Evening star., 1944-05-09
I Maryland tobacco
Warehouses Close in
Protest on Prices

4NO Ol tdiS tlIIe6 VUudCCU WdIt-
houses at Upper Marlboro closed
soon after auction sales began this
morning because of farmers dissat-
isfaction over prices being Offered
by tobacco buyers, but third ware
house opened this afternoon.
Farmers said this is the first time
warehouses have closed during the
opening of the Southern Maryland
tobacco market. At least 1000 pro-
ducers jammed the town for the
sales.
The two warehouses which closed
were the Planters Tobacco Ware
house and Edelen Bros. The third
warehouse, which opened this after
noon is the Marlboro Tobacco Mar
ket.
Farmers were receiving top price
of 50 cents pound, a season average
ceiling set by the Office of Price
Administration. This compares
with top of 81 cents a pound last
year, with an average of 561a cents
pound for the season.
Shortly after the closing, Repre-
sentative Sasscer, Democrat, of
Maryland, who was at the auction,
left to confer with OPA and War
Food Administration officials here
in an effort to find some solution,
and warehousemen said they hoped
to reopen the markets tomorrow. A
meeting of warehouse officials called
for later today on whether to re-
open was called off pending the
outcome of Mr.. Sasscer's confer
ences.
Mr.. Sasscer said he would put the
problem up to the OPA and VIA
officials and see what they had to
suggest. He did not know whether
he would ask that the. price ceilings
be lifted or whether buyers might
be called in with request to raise
their prices.
: Most of the farmers, meanwhile,
were leaving for their homes, and
buyers were consulting their Offices
for further instructions.
About $1,000 Pounds Sold.
About $4,000 pounds of tobacco
out of 100000 in the warehouse had
been sold at Planters when the shut
down came, while at Edelen's about
one-fifth of their 125, 1000 pound
stock had been auctioned
At Waldorf and La Plata opening
day sales were continuing, with a
56-cent top price reported at La
Plata.
Virtually all of the farmers at
the three Upper Marlboro ware
houses declared that they would re-
fuse to sell their tobacco unless
they received higher price. It
was explained that although the
OPA ceiling is So cents pound, this
Is the figure on an average basis
for The season and it does not pre-
vent buyers from bidding as high
rs they want to on the better grades
Thomas E. Brady, Dunkirk, said
ne would not bring his tobacco to
one of the warehouses unless prices
go up. He explained that while ap-
proximately 22,000,000 pounds of
tobacco were sold in Southern
Maryland last year. this years crop
totals less than 100000 because
of drought conditions.
Another farmer, Marty Brady.
Chaney, pointed out that it cost As
cents a pound TO raise tobacco and
that he could not afford to sell his
crop at So cents top.
Maryland tobacco experts report
that the crop this year is below
average quality, which will mean
that more growers will receive less
than for last years better grades.
Light Sales Expected
War Food Administration officials
said survey of the Southern Mary
land markets indicated that sales
will be light because growers will
hold back their offerings to see what
effect the OPA ceiling prices will
have on sales.
In addition to the general low
quality of Maryland tobacco, the
VITA said, growers are offering their
lowest grade tobacco for the open
ing sales.
The OPA said the new price
schedule applies to the 1943 crop
and previous crops purchased or de-
livered after May 7, 1914. 1t covers
all sales, including those at the auc-
ton markets in Southern MARYLAND
and the hogshead markets at Bal
timore.
The Maryland tobacco, known as
type 80, was brought under price
control to prevent excessive prices
for the l943 crop which might
threaten existing ceiling prices of
cigarettes" the OPA said.
New Regulations in Effect.
The new regulation also estab-
fishes methods by which persons
who resell the tobacco must figure
their maximum prices, and estab-
hshes provisions which must be met
by sellers.
Asserting that the new prices are
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