Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-05
STICKY FINGERS
Can't Be Wholly Concealed by the
Sugared Senators.
Report Of Committee indicates More Cues.
tons Might Be Asked.

WAsHISoTos, June 4.-Senator Gray,
chairman of the sugar trust investigation
committee laid before the Senate today the
official slenographer's report of the testi-
mony given by Senators McPherson, Hsr-
ris, Jones, Mills, Vest, Voorhees,, Secre-
tary CARLISLE and Representative Warner.
McPheraon said that so far as he knew
there was no truth in the charges published
concerning Secretary Carlisle and the do
ings Of the sugar trust. For himself he
disagreed with the committee as to the su-
gar schedule. He opposed the schedule
presented by the committee and did little
raving over that himself, but never saw
Mr.. Carlis le do any of it. Mcpherson said
he laid before the committee the views of
his friend, Mr.. Mathieson, member of
the sugar trust, but did not endorse them.
On the contrary he opposed them and voted
against the committees proposition.
The witness said that Mr.. Searle, secre-
tary of the American Sugar Refining Com
pany, came to his house and argued that
the proposition offered by Mr.. Mcpherson
would give the sugar refners nothing. Mr..
Searles was the only person he ever saw on
the subject.
The most interesting part of Mr.. Nc
Pherson's testimony related to his own in
vestments 10 sugar stock, 300 shares of
which he purchased in November, 1898.
but which he supposed had been sold with
others early in December. He said that
during the holiday recess of Congress he
transferred his stocks and bonds to his son,
covering ALL the active business enterprises
he had Continuing his narrative of this
matter the senator said ..
On Dec. statement from the brokers
showed that had on hand 800 shares of
Manhattan Railroad stock in New York
city, 300 shares Of Jersey Central stock
and 800 shares of North West common
which transferred to my son. All that
went over to him and on our return here Feb.
s, after the House had sent bill over here
without any tax on sugar, whatever, and
we supposed there could be by no possibility
Of any tax upon sugar, my son purchased,
as he had right to do, owning those stock,
although they were still in my name on the
books, 800 shares of sugar stock. He pur-
chased it for inve stigation intending to sell
his railroad stocks and put the proceeds
into sugar"
Senator Davis: "Did your son make
this purchase upon consideration with
your
Senator McPherson: mo, I consented
to the purchase of this stock, but whether
before or after the purchase l cannot say
because of the fact that it did not seem to
me there could be any such legislation any
more with regard to sugar. However,
said to him: If there be any then want
you to sell your stock at once He pur-
chased stock and got sick OF it and on the
10th day of February he sold that and all
the other stocks he had. On the 22d of
February, after selling everything, he
wanted to buy the sugar stock again.
lie had the money then to pay
for it. He wanted an investment
and | said to him that 1 had some
doubts about the propriety Of his doing it.
However, as he promised to get out of the
street and have notbiog more to do with it,
and take his money out entirely, / finally
assented to it end an order was issued to
purchase it. Upon reflection we again took
the matter up and discussed it, while
knew nothing about the purpose Of the COM
mittee in regard to this matter, as said to
my son that there were rumors aioat that
the Senate committee would do something
with respect to legislation in sugar, that |
did not think he ought to buy the sugar
stock, and he fully concurred with me in
that conclusion. Although he had his own
property and was his own master, yet at the
same time persuaded him not to do any
thing in sugar. Now, as l say, an order
had been prepared among other orders.
My son left that evening for New York.
This order WAS among other kilograms that
we're sent out inadvertently in some way OF
other. either through my carelessness or
the carelessness of servant, ! ascertained
after several days that the telegram had
gone. But it was entirely an inadvertence
on the part of the servant taking it out, be-
cause am in the habit of writing letters and
kilograms and leaving them on the table and
under general order they go out. l and
my son both supposed the telegram was de-
stroyed. MY son went to New York on
that evening, and if there was any blame 10
be attached to it the. blame was my own or
the servants.
"This was on the 22d of February On
the oath received notice that there had
been 1000 shares of sugar stock bought on
my account on the 23d. | could not I'M
derstand how that could be and immediate
~, the same moment that received the
notice, telegraphed to New York to sell
the stock at once. Well, the cath was on
Saturday. OF course it is a half holiday
and the notice, or rather my order, got
there too late to do anything. The next
day was Sunday and early on Monday
morning it was sold"
Mr.. Mcpherson said he had been an in
weston in Wall street during the considera-
ton of the tariff bill but had not directly or
indirectly given out any statements as to
the probable action respecting sugar to any
person and he had no knowledge of any
other senator speculsting in sugar stocks
during the tendency of the bill.
In response to query as to who pre-
pared this telegram Mr.. Mcpherson said
II do not know whether l prepared it or
not. 1t makes no difference which one pre-
pared it, because a telegram in my name
would have been considered sufficient fol
the order"
Senator Allen: "You had talked over
with your son on the sdvissbility of his
purchasing sugar stock, and had gone tc
the extent that one of you should prepare q
telegram to purchase"
Senator Mcpherson: Eyes, SIR"
Senator Allen: ''And after further con-
versation you consented not to do it?''
Senator Mcpherson: "Yes, SIR"
Senator Allen "Let me ask you it you
th;nl ;t 70 advisable for n 1'nited States