The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-24
THE SUGAR TRUST.

7Tr. SpreckeIs Explains that He Does Not
Eat Bricks and CObble-Stones.
WASHINGTON, March 23-The House commit
teeon manufactures resumed its Investigations
into the sugar trust this morning. and Mr. Claus
Spreckels, of San Francisco, was examined'
There were two retineres the Pacific coast,
the witness said the American refinery, with
capacity of 500, 600 or 60O,0 900 pounds daily and
the witnesses refinery, with daily capacity of
100000 pounds. OF the sugar used this
year, in the witnesses refinery, about 40 900 tons,
or ONE third of the annual crop, came
from Hawaii; the other 10000 or 3d.
600 tons from the Philippine islands.
and about 10000 tons from Central Amer
lea. The price of raw sugar from Hawaii was
formerly fixed by the price in Manila. but for
the last three years it had been regulated by the
New York market. The trust combination has
undoubtedly tended to lower the price OF raw
sugar and to raise the price of refined sugar.
Sugar cheaper in San Francisco than in
New York, but of course when sugar went up in
New York 1t went up San Francisco.
REPRESENTATIVE Wison-Then. by remaining
out, you have reaped the benefits those
who have gone into the trust Answer-Cor-
Then the trust is good for youl" Answer
Well, don't know much about that The
trust may say, "Spreckels won't join the trust.
but we will crush him out We will put the
price of sugar San Francisco down to cents.
and make our profit here" 1 have come East
TO start a factory to get my share here.
Q.-This investigation is to ascertain whether
the tendency of these combinations is in furious
to the interests of consumers Now, a matter
of fact, has not their effect been to produce
petition and lessen the price of sugar, instead of
producing an opposite effect2 Al don't agree
with you there. don't believe They
not going TO form a trust TO work for the peo-
pie. They are going to work for their pockets
Q. The trust say that your building of an
Eastern refinery is a pretext A. No;
there has been some talk about it being bluff.
You will see what L will do. / do not bluff; but
when they bluff / make them show their hands
Speaking of the probable growth of the beet
sugar industry in this country. the witness said
that if the United States could be sure of
but what in three years the beet productI
would supply this country with sugar. John E.
Searles had requested the witness to go in the
trust He was sick when Mr. Searles called
him, and did not rem ember what inducements
advantages that gentleman offered him. The
conversation lasted but few minutes, aud oc-
Cured four or FIVE days ago He remembered
asking how to get out of the trust after once be-
ing in it. and was told that once in. you could
never get out Free sugar. he said, would break
upsthe trust. but it would also destroy the sugar
industry in this country. He stated: 81 am
not the man you perhaps have heard that was
Claus Spreckes is not the man to swallow brick
house and cobble-stones, and digest them If
you take the duty off you take million and
half from aud my associates. But If it is
for the benefit of the American people, why
should I alone be favored, and not the other
people! | cannot take anything along with me.
] have worked for Claus Spreckes all my life,
and now am going to work for the American