The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1894-07-27
POINTED QUESTIONS
A Timely Communication to the
Head of the Sugar Trust.
Four Questions of Interest to the Public
the SUBJ Committee on Trusts.

WASHINGTON, July 23.-Hon. Michae
D. Harter last evening forwarded the fol
owing letter to H. o. Havemeyer, presi
dent of the American Sugar Refining
company:
Fl. O. Havemeyer, President American Rein.
ing Company, New York:
DEAR SIR-If you will supply to me, as
chairman of the subcommittee on manufac.
lures, the information asked for herein, | will
lee that it is laid before the house. A free
trader myself, and believing that no tax
should be levied upon sugar (or anything else)
except for revenue, nevertheless, as practi-
cally every article of general consumption is to
tetain protection, feel no prejudice against
the sugar interests as such, and | think a large
humber of the members of the house enter
| lain the same view.
| AS, however, the Sugar trust demands pro-
lection, or, more properly speaking, the taxa
ton of the public for its profit, it should put
before congress and the public it's real con-
tition, so that an intelligent opinion of the
merits of its demand may be formed. If, upon
an actual and necessary investment of cash
capital il cannot save itself from losses with
out burdening the taxpayers, then it has as
much justification (and more) for being fed
from the public resources by taxation as any
Industries which we, in passing the Wilson
bill, allowed to remain on the charity list.
If, however, it's profits have been excessive,
when figured upon an actual cash and un-
watered capital stock, then you, as a fair
minded man. will agree with me that you
should not have any legislative favors. In
such event tax of l cent pound upon 100
degree sugar for revenue only, would be fair
and equitable one permitting reduction
l-iOOth of a cent for each degree of sweetness
lacking.
Such a tax as this, while taking nothing to
the treasury of your company, would pour a
A.
fers. The information asked for is compre-
hended under four heads:
F1rst-What is the present value q. e., cost
Of replactng) of the plants actually in opera
ton and necessary to produce the quantity OF
refined sugar turned out by your company
Second-What have been the actual profits
Of the American Sugsf RgAnins company for
bach full fiscal year since its organization and
what are it's profits so far in the current year?
Third-What annual salary is paid to each
Of its general officers?
Fourth-What is the actual paid-in cash
capital, including the plants turned in at their
real cash market value, and what is the
present surplus fund of the company, includ-
Ing all individual profits?
The Mckinley bill gives the sugar rehners
an opportunity of collecting from the consum-
hrs tax of one-half cent per pound upon all
Sugars above No. l6 Dutch standard, and the
of all classes of sugar during the
past three fiscal years aggregated 1885, ,s02,-
446 pounds, fully 90O0.0u0,0J0 of which were
above this limit
1t follows, therefore, that the Sugar trust
and the independent refners in the United
States must have received over S40,000U0O of
the peoples money, while the government got
during the three years only Sf0,75l. As your
asks continued favors, the propriety
pf supplying the country with the information
hsked herein will not be questioned by so
reasonable a man of business as yourself.
You are a Democrat, and will, trust, join
ne in the hope that within few years the
present wretched system of taxing the people
under the misleading name of protection) for
The benefit of rivate interests will be done
away with entirely and forever.
Yours truly,
MICHAEL ID II AFTER