The herald., 1894-06-13
THE SUGAR INVESTIGATION.
Mr.. Havemeyer Testifies Before aray's
Comm ttes.


Mr.. Havemeyer Testifes Before aray's
Comm ttee.
WASHINGTON, June H. o. Have
meyer, president OF the American Sugar
Refinery, was before Gray's investiga-
tion committee today. The proceedings
were strictly private. Hsvemeyer de-
MED the published statements as to
contributions to campaign funds and
demands that the trust shall have pro-
lection for past fsvors. He said he had
talked with Senators Hill, German and
Smith in regard to protection for the
refining interests. Smith and German
promised to help him.
Hill gave him no satisfaction. He
said the present tariff bill WAS unsatis-
factory because the different.al of Is of
a cent was not sufficient to afford all the
protection refiners should receive.
He advocated the ad valorem system,
and was gratified it had been adopted.
Havemeyer denied all knowledge of
speculation in sugar stocks by senators.
Mr.. Havemeyer was asked about the
published statement that he had on
either Mr.. E. G. Benedict's yacht. or at
Greenwich, Ct., been in consultation
with Mr.. Cleveland and Mr.. Benedict
in 1892, sfter Mr.. Clevelsnd's nomina-
tion for the presidency, about the sugar
interests as affected by the Hawaiian
treaty. To this Mr.. Havemeyer said
there was mot one word of truth"
He also declared no such consultation
had ever occurred at any time or place.
He added that he did not know Mr..
Cleveland and had never seen him.
Furthermore he had never exchanged a
word with Mr.. Benedict on the question
of sugar or of any other business matter.
He said he had come to Washington
early in March after the tariff bill had
passed the house, with the hope of get
ting hearing before the finance COM
mittee, and had gone to Senator Vest o
ask him if it would not oe possible to
secure hearing by the committee. Mr..
Vest had said no, but mad agreed to
allow him to explain the sugar question
to him (Vest) individually, and he had
done go.
He then explained his interview with
Senator Jones at Senator Osmden'e
rooms and Senator Cameron at Senator
Brice's house. He had talked with
Jones about three-quarters of an hour
about the different eystems of levyiug
duty, and about the cost OF refining
sugar in this and other countries.
He said he had been invited to Sena-
tor Brice's and asked by the senator to
meet Senator Caffery, and when he met
him merely went over the argument for
an ad val0rem duty. Mr. Havemeyer
said he had gone to the capitol with Mr..
Terrell, but not for the purpose Of seeing
senators or represe ntativea.
1--WE were idling around" he said,
''eort of spectators.
MIR. Havemeyer made some rather
startling statements toward the close of
his testimony. He was asked about the
contribution of the sugar trust to the
campaign funds of political parties, and
said the records of the trust showed that
such contributions were made, but they
were madezto the state committees, not
TO the natnRal committees.
He was asked If the contributions of
the trust were given to both parties in
the same state, and replied:
"Oh, no."
"How do you arrange i.?" he was
asked.
"Well. New York is Democratic
state. We give TO the Democrats in New
York and to the Republicans in Mssss-
chusets. We never give to the minor
ity."
ibid you contribute to the anti
snappers |" asked Senator Lodge.
"Oh, no; l am quite sure on that
point; nothing to the anti-snappers."
Mr.. Havemeyer could not remember
the amounts contributed by the engar
trust to the different campaign funds,
but he promised to furnish them if he
could get them.
Cordmeyer was called after Mr.. Have
meyer finished. He gave the com mittee
little or no information.
In his questions Senator Allen sought
to develop the fact that there wac an
understanding between the sugar trust
and Claus Sprecksls for division of
territory, and while Havemeyer admit
ted that his company did not ship be-
yond the Missouri river, he contended it
was because of physical difficulties, and
not Oh account of an understanding.
Senator Allen asked if the trust had
atte M pied to control legislation in con-
grees. 70 this Mr.. Havemeyer replied :
"Undou btedly that is what | have
been down here for"
He said the trust had made about
Plu,OOOOO Wy eho PuASAooo "a Obhot 10
fnerles.
Asked whether the trusts contribu-
tions to political parties amounted ST.
000,0 in any one campaign, MIR. Have
meyer said:
"Oh, no."
He said nothing was contributed to
influence presidential nominations in
1892. The money SO spent was charged
ON the books OF the trust. Mr.. Heve-
meyer said in reply to further question
ing that if the committee desired he
could produce the figures from the
books OF his company. showing what
contributions had been made for politi-
cal purposes, and the committee max
ing such request, he asked the priv
iiege OF consulting his council.
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS.
A Bill Passs d to Provide q Home for In