Evening star., 1923-03-22
APPEALS TO PRESIDENT.

Grand jury investigation Of the re-
cent increase Of sugar prices was
urged yesterday by Basil NJ. Manly
director Of the Peoples Legislative
Service who, in a telegram to Presi-
dent Harding, declared that "Ameri-
can households are being robbed of
millions OF dollars each week by con-
sptracy TO increase sugar prices and
continued manipulation" The Presi-
dent was urged TO direct the Depart
ment Of Justice to seek indictments
of those guilty of this criminal con-
spiracy."
The Peoples Legislative Service is
headed by Senator La Toilette Of
Wisconsin, and co-operates with the
progressive bloc in Congress. organ
lied last fall.
In the telegram to President Hard
ing Mr.. Manly said:
American households are being
robbed of millions of dollars each
, week by conspiracy to increase sugar
prices and continued manipulations
Urge you to direct Department of
Justice to bring this matter imn1e-
diately before federal grand jury and
seek indictments of those guilty of
this criminal conspiracy. Letter de-
failing circumstances underlying this
conspiracy follows"
increase Since February.
The telegram was followed by
letter to the President, also from Mr..
Manly, in which he said. in part:
Since the 9th day of February the
retail price of sugar in the United
States has increased , cents a pound.
In these six weeks it has advanced
from to 10 cents-one-half cent
each week. This increase has al
ready cost American consumers
slo.oo0,ooo, and if the price remains
at 10 cents il will cost them over
s30O.0oo,0oO before the year is done.
prominent sugar refners now pre-
dict that unless this movement is
summarily checked the American
housewife will be paying 30 cents
pound for sugar before June. If this
be true, the American people will be
robbed Of S500,000,000 solely for the
benefit OF sugar gamblers and prof
iteers. This outrage can and should
be prevented"
United States Statement Basis.
Mr.. Manly traced the advance in the
price of sugar to a statement issued
by the Department of Commerce
February 9. which was generally in
terpreted as a prediction of sugar
shortage. Another statement was
issued later by Secretary Hoover. Civ
ing a contrary view of the situation.
But Mr.. Manly contends that the first
statement was at least misleading
and that a later statement directed
attention to the increased consump-
TO ION OF sugar In this country, further
1T is perhaps merely a coincidence !"
Mr.. Manly continued, that this state
ment which has resulted in such ex-
traordlnary increases in the price of
sugar was issued by the department
presided over by Secretary Hoover
who played so prominent a part in the
plan that was attempted last year to
increase the price of sugar by arrang-
! ing with the Cuban sugar planters 70
reduce their production from 1000 o00
tons TO 100000 tons. In this CON
nection ! beg to direct your attention
to an official report made to the Presi-
dent of Cuba by Senior Sebastian Celia
with reference to two conferences
held with Secretary Hoover on De-
cember z, 1921, and January 10, 1922.
His report of the conference of Jam
uary 10. 1922. which | quote below is
particularly illuminating"
Agreement Proper.
Mr. Manly quoted from the report
of Senator Gelabert as follows:
Mr. Hoover told us that the proper
thing to do was to reach an agree
ment with the beet sugar producers,
who the day before had held a meet
ing In Chicago to decide with respect
to the point agreed upon in Havana
! with Hamlin. since an understanding
with them might facilitate the ap-
proval by Congress of the necessary
legislation"
Extracts from a letter written by
Senator Smoot Of Utah to Gen. Crow
! der, recently appointed ambassador to
| Cuba, were laid before the President
also by Mr.. Manly. In this letter
Senator Smoot is alleged to have said:
Il am sure that the limitation of the
Cuban crop Of sugar for the present
year to 100000 tons will be the solu-
! tion Of the problem not only for Cuba
but for the United States as we'll"
The senator asked Gen. Crowder to
| lay this proposal before the Presid ent
of Cuba and added: II have had the
sugar schedule in the pending tariff
bill passed over until I hear definitely
from you"