The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-23
THE HOUSE CURIOUS.
Tt Also Wants to Know About
the Sugar Trust.
Some Questions the Trust is
Asked to Answer.
LETTER TO THE TRUST.
TheHOuse Sub-COmmitteeMa Makes
Pointed Inquiries

WASHINGTON, July e3.-The follow
ing letter from the chairman OF the
house sub committee on trusts to the
president OF the American Sugar Re-
dning company was mailed last night:
e. O. Havemyer. Esq, President Amer,
loan Sugar Refining Company, New
York:
Dear Sir: If you will supply me,
81 chairman Of the sub committee on
trusts or the COMMITTEES on manufac-
lures, the information asked for here
In, I will see that IL is laid before the
house A free trader myself, and be-
ieving no tax should be levied on
sugar (or anything else), except for
revenue, nevertheless. as practically
every article of consumption is to re-
tain protection. 1 feel no prejudice
against the sugar interest as such,
and / think a large number of the
members Of the house entertain the
same view.
As, however, the sugar trust de-
mands protection, or, more properly
speaking, the taxation Of the public
Tor It's profit, IL should be put before
congress and the public in its real
condition, SO an intellige ut opinion of
the merits of its demand may be
formed If, upon an actual and
necessary inves tment Of cash capital
it cannot save itself from losses with
out 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 excessive when figured
upon an actual 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 an event 4 tax of 1 cent
per pound upon 100 degree sugar for
revenue only would be Il fair and
equitable one permitting a reduction
Of one-hundredths of a cent for each
degree Of sweetness lacking. Such a
tax this, while taking nothing
from the treasury of your com
pany, would pour a great many mill
lions into the government Golfers
The inforna ton asked for is cOlnpre-
hcnded under four heads:
"tirst-What IS the present tax
value, l. e., (cost of replacing), of the
plants actually in operation and nee
essary to produce a quantity of refined
sugar turned out by your company?
second What have been the
actual profits Of the American Sugar
Refining company for each full fiscal
year since its Organiza ton, and what
are its profits so far in the current
-.Third-What annual salary is paid
to each OF its general officers?
''FOurth-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
fund OF your company, Including all
individual profits.
The Mckinley bill gives the sugar
rehners an opportunity of collecting
from the consumers a tax of one-half
cent per pound upon all sugars above
No. 16 Dutch standard and the con-
sumption of all classes Of sugar during
the past three fiscal years aggregated
IL, $50. SEQ, 446 pounds fully 1000 600, 900
of which were above this standard
1T follows. therefore. that the
Sugar trust and the independent re-
6ners in the United States must have
received over $40. 900. 600 of the peo-
pies money, while the government
got during the three years S47O, Isl.
AS your company asked continued
4avors, the propriety or supplying the
country with the information asked
herein viii not be Questioned by SO
reasonable a man Of business as your
self
You are Democrat, and will.
trust. join me in the hope that within
few years the present system of
taxing the people (under the mislead-
ing name Of prOtectiOn) for the bene-
st OF private interests will be done
away with entirely and forever.
Yours truly, MICHAEL D. HARrER-"