The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-06-06
CASTON'S STORY OF SUGAR.
He Tells Of the Conversation He Over
heard in His Hotel.

h9 SbAy q Nuseu 4ndI senators ana
Representatives of the Sugar Inter
est We're Comforting From the
Nature of Their Discussion-He Felt
Confident That the Bill Could Not
Pass With the Sugar Men Against It.
Washington, June 5.-The committee
investigating the sugar trust gave out TO-
night the testimony of Walter Castor, the
wire manufacturer, who occupied the
room next to MIR. Terrell at the Airing
ton hotel, and upon whose statement to a
congressman was based the article
in the New York Mail and Express
which Is one of the topics
considered by the committee. The
article was read to MIR. CASTOR, and he
said: with the exception of the fact
| that was in the room, that l overheard
a conversation on sugar, that l told a con-
gresham next morning from what heard
that l did not believe the Wilson bill
would pass, nor any other tariff bill, I'M
less better bill it is absolutely manu-
featured out of whole cloth, absolutely
| false from beginning to end In telling
| this congressman, we had had con-
| hdential relations together for some
time, told this in pure confidence
without giving him details. l told him
that no senator had been in the room. |
!
that from sugar conversation the night
before in an adjoining room, did not be-
lleve the Wilson bill would pass, nor any
tariff bill unless a much more favorable
bill for the various industries of the
country were framed. That l will ad-
nit"
CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN ASLEEP.
He then told that upon having awak-
ened he learned from the conversation in
the adjoining room that the
sugar men were not satisfied
with the sugar schedule Offered
by the subcommittee of the finance com
mittee. He did not recognize the voice Of
any person in the room, although it was
these persons who were dissatisfied with
the sugar schedule. From the general
course of their compensation. he was sure
they were interested in sugar He de-
MED that he arose and peeped through
the keyhole. The only reason he had to
suppose that senators were in the room
was the familiarity they displayed in
what had been going on before the sub
committee of finance that day. He had
never said to any one that he
recognized the voices Of senator's
1t was his understanding that the sub
committee had offered the sugar industry
40 per cent. ad valorem, and one-eighth of
cent differential for refined sugar. and
this was unsatisfactory to the men in the
sure that the Wilson bill would be de-
| feated
He was asked concerning many of the
| statements in the newspapers, and de-
| clared most of them absolutely false in
| every particular. He knew Mr. Terrell
! was IN the room because some one came
! in and said: Good evening, Mr.. Ter
rell' One of the men seemed more ia
| mliiar with the subject of sugar than the
! others, and was complimented by the
| others for his knowledge. There was no
| politics in this discussion, all sugar, and
some social talk.
WHY HE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE BEATEN.
Asked as to why he thought the bill
would be defeated, he said THE inter
ests of one in the tariff matters, should
! be the interest of all and | knew. or
thought l knew, that the sugar men could
not get it all and that it would have to be
live and let live, as it is in all these mat
tiers. Therefore, if the sugar men were
better taken care of, the other schedules
wouldsbe better taken care of. That was
my inference, and it was not an I'M
| natural one"
Senator Allen-I understood YOU to saw
a while ago that you knew the sugar
| trust had it in their power to defeat this
bill If not satisfactory to them.
Mr. Gaston-Yes, sir.
HE EXPLAINS HIS MEANING.
Senator Allen-What do you mean by
that}
MIR Gaston-I mean this: There are
two senators from Louisiana, and in
Louisiana there is bounty of 2 cents on
sugar. The sugar interest having GER
tain senators representing it, in the
closeness of the vote in the Senate of
course there is not very great margin,
you know. There is Senator Hill aud
Senator Murphy and Senator Smith in
opposition to the income tax. l put these
things together with a margin as small
as you know it is in the Senate, at least
as presume it is.
He went on and stated that in q general
way he thought the various senators, who
would not like certain features of the
bill, would combine with the sugar inter-
ests and defeat the bill. This he Inferred,
he did not know anything about it, He
did not give the name of the congressman
he had told of the conversation, and was
given until tomorrow to decide whether
the congressman's name should be given
| TO the committee