga tbler in collusion with the eX-
a. few months they will have their
millions and Will be ready to drive
the price down again when the new
crop of domestic cane and beet sugar
comes upon the market.
IF We place the control under the
Department of Agriculture. where it
rightfully belongs. we automa ticaliy
settle the scandalous sugar gouging
situation overnight.
The crux of the grain futures act
lies in the fact that it lodges with the
Secretary Of Agriculture absolute au-
tbority TO designate what boards Of
trade shall be Contract markets"
2he privilege Of trading is extended
yonly to such boards as comply with
the conditions and requirements pre-
scribed by act of Congress and the
regulations of the Department of Ag-
riculture.
Grain Act Effective.
NO better proof of the efficiency of
this legisla ton could be had than the
ract that today a committee from the
Chicago Board Of Trade, the most
powerful institution Of it's kind in the
world. is on the way to Washington
riculture for the administra tion of the
grain futures act.
when the beet harvest started in
September and the Louisiana cane
| harvest some thirty days later. re-
fined sugar was quoted at 625 cents.
The ref1ners pretended to see an
enormous crop in the Cuban fields.
with resulting low prices for the
American producers They played
into rushing their crops To market
to he purchased and stored. and then
after the domestic crop had been Sc
cured by them they began to feed
the American people with stories
about a short crop in Cuba and to
boost the price The result has been
that the New York gamblers have
played both ends against the middle.
They have deliberately swindled the
American farmer out Of millions Of
dollars. and now they are exactinE
a sum tenfold as great from the
helpless consumers. Sugar is quoted
today at $50"