The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-24
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SPRECKELS A WITNESS.
THE PRICE OF SUGAR ADVANCED
BY THE TRUST.

Raw Sugar Cheapened by the Manipu-
lations of the Combination-The Wit
ness not in the Ring and not Afraid
That it Will Ruin Him.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-The House
! Committee on Manufactures resumed it's
! Investigations into the sugar trust this
morning, and Claus Spreckels, of San Fran
cisco, was examined. There were two re-
tineries in operation on the Pacific coast,
the witness said, the American Refinery,
with a capacity of 500 900 or 600 900 pounds
daily, and the witness refinery, with
daily capacity of 100000 pounds.
Mr.. Buchanan inquired what information
the witness had about the Sugar Trust in
New York, and he replied: II don't know
anything about it, They wanted me to be
come one of the Trust and refused and
said No That is all l know about it,"
The witness said the Trust combination
has undoubtedly tended to lower the price
of raw sugar and to raise the price Of re-
fined sugar.
CHEAPER IN FRISCO.
Sugar was cheaper in San Francisco than
in New York, but of course when sugar
went up in New York, it went up in San
Francisc CO.
Representive Wilson-Then by remain
ing out you have reaped the same benefits
as those who have gone into the Trust.
Mr.. Sprecke s-Correct.
Mr.. Furston-Then the Trust is good for
you.
Mr.. Spreckels-Well, don't know so
| much about that. The Trust may say
! 'Speckels will not join the Trust but we will
| crush him out, we will put the price OF sugar
in San Francisco down to five cents and
make our profit here have come East to
start a factory so as to get my share here.
EFFECT ON CONSUMERS.
"This investigation is to ascertain whether
the tendency of these combna ions is iu-
injurious TO the interests of consumers.
Now as a matter of fact has not their
effect been to produce competition and
lessen the price of sugar instead of pro-
ducing t Q opposite effect"
Mr.. Spreckels-I don't agree with you
there. don't believe SO. They are not
going TO form trust to work for the peo-
pie. They are going to work for their
| pockets.
As to whether the trust would not become
so powerful as 10 force him to become a
member Of it, Mr.. Spreckels said: II don't
think | will ever be moved in a combIns~
| ton. hear that the trust is such that ouly
one or two men rule it.
WANTS TO RUN HIS OWN BUSINESS.
"You put all your stock in their hands
and they hold it. They don't recognize
Sprec els or anybody else as having any
thing to say. Gentlemen. came here from
Germany for liberty, aud that liberty
shall maintain"
''If this trust grows and becomes more
powerful in the future, will it not drive
you from the market if you don't unite in
the combiuationN
Mr. Spreckels-May be, but don't think
so. | have other resources The beet in
| dustries which | have commenced will go
on. We can raise our own sugar in
America, and it is about time we did.
EFFECT OF FREE SUGAR.
The witness remembered that when he
was invited to become member of the
trust he asked how.to get out of the trust
after once being In It, and was told that
once in You could never get out.
Free sugar, the witnes said, would I'M
doubtedly make sugar v0ry cheap to the
con umer. 1t would break up the trust, but
it would also destroy the sugar industry in
this country, and England and Germany
would export their sugars to the United
States Reference being made to the
| Mills bill, the witness caused considerable
merriment by responding, "Oh, there is
such a bill. have never heard of it." The
committee adjourned subject to the call of
| the chair an.
| 1t is probable that the Standard Oil Trust
will be next inquired into.