St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-06-06
SUGAR KINGS IN SESSION.
WEA7 A BIC MANUFACTURER HEARD
AT7HE ARLINGTON.
SENATORS IN CONVERSATION.

Testimony Before the Investigat-
ing Committee on the Opera
tions of the Sugar Trust in AT.
tempting to Corrupt and Cor.
troll the Members of tho United
States Senate.
WASHINGTON, June 5.--The senate
committee which is investigating the
alleged operations of the sugar trust in
efforts to influence tariff legislation re-
Sumed its siItingS today, and Walter
CASTOR, the wire manufacturer of
NilkeSbarre. was examined as to the
truth OF the story that he had, while oc-
cupying room at the Arlington hotel,
overheard conversation between men,
berS of the sugar trust and United
States senators with regard to the ne
ceSSity OF protecting sugar i'll tine tariff
bill. Mr. Castor appeared to appreciate
the delicacy of his position, ana stated
that he overheard conversation on the
subject of sugar legislation. The oc-
currence had been purely accidental and
unavoidable on his part. He had come
TO Washington in March IN the interest
of the
TARIFF ON WIRE,
and stopping at the Arlington hotel,
was assigned to Room SO. The sixth
day of that month lac spent al the capt.
tol, and. having put in very busy day,
had retired early aboutS o'clock. after
reaching his room at the hotel, and had
almost immediately fallen asleep. About
10 o'clock he was aroused by talking in
the next room. which seemed to be of
animated character and was partici-
pated in by several persons, the voices
of some of whom he recognized. He
soou discovered that they were discuss
ing the sugar schedule, and that some
of the participants in the conversation
were exceeding anxious that u duty
OH refined sugar be provided fer. He
said. also, he heard the names of Ger
tain senators mentioned in the CONVEX
sation.
MIR. CASTOR was pressed very hard by
the committee.
HE DID NOT REFUSE
to answer any question, but TO a great
many queries replied simply that he did
Eut know. He said he was in the room
al the Arlington on the date named, and
conversation with Mr.. Terrell. who oc-
cuppied the room, because of the knowl-
edge they displayed of what had taken
place III the subcommittee of finance
that day. He would not say that he
had recognized any of tue voices. He
believed that the bill waa then to be de-
feated because of his previous knowl
edge of the power of the sugarinterests.
He said he had never told any one that
he had recognized any of the voices in
The rom occupied by Terrell. He did
not give the names of
THE CONGRESSMAN
to whom lie gave The story, and who in
turn told it 10 MIR. Schrlver. He was
given until tomorrow to consider wheth-
er he would disclose the congressman's
name.
y report of Gaston's testimony was
tonight given out by the committee.
Referring to the newspaper article I'M
der consideration, he said: with the
exception of the fact that | was in the
room-tHat l overheard conversation
On sugar. that | told the congressman
next morning. from what l heard, that
did not believe the Wilson bill would
pass, nor any other tariff. unless bet
ter bill-it is absolutely manufactured
out OF whole cloth, absolutely false
from beginning to end"
He denied that he had said any sem
atOrs were in the room at The Arlington,
though he supposed, from the familiar-
ity displayed with what had been going
OH i'll The finance subcommittee that
day, or inferred some of them were
senators. He knew Terrell was i'll the
room. because he heard some one call
him by name.