New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-22
SLOW WORK WITH A TRUST.
SUGAR MEN REFUSE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS
TEE INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE WILL TAKE rhHi"
CASES BEFORE rHE sENATx-soAH TAiN"S
WHICH MrssRs. BAvEMEYER AND
pApsONs WORLD NOT TALK


-ep,ied that il would end in its destruction. Peo-
rIe would then have to get their sugar from Eng
land and of course, the price would be raised
Senator Ijnson one of the Democratic MEMBERS
was reused at this and asked; How muon more
a pound does the American pay for his sugar than
the Englishman? '
Mr. Havemeyer-Two and fveeighth cents pound
The iaborers other countries are paid from one-han 70
one-ousrter less than laborere are. without ue
n,o,ec,on to Louisiana given by the United States, II
would bring that State competition with the slave
labor OF other countries
Owe would have to TO England for our
sugar would wet A.-Next to this country. England
r. the largest sugar refining country.
Here chairman Arnold thought that the dis
cussion on the tariff had gone far enough ana
said so.
Senator Coggeshall-weil. you suggested IT.
Senator Ldnson-Irs of interest 10 the public
REFUSING TO ANSWER A QUESTION
Colonel Bliss here continued his examination OF
Mr.. Havemeyer:
n wb., n,oportion OF the shares OF the trust was
owned nv the refinery that was burnedf
A.-That is purely private matter and uhder nS'iu~
ton OF counsel. 1 refuse 10 answer
Senator Arnold-The committee direct Mr. HavemeSer
70
The wtness-For the stated respectfully re'ue
Mr. Havemeyer stated that there were no formal
meetings Of the Trust Board. About two -thlius
of the stock owned by officers VINO were acuiNo
IN their own corporations, and they met every Gay
TO discuss matters concerning their business
Q.-when they feel of each otheri A--when they
feel the OF the meeting.
o-what certificate holdera not members of the Board
we're present a any meeting when another company was
taken into the trusti A.-That consider private
matter and will not answer unless compelled pY tue
sommittee
Colonel Bliss asked the decision Of the COM
mittee on this question. There was short con,
sultation among the Senators, and there seemed
to be a unanimous nodding OF heads, me
Id 81 tha
compel Mr.. IIavemeyer to answer this question.
The witness grew red In the face and looked
sppealingly at his lawyer, but finally answered.
John II. Dss Psssos-The certificate holders not the
Board OF Trustees controlled the trust 80
Colonel Bss-Thats what you say now You did
not say yesterday.
The witness-I deny that
O-Have you not been demonstrated with Win reier'
moe 70 your testimony yesterday A-No Sir.
Odd not Theodore Hsvem,yer tell you IN this very
room Yesterday that you had given the whole thing
tvsyni A-Thst is preposterous, and you know IT,
Mr. Parsons-The ears Of eavcsdroppers are sometimes
long
Mr. Havemeyer-There Is no way control the sugar
market II we could control 1T would OF course.
We do shat 70 make money Tor Ourselves
rhe market for raw sugar cannot be controlled
Q-How ia thstf Ain England there has been On
advance OF pound while the advance here mas
been only half cent pound
ORJrCTING TO THE WORD TRUSTS"
Here Mr. Usvemeyer raised objection to the
frrouent use of the words trusts" and COM
bipattons, and requested Colonel Bliss to refer
,o H. AZ The Board" He also found fault with
the manner of examination INDUCED in by Colonel
Bliss and said that he was prosecuting, teStIylhs
and doing everything else Mr peaiioS' A'
said is both secretary and treasurer.
Senator Coggeshs-Is there ang official record OF the
proceedings of this Board A-There is nothing on
books paper.
Colonel Bliss-Then there ooks or memoranda
70 be got out Of the way this investigation was Or
Roar i'm
scter and had no need OF q record kept memoranda
myself
Senator Ives-where are the memoranda A.-They
we're Of no particular use to oincia-snd DO
stroyed them 49,
Senator Ives-when you asked Mr. Parsons Tor mat
agreement yesterday did want him to give II 10 your
A-Personally did 1 had no objection to It's piodu0
don but deferred to wishes Of OILERS 10 interest
Senator Ives-Had Mr.. Parsons refused 10 give IL
to youi Al had my suspicious that he wouah give
It to Qaushter) - ..
the combination, in which he said that 90 per
cent of the sugar industry Of this country is IN tne
hands of - the board Mr.. Havemeyer was eA-
ouscd and he gladly left the witness CHAIR;
George II Moller was next called by Colonel
BEss Mr. Moller was a stocl1holder in the North
River Sugar Refinery, with which he mas d S en-
was from 500 barrels to 1000 day, ne s .
out his interest in the concern to Mr. Searles' the
secretary Of the board" for s25,ooo. de mas
had nothing TO do with the combination
you to join the combinationi Ayes
o-why didn't you want 10 come In A-because
our not offered the same terms as the
o-whst were you oaeredf A.-s7oo 900 In stock GER
tfcstes
o-who were offered a better trade than yOui A.
Havemeyer h Elder
Q.-what did they get1 A-Between sixteen ana
seventeen million dollars
o-whst did the others IN the combination eetf A
Madison Becchmsn got a. 100000; Decastro Bonner
100000; oXnard, sl.7OooOo Moller q sierck'
q $50 600 Dick Meyer $4,000 600; Standard Of Bos
ton So 700 600; The Bay 100000, and one com
pany Boston that cannot remember got $4,000
A-Who were the committee that turned over these
eertfcates7 A.-John E. Parsons. John DOS Passes
and Francis Bartlett, Of Boston.
O-Afer the combination formed was there any
competition in prces7 A-Certainly not; II was one
concern and there was no competition.
O-What has been the effect on the market since inc
formation Of the combinations A-WelI there is no life
In IL now there much connection. The market
has been put point or two the Original capiI"1"
ton Of the trust was based al 600 100000 vi 'hs
Is per retained In tie treasury In oroeF '" Ee'
tn the other rehneres
o.-Have you had any conference previous to your
coming here with any member Of the committee General
Pryor myself A.-NO, 1 have had no conference
with anybody previous 10 coming here TO-DAY.
Frank n Barrett editor Of The American
Grocer" gave some figures relative to the various
prices of the raw and refined material anu inc
consumption
TILT BETWEEN LAWYERS
Mr. Parsons and Colonel Bliss had another tllt
In the afternoon, when Mr. Havemeyers counsel
was again called to the witness stahd
Q-Do you know what powers member oil the Oo"ru
hasi Al have an Idea.
Q-what is that idea Al have told you. Coiohel
bliss that nothing that know that subject comes 70
NJ except as counsel for its members
Colonel Bliss-I question you Mr.. Parsons not as
iawyer but as gentleman and member of that board
M Parsons-I don't how you can regard me as
anything else except counsel don't know OF any
power which l. as member Of that board, possess