The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-07-25

WASHINGTON, July 22.-iThe follow
ing letter from the chairman of the house
subcommittee on trusts to the president
of the American sugar refining company
was mailed tonight:
III. O.. Havemeyer. President of the
American Sugar Refining Company
New York:
Dear Sir-If you will supply to me, as
chairman of the subcommittee on
trusts of the committee on manufactures
the information asked for herein, will
see that it is laid before the house. A
free trader myself, and believing that no
tax should be levied upon sugar Cor any
thing else) except for revenue, never
theless, as practically every article Of
general consumption is to retain pro-
lection, 1 feel no prejudice against the
sugar interest, as such. and / think
large number of the members OF the
house entertain the same view. As
however the sugar trust demands pro-
lection, or more properly speaking, the
taxation of the public for its profit, it
should put before congress and the pub
lie its real condition, so that an intelli-
gent opinion of the merits of its demand
may be formed. II, upon an actual and
necessary investment Of cash capital 1t
cannot save itself from losses without
burdening the taxpayers. then it has as
much justification land more for being
fed from the public resources by taxation
as many industries which we, in passing
the Wilson bill allowed to remain upon
the charity list.
'If. however, its profits have been ex-
,,f
cash and unwatered capital stock, then
you, as a fair-minded man, will agree
with me that you should not have any
legislative favOrs. In such event. a
tax Of cent per pound upon 1O0-degree
sugar for revenue only would be a fair
and equitable one. permitting a reduc-
ton of 1-10O Of cent for each degree Of
sweetness lacking. Such a tax as this.
while taking nothing to the treasury of
your company. would pour great many
millions into the government Golfers. The
Information asked for Is comprehended
under four heads:
Il. What Is the present tax value q. e.
cost of replaoing) of the plants actually
in operation and necessary to produce a
quantity of refined sugar turned out by
your company?
80 What have been the actual profits
OF the American sugar refining company
for each full fiscal year since its organ
ization, and what are its profits so far in
the current year7
"S. What annual salary is paid to each
Of its general officers?
"a. What is the actual paid-in cash
capital. including the plants turned in at
their real cash market value, and what
Is the present surplus Of the company,
including all individual profits?
The Mckinley bill gives the sugar re-
fners an opportunity Of collecting from
the consumer tax Of II cent per pound
upon all sugars above No. 16 Dutch
standard, ana the consumption of all
classes OF sugar during the past three
fiscal years aggregated 1886, s02,446
pounds, fully 800, 100000 Of which We're
that the sugar trust and the independent
refiners i'm the United States must have
received over $40,000.0 600 Of the peoples
money, while the government got during
the three years only S470.751. As your
company asks continued favors, the pro-
prlety Of supplying the country with the
information asked herein will not be
questioned by so reasonable a man Of
business as yourself. You are a demo-
crat and will, I trust, join in the hope
that within a few years the present
wretched system Of taxing the people
mnder the misleading name of prOtec-
tion) for the benefit OF private interests
will be done away with entirely and for
ever. Yours truly
MICHAEL d. HARTER."