Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-01
THE SUGAR TRUST
Representative Dewitt Warner Be-
fore the Senate Committee.
he WILL NOT TALK OF HIS TESTIMONY
The Wire Manufacturer Expected
Here on Monday.
MIR. McPHERsoN's STATEMENT

Representative John De Witt Warner Of
New York was before the Senate sugar in
vestigating committee for an hour today.
He took q very decided stand, when the
tariff bill was before the House, in favor Of
free sugar and the change made in the bill
in that direction. while the bill was under
consideration In the House. was made un-
der his leadership. There have been news
paper stories published to the effect that
efforts were made In the interest of the
sugar trust to have him desist from his op-
position to the sugar schedule, and Mr..
Warner was questioned as to the truth OF
these stories.
He refused. however, when he left the
committee room. to divulge the proceedings
in committee or to state what replies he
had made to questions as to the influence
of the trust.
Senator Gray. as chairman of the commit
tee also declined to attempt to give q sum-
mary of the testimony, SAYING that the re-
any synopsis would be unfair.
The committee adjourned over until Mon
day to await the appearance Of q witness
from distance.
The Wine Manufactures Expected.
The witness expected by the committee on
Monday is Walter CASTOR Of Wikesbarre
Pa, who is the wire manufacturer who has
been represented as having overheard the
conversation At the Arlington Hotel last
March between certain United States Sem
ators and members Of the sugar trust.
Mr.. CASTOR has expressed a willingness to
appear before the committee and tell all
that he knows. He will be asked to give
the names Of the Senators and members Of
the trust who were reported As having par
ttcipated In the conversation. Then the
persons whose names he may give will be
next called. These have already been print
ed In the newspapers. but the committee
want Mr.. 0aston's own statement before
again taking up this branch Of the inquiry
as that they think, would be a better foun-
dation to build upon than anything yet
1t Il understood that in his testimony to-
day Representative Warner did not sustain
the published story that influential menu
bers Of his party has ipterceded with him
In bshah Of the sugar interest to suspend
his nsht against the protection of that in
dustry. and that. while he professed his be-
lief IN free sugar he did not display any
knowledge OF influences opposed to that
policy which supported the reports that the
administration desired to protect the sugar
interests.
What Mr.. McPherson Says.
Senator Mcpherson in referring today to a
publication in q New York paper, to the
effect that speculation In sugar stock had
been continued in his name by his son after
the tariff bill became subject OF contro-
versy in the Senate comuatttda a. finance,
said: -
II think the criticism IN q little unjust.
considering the facts- My son had pur-
chased 800 shares Of stock for investment
on February 8. which. 1t will be remem-
bered. was Immediately after the House of
Representatives. as a body, had practically
decided against a sugar tax. He sold II.
-
and while another purchase of this stock
was afterward made inadvertently, and not
intentionally, the stock was ordered sold
at once. and did not come into his posses
sion at ali''
Explaining this last transaction, Mr. Nc
Pherson stated that when his health be-
came impaired last fall he transferred
various Of his interests, including certain
stocks. to his son. He said that the young
man had made the first purchase in Febru-
ary, after disposing of certain railroad
shares as an investment. but tiring Of them
had disposed Of them within q week. Again
on the I'D. seeing the reports In the news
papers indicated a rise in the sugar stocks.
the son had consulted him about the ad-
visibility Of the purchase of some Of this
stock and that telegram ordering another
installment had been written. but the Sem
ator, beginning at that time to realize that
sugar would become a subject Of contro-
versy In the Senate. had advised against
the transaction, and had supposed that the
telegram making the order had been de-
stroyed. 1t appeared. however, that it had
been sent. and that the purchase was made
on the Path on the strength Of It,
Mr.. Mcpherson was very much surprised
when he learned of this purchase and i'm
mediately gave directions that the stock be
disposed Of, which was done. He said the
only way he can account for the sending of
the telegram IL that 1t must have gotten
mixed with other dispatches and letters, and
was probably taken to the office by the SER
wants while he and the son were absent. as
1t was agreed that the order was not to be
given.