Evening star., 1939-09-12
bountifu| Harvests
Insure Food Supply,
Housewives Assured
100000 Tons Of Sugar
Placed on Market as
President Lifts Quotas

q The Agriculture Department gave
the Nations housewives new as
surances of ample food supplies to- !
day in a crop report forecasting
harvests of bountiful proportions.
Furthermore, President Roosevelt
needed complaints that sugar had
become too costly and too scarce
In this country since the outbreak
of war in Europe. and lifted legal
limitations on the quantity which
may be sold in the domestic market
this year.
Officials said presidential procla-
nation issued yesterday would per-
NIT American professors to market
some 100000 tons which had been
refined, but which the marketing
quotas suspended by Mr.. Roosevelt
had held off the market.
See Immediate Benefits.
The opinion was expressed in in
formed quarters here that the effect
of quota suspension would be to
bring some immediate benefits to
domestic producers of both cane
and beet sugar, since they may now
move reserves.
Although quota restrictions on
imports from Cuba also were lifted,
1t was explained that the resultant
automatic increase in the duty on
Cuban sugar offered considerable
market protection to domestic pro-
ducers. The duty went from 80
cents to $l.50 per 100 pounds.
On the other hand. the enormous
supplies of sugar available, includ-
ing Puerto Rico surpluses which
may come in duty free, were be-
lieved likely to keep sugar prices
down. At Chicago domestic raw
sugar futures fell the limit of one
quarter of cent a pound today.
The ultimate effect of quota re-
moval on the market was a matter
of speculation on which comment
in official quarters was lacking.
The Government crop report in
dicated the production of such crops
as corn, barley. rye. rice. beans,
fruits, vegetables. sugar cane and
sugar beets. grain sorghums, hay,
peanuts, sweet potatoes and tobacco
.is expected to be the largest in 10
years.
Larger Than Normal Surpluses.
Supplementing this years har-
vests will be larger than normal
surpluses from previous years.
Farm officials said they expected
the crop report, based on condi-
tions September l, to help stem a
consumer rush to lay in supplies
, and to check the tendency of some
distributors to raise prices too
sharply.
The production of food crops" :"
the department reported, will be
even larger than seemed probable
month ago. and in all lines sup
plies appear adequate for ordinary
needs"
The department said that on Sep
tember l milk production was about
equal to the record production at
the same time last year. Egg pro-
duction was about per cent larger
than year ago, due to an increased
number of hens and a higher rate
of production per hen. The total
supply of dried fruits probably will
be above average.
Record Cherry Production.
OF the fruits for canning, a rec
ord production of cherries was re-
ported; the supply of apples, pears
and prunes was placed above aver
age, and an above-average supply
of canned peaches was said to be
likely. Large crops of walnuts, al
monds and filberts and nearly an
average crop of pecans were report
ed in prospect.
The department said there would
be adequate supplies" of vegetables
for fall and winter needs. and that
planting in Southern States and
California for later markets was
starting under favorable conditions.
Livestock dairy and poultry farm
ers had prospects of one of the
= largest feed supplies in recent years.
AS consequence officials said, there
should be ample supplies OF most
meats, milk, butter, cheese, eggs and
poultry.
Officials said the Presidents sugar
proclamation would lift quota linn
itations not only on continental
sugar but on that of so-called Off
shore areas such as Cuba, Puerto
Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines.
Raises Tariff on Cuba.
Assistant Secretary of State Henry
{ F. Grady explained, however, that
[ discarding of the quotas automati-
.-cally raised the tariff on Cuban
sugar from 80 cents to $l.50 a hum
dred pounds. The reciprocal trade
agreement with Cuba granted the
preferential rate of 80 cents and
provided that the rate would revert
to the regular $3.50 if the quotas
were lifted.
Mr.. Roosevelt said his action was
necessitated by the increased world
demand for sugar due to the Euro
pean war, by unusually heavy pur-
chases by consumers and by "ap-
parent" speculative activity.
"A great number of complaints
have been made within the past few
days" he added, that the quota
restrictions on sugar marketing are
making it difficult and costly for
housewives and industrial users to
get enough sugar to supply domestic
needs"
The quota law, designed to assist
producers, is intended to keep ex-
cess supplies off the market and pro-
= vides that 6,755 900 tons is the maxi
mum which may be marketed in this
country within one calendar year
The various producing areas were