Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1894-06-09
THEIR STORIES TOLD.
Testimony of Secretary Carlisle and
Others In the Sugar Tariff Inquiry.

WASHINGTON, June 5.--The testimony
of Secretary Carlisle and Senators
Mills and Mcpherson in the senate
inquiry, which was heard in secret, has
been given to the public. Senator Mills
denied all knowledge of the reported
secret interview of Secretary Car
Isle on the sugar question, and said
that he and Senator Jones and Senator
Vest had prepared the sugar schedule
as first reported, and he knew moth
ing of any memorandum for the sched-
ule from the secretary. He also de-
MED all knowledge of the alleged
Sunday conference of the finance
committee with those interested in
securing sugar legislation. He said
he had never heard of members of the
sugar trust being in the capitol while
he was acting us member of the
finance committee and that he had
never met any of the members of
the trust The letter of introduction
was merely formal note containing
only two or three lines. He declined
to see Mr.. Havemeyer. Senator Mills
also denied any knowledge of contri-
buttons to the democratic campaign
committee.
Mr. Carlisle stated that Senator Jones had
requested him to have the sugar schedule pre-
pared on the morning of Saturday, May 5, and
had come to his house for that purpose and had
handed him memorandum stating what he
wished done. After he went to his office
he dictated the schedule providing for the ad
valorem duty of 40 per cent, and the
additional one-eighth of one cent on sugars
above No. l6 Dutch standard. At
O'Clock that day he went to the capitol in re-
Sponse to Il telephone message requesting his
presence, taking the sugar schedule, which he
had put in shape with him. He found Sena-
tors Jones, Vest and Mcpherson and Represen-
tative Breckenridge in the room of the senate
committee on appropriations, and Senator
German afterward came in.
After talking some time" said Mr.. Carlisle,
lit suggested that instead of having 40 per
cent. ad valorem upon all sugars and
eighth of one cent Traditional upon sugars testing
above No. 16 Dutch standard in color
there should be a duty of 40 per cent. on
all sugars below No. 16 Dutch standard
in color and % per cent. on all sugars above
No. 10 Dutch standard in color, the additional
per cent. being, you will observe, equal to
one-eighth of the 40 per cent. on the other
grades. Thereupon some one asked me II
would not write it. 1 said: I will just take
this amendment which have in my hand and
interine it, They wanted to insert clause
| that this schedule should not abrogate in
any manner impair the provisions of the
Hawaiian treaty and asked me II 1 could not
write that also. said:
" i will just take this paper and interline it,
took out the part which provided for
eighth of one cent a pound additional, and put
| in the provision for 45 per cent ad valorem.
Then added to 1t in my own handwriting all
the provisions now contained in 1t with regard
to the Hawaiian treaty just as 1t Is to-day
Upon being asked by Senator Lodge whether
he had advised the finance committee as to
whether it was better to have ad valorem
| specific duties, Mr.. Carlisle said: II lave al
ways been in favor of an ad valorem duty, but
l do not remember that gave them any such
| opinion then" Mr.. Carlisle said that he knew
| that ad valorem duties were advocated by the
| Sugar-retning interest for both the reiinorS
| and the planters. Mr.. Carlisle denied in en-
| phatic terms that he had ever made a secret
| call upon the finance committee or made
| demand upon them to protect sugar because
| of the democratic partys obligation to the
sugar trust.
Senator Vest said that Mr.. Carlisle was in
| the committee-room from time to time and
| consulted with the members of the committee
| in regard to the tariff bill that he expressed
| great anxiety that the committee should agree
| upon some measure, and that it should be-
| come law, but he made no statement about
| party obligations to the sugar trust. Senator
| Vest pronounced as "a lie made out of wholo
| cloth the story that he (VeSD had changed
| front sugar. Il was for free sugar." he said,
| but l was finally compelled to favor
| cent pound on raw sugar and no duty
| on refined sugar and no ad valorem."
| Closing his testimony Senator Vest said: II
have never used my official position for pri-
vate purposes ANY statement that have is
| absolutely false, us is also any statement that
| 1 ever gave any information or had any con-
nection with the sugar trust-that is also alb
| solutely false. If anybody can make the de-
! nial broader wish he would do So"
Senator McPhersons testimony is de-
| voted largely to an explanation of stock pur-
chases and the method of conducting them.
He said that he had agreed with the finance
committee us to the sugar schedule Il did
not he said, favor the sugar schedule
presented and did some that"
but he added that he had never said anything
about the democratic party's being under obli-
cations to members OF the sugar trust. He
said he had never come in contact
with any OF the sugar refiners except Mr..
Seares, who had called on him in his
house and demonstrated against the schedule
he had presented in committee He repeated
that he never knew of any obligations to the
sugar trust but said he had heard the state
ment made that the sugar refners were in the
habit of giving the democratic side small
contribution aud the republicans a large one.
Senator Mcpherson stated that, while he
kept office in Wall street and he had been in
the habit for seven eight years of buying
stocks investment and selling
them, he had not considered him
self an operator in the usual accepta-
tion of the term. He said that in
! addition to the purchases of sugar stock
made by his son in February he had pur-
chased some sugar stock In October and No
vember and had sold it in December, when
congress convened. Questions put by Senator'S
Allen and Davis developed the fact that Sena-
tor McPherson's son had made profit Of
about 81 GOO on the stock bought on the 22d and
sold on the Goth Of February.
. Closely questioned by Senator Allen (Neb.)
Senator Mcpherson stated that Ii In the
power of the sugar trust to put up or down the
price of its stock, and he knew this before his
| son bought the stock. He also knew that put
, ting tariff on sugar would tend to increase
the value of the stock. He did not think it
right to speculate in the stocks affected by leg
| isation and had never done So
In the course OF his examination Senator Nc
Pherson stated that it had been very definitely
decided between himself and his son that the
telegraphic order for sugar stock OF February
20 was not to be sent and that his son went to
{ New York the night it was written. He
thought the order had been carelessly left on