The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-05

How A. Has Made Grose PROFIT 81 over
saa Dos 600 Annually.

CHICAGO, Feb. 25.-Upou every occasion
Of a change ia the tariff there is always
considerably more than less heard Of the
sugar industry and the sugar refining in
terests. Tho sugar trust has evaded every
species Of direct aud indirect legislation
that has been levelcd against IL, and dur
hg its existence it has been more auto
cratic and independent and held more di-
rect sway over the people OF the United
States than any half dozen sessions Of CON
grcss put together. Now that there Is an
other change impending in thesugar sched-
ule of the tariff, We find the trust even
more aggressive and domiueering than
ever That their case Is considered an ur-
cent one is evident from the fact that Il has
drawn Mr. Theodore Havemeyer to Wash
ington and Mr. Theodore Havemeyer has
never before been known 20 have taken any
personal active part in sugar politics.
10 seems hardly possible that anything
new can be written about the sugar trust,
its dealings or its methods, but believe
that a careful perusal OF what follows will
well repay every readerand will supply him
with information that he ought to know,
but which he does not know. The sugar
news heretofore Published has emanated
mostly from the trust itself, the officials
giving ont just what was to their interest
and leaving the public to guess az the rest.
There are many senator's at Washington
who are now delving deeper into the sugar
barrel with view TO learning just what is
81 the bottom of il, and IL Is this sudden
desire for knowledge on the part Of our
lawmakers and the fact that they are reach
ing nearly TO the bottom Of the sugar bar
rel which induced Mr. Theodore Have
meyer 10 break his customary conservative
ness and assume the part of an active lob
byist in person.
The total annual supply Of sugar in the
United States is approximately 10000
tons, of which the southern cane crop is
100000 tons, the beet sugar crop about %
OO0 tons and the Hawaiian crop 10000
tons This leaves 1.S5O,OOo tons imported
az Boston, New York aud Philadelphia. but
the entire quantity Of 10000 tons is ma
nipulated and sold by the Sugar trust in
New York. A comparison of the prices for
raw and refined sugar as ruling from Janu-
airy to September, 1888, showed that there
was an average difference during the nine
months OF LAPS cents per pound between
the value Of the raw product as imported
and Of the refined article as sold by the
trust
The cost Of refining does not exceed half
a cent per pound, though the trust always
has claimed il 10 be five-eighths Of a cent.
The various discounts allowed TO the trade,
all Of which have TO be paid by the con
sumner, reduce the difference in price be-
tween raw and refined sugar down TO las
cents per pound, and deducting half a cent
for refining there was net profit of Gas of
a cent on every pound Of sugar sold be-
tween January and September, 1898.
As has been stated, the total quantity
Of sugar handled by the trust is 100000
tons annually, and a profit of GAS Of a cent
upon each and every one Of these 9, 100000
600 pounds gives total gross profit to the
trust OF 81, 0S2 600 annually. This would
seem to be enough for a concern with prop
erty of an actual cash value of but 10000
600, profit Of 100 per cent annually But
the watered capitalization is Ssj 200 900.
which makes the trusts profit over p Der
cent upon the actual property and it, very
liberal dilution OF water. But even this is
not all. The price Of sugar in san Francisco
is not regulated by the eastern price The
raw sugar is there bought from the Hawai-
ian planters below the market price in New
York by a quarter of a cent and is sold to
the consumers at cent a pound higher
than the New York price on an average.
This makes a little matter Of $500 600 ex-
ira profit on the western trade, bringing
the gross prVhts of the concern up TO S2s.-
$4,000, or a total Of 80 per cent per annum
on the capital stock, water thrown IN.
So much for the buying and selling Of
sugar by the trust, which is not even con
tent TO stop al this 1t NEEDLES interferes
with and checks the sugar producing indus
try of the United States. Congress endeav-
ored to stimulate the growth Of our own
sugar supply but the trust prevents il.
Conc h
independent Of the rest of the world for this
necessary staple article of food, for which
the American people pay out more money
annually than they do for wheat. and con
gress gave bounty Of cents per pound
upon all raw sugar made in this country.
The building Of beet sugar factories. il
was thought, would enhance the value of
farm lands, provide good paying crop for
the farmers and promote a new and large
manufacturing industry. IL was thought
that beet sugar factories studded through
out the country In different states would
supply their local markets with sugar and
that the people could see the sugar madeat
their doors, 30 to speak. and buy it there.
The Sugar trust thought this too. The
trust did more thinking Local beet sugar
factories supplying towns and cities ia
different states would interfere with the
business OF the trust; therefore they must
be checked-unless under the control OF
tine trust. In these days Of improved meth .
DDS the beet sugar factories are able to
make sugar very closely resembling gran
ulated, and which sells as granulated in
the ordinary market. This il what the
trust objects to. The factories in Utah
and Nebraska are able TO do this ami are
permitted To DO il, but when the large fac
tory was built at Chino, In California, the
trust stepped in and said, I'VE will buy
your raw sugar
II was no use protesting The trust in
sisted, and the Chino beet factory is allowed
TO make only raw sugar and is compelled
% ship 10 70 the trust refinery 40 san Fran
cisco. The freight on the raw sugar thus
shipped has to be paid by the factory, and
its profits are further diminished through
not being able 70 sell its product in the shape
Of graduated sugar. The beet sugar indus .
try is checked, but the trust is protected
Senators have been investigating an Of
these facts and are better acquainted today
with the workings Of the Sugar trust than .
they have ever been. The opinion Is grow
ing hat there is but one way 10 promote
the cultivation and manufacture of the do 4
nestle sugar industry, and that one way is
TO Xiii the trust which has hitherto defied
all the laws Of the country. This can only
be done b. placing duty ON raw sugar in
the interests OF the domestic producer aud
by placing precisely the same amount u
duty upon refined sugar, so that no prutec-
tiOn viii h. afforded 90 the renuer-. who