The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-06-06
WASHINGTON, June s.
0PHE testimony given today before
the senatorial sugar trust iuves-
tigating committee by Walter

The senatorial sugar trust inves-
tigating committee by Walter
II CASTOR, of Wilkes Barre. Pa.
general manager Of the Hazard Manu-
fuciuring company and wire rope
manufacturer, was not so i'm
portant as WAS anticipated. Senator
Gray, chairman of the commit
tee, read Mr. Gaston n Washing
ton special in the New Y,rk Nail and
Express, in which it was asserted that
certain wire manufacturer had over
heard conversation in the Arlington
hotel between sugar trust representa-
tives and Democratic senators which
iaauced him to believe the tariff bill
would not pass unless the demands of
the sugar men were acceded to.
Mr.. CASTOR said he was the person
referred too and added that with the
exception of the facts that it was in the
room next that occupied b. Mr.. Ter
rill. Of the Sugar Trust, that he over
heard conversation on sugar, that he
told congressman next morning
that from what he heard he did not
believe the Wilson bill nor any
other tariff bill unless better one
than Mr.. Wilson's would pass, he
knew nothing about the matter. The
WITNESSES overheard the conversation
on March 6 He retired ut s o'clock
He WAS awakened about 10 o'clock by
II loud conversation in the next room.
The persons in that room were express-
ing dissatisfaction with what the sub
committee on sugar had done,
The Chairman-Do you know who
these parties We're?
Mr.. G iston--I do not.
The Chairman-Did you recognize
the voice of any of th9m2
Mr.. Gast0n-None.
The Chairman-How did you come
to get the impression that they were
men interested in the sugar industryP
Mr.Gaston-From the genera course
Of conversation. from the kno wledge
shat they displayed apparently there
of the business, from names l have
mentioned. not addressed, but people
5pok, Il OF. ! understood clearly 1t was
7videntlya consultation of people in
.erested in sugar.
After some further questioning the
following ensued:
WHAT GASTON HEARD.
The Chairman-From the fact that
you occupied room that had been
one OF Mr. Terrill's suite and occupied
by his daughter, and from the fact
that they were discussing sugar from
standpoint that showed familiarity
with It, you felt certain that they we're
men interested in the sugar scAeme2
Mr., Gaston--Y Yes. sir.
Senator Davis-This statement that
you recognized the voice of any senator
there is not true.
Mr.. Gnston-It is false absolutely,
Senator Davis Did you on that oc-
casion hear anybody addressed as
senator2
Mr.. Gaston-I DO not think l did.
l heard half the senate spoken about
in there.
Senator Davis-Did you hear any
baby addressed rs Senator So-and So,
being there present taking part in that
conversational
Mr.. GasIon--No. sir
Senator Dlvis-Was there anything
in that conversation that led you to
suppose there was any senator there
present?
Nj. Gsston-Only the fact that some
Of the people talking seemad to be
rather familiar with what had been
done in the sub committee room that
day
Senator Davis-Did the conversation
satisfy you that in the then condition
of affairs, as TO the sugar schedule it
was SO unsatisfactory to the sugar in
tert SITS than they had the power to and
would defeat that bill or frame bet
ter one unless their wishes were COM
piled with?
AN INFERENCE ONLY.
Mr. Gdston-I will answer that in
this wna: That it WAS not satisfactory
to them, as l learned from their con-
versaiion. That it would be the means
of defeating the Wilson bill or procur
ing better bill, was simply my own
inference from what l knew of the
sugar situation.
Senator Lodge-Iu the conversation
in the room did there appear to be some
person or persons who were advocating
the existing schedule and others oppos
ing it2
Mr.. Gaston-No. Their minds all
seemed to run one way There was no
controversy Of that kind at ALL Thoy
were all Of one accord The best OF
feeling was apparently existing.
Senator Davis Was any plan Of op-
GRAFTON lined ont In the conversation
you heard as to what would be done in
advocacy of bills in the sugar INTEREST," 2
Mr.. Gaston-None.
Mr. Gaston said every person in the
room was dissatisfied with the schedule
and that fact, in connection with
his knowledge of the situation induced
him to believe that the Wilson bill
would not pass without material
changes.
In response to Senator Allen, Mr..
CASTOR said that he knew that the su
gar trust had 1t in their power to de
feat the bill il il was not satisfactory