The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-07
ON THE SUGAR QUESTION.
REETNERS IND IMPORTERS HIVIN0 A
VERT LIGELY DISCUSSION


when Chickrlng Hall was opened last
evening for the meeting OF those Interested In
the sugar question. police officers guarded tho
doors to keep out all who were not supposed TO
look as though they were In full sympathy with
the objects OF the projectors OF the assomblage
Peter Cooper introduced the Chairman. Cyrus
W. Fold. who in turn. introduced as the first
speaker. the Hon. Agernon s. Sullivan. Mr.
Sullivan spoke Of defects In the customs laws
The system Of classification OF sugars by color
grades and imposition Of duties upon that ba-
sis. established fifteen or seventeen years ago.
was. he said. one that facilitated and encour
aged fraud upon the revenue
Mr.. c. w. Field read long list Of names OF
vico Presidents and Secretaries.
Mr.. Trenor private secretary OF Mr.. T. A.
Havemeyer-Is 1t with the knowledge and con-
sent OF the gentlemen mentioned in that pa
per that they have boen proposed for those
Offices
Mr.. Fiold-I havo been informed that II IL.
Applause. Kisses. voice" doubt it.'1
Lawson n. Fuller addressed the meeting. Ho
said that his firm had once bought a cargo OF
sugar in bond. estimating for themselves the
duties on 1t. and. rs appeared by subsequent
inspection by the customs officers. overpaid
1880 on tho lot Of 800 hogshends. They had
estimated their sugars at "a plus 2j per
cent. which was honest. and tho Gov
crnment appraisers put it at ~ plus 25
per cent. which was not honest but was in ac-
cordance with the valuations accorded other
importers in the refining business II there
was S2.250 difference on 500 hogsheads. he
would leave it to anybody to figure what the
Government would lose at that rate of erroneous
valuation on 800 900 hogshcads per anuum for
single house. "a voice: Ask Havomeycr."l
He had confidence. he sad. in Gen. Curtis ef-
fectiyoly ovcrhauling the fraudulent practices
I'm the collections Of duiies. but although a Re-
publican. he wonld say tnat no believed the
Custom House has boon rotten from centre
IT, eircumi"rcnce Tor thc last ten years
Tax ing his teNts from the testimony given by
Mr. butcher. Mr. Hlvemeyer and others before
the Wood Committee. h' said: " There Should
never BE- cargl Of sugars landed at reilners
pier All should bc landed at public stores
aud inspected alike. man who hns one
quarter II n cent per pound advantage Of his
rival in the refining business. in any
way. win run him ont OF business Mr.. Have.
meyer said before tnat Committee that he did
the Government had been deirnuded on sugnr
duties amounted o. $4,000. but would risk
my life that the frauds amounted TO
$4,000 a day. Out oi fory-two sugar houses
existing ~ 1875 only twrniy-unc are running TO,
pleaded by Mr. Havcmeycr as a reason for
keeping his works going to give his men em-
ployment is pretty we'll crushed out Of them.
Of their uss OF brains in tho conduct
OF tho business as the reason why they
havo nourishcd when reputable old
aduiierste. sugar. have hecn forced opi OF -.
busincss But they SAY they a" q" - pus,n,.s
, "a tae honest ol9 ~ lpei way nevertheless
Un.t"d States In making refined sugars. They
can NO more Wnse rc,ned sugars in Cuba 70
/ c1r,pe.a with New York than YOU could make
/ anA els IN hcll 70 reign IN heayrn.
By this time the hnll WIS crowded down
Stair. aud the gallery was well riied The ap-
lniio-. who constituted \ largo part Of
th" audi nee IN tu" holy oi tho hall.
began - iook frightened. when MIR. Fuller
said ! say. o. ans honorable Importer .nll
pr,,r; Dot 9ou.t w.ui. .aio m,a to tl4.to. hi*
capitol n9l hrn,'s wh"n b" is aduitrrn'ing
lls ut1r-, ani '. t''u- l GovTnn"ni. and
wearing g" 81. ait DO. s'. There was a
storm 4 Minis Il ni..'a ana agr.aH.'. and soy
tho audience a- % 30 sI'1k. The speaker
/ susals up % eralc Nn.lf. Thrn he reverted 10
thr man who would giuit.riue sugar ana mix
nni th' rohy poison liuu children. should 10 10
Thcs ru broke forth again. and NJ Trcnor
u murd. = % pc heard. as a. ulsu uu unknown
gentleman Ia the aud''n't Mr.. Fuller s4id ttat
II me g"ulemrn chose Ia deny the charges
made agAigst them. th"y could appoint their
TIM, AMI uiare. AMI u"y, would be met,
" II re and now" churls,od fifty voices.
o. t'ke time ami prepare yourself Mr.
I'm roaly now" called David A. Wells. upon
whom tho speaker lad made an attack ~ II
mierccnar} %rpps i2rH9ny sidr mt would nay ,,i
from hs soat In the balcony and made his way
!?,ihe ,iayye, ~ amid loud applause and calls for
man in the audience said b, wanted to hear
Nj. fuc,-Wnat sugar house do you repre-
The man said he didn't represent my.
Again Mr.; Fuller proposed that his adyer-
saric~ should name place aud tmc ana tho
Responsive chO rus SWellcI, Here. and now.
Mr.. Fuller shouted. On. keep quiet. Mr.
\ gentleman In the audience, 10 whom that
lduratiln WINS aldrrsS'd, replied: don't
think a man should keen quiet when hi,
brother u.S lil"d rs You hHyo ussailni m.nr.'
Great applause followed, and. Whuu II lu.lrd.
WAS removed oV a''nunt OF u thin md much
tarh.,uny. saoglcl b NJ. Fuller. AiI tilose
.uar..c- u...f.t Mr.. ilayrmryrr and other oou-
Germs are based on Infamous lps. and YOU
.Mr. fuller pin 20 WIS alro.ry taken J, .,-o-.
ipuh nj hlui with surprise. ~ started 4l a- 4
l'N'. 20 IiHsi o. mako 20 - f+I Nn Nr. fut'r r
OFF tNr question. hut suddenly od r.u tn.
tDo iUri osc, ot t..,a who called IN ucct.ns:
90 tha' g. 81. ''tr,. 90 should b. 40 y-'a rs
fd..n- .' .o. o, scout ti,. rmnsu.ai in '.,rr NJ. rr
"o.Ii '' iol'.n lr''iuc % 90 t 's'. n.. "' ''u.
~ ..,, ,..'. r,, ,,,,,s r,,,.l
un.'r tI, r,o-t iu.' lteut t.ucnc, of ..t ',uou.
'ae. .. nn.g..~ .--o.el.He 20. a..
H.a o' or u. cr"e ,o,f' {" be iea.i IN Gas
r-ia- d, /, ,gta.''i i.. M 's ,,, s "'go,r ,
Nu.tl. D. tHrui t'i .ni fti hN unNl.r l.-i.Hiun