The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-15
THE SUGAR TRUSTS INFLUENCE.
Progress of Senator Gray's In
vestigati0n.
Prominent Sugar Men and Finan-
cierS on the Stand.
The Examination oil the Senators WIN
Begin Today-How Mr. searlos
Came to Talk to Sen.
ator Joass.
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE investi-
eating committee will begin to examine
senators tomorrow. Every senator will
be asked whether he bought or sold
sugar stock, furnished information con-
corning the tariff legislation on sugar,
or in any way was Improperly influenced
by the trrst.
Today Charles Coster OF Drexel, Nor
gan & Co., testified he knew Of no specu-
lation in stock by senators, or OF any
effort to influence legislation by the
sugar trust.
Mr.. Searles followed and gave the cir
cumstances under which he met Senator
Jones. and discussed with him the sugar
schedule of the tariff bill.
Mr.. Searles told the committee the
circumstances under which he met SEN
ator Jones and discussed with him the
sugar schedule of the tariff bill. Mr..
Searles' position was that at 21a cents
as the price of so degree sugar, tax of
l cent pound or 40 per cent, the pres
ent rate. was excessive. For refining
sugar, be argued the tax should be 1.60
per 100, instead of LAO.
THAT is true" quoted the senator. as
replying, "but our committee will not
give more than LAO per 100. That can
not be done. The committee will not
tax refined sugar above lao"
II said," continued the witness, "the
only other thing to do is to begin with
so degrees, and tax that sugar at eight
tenths of q cent. That will bring you
LAO on refined sugar."
Senator jones replied:
''Yes, but the Louisiana sugars will
not take eight-tenths of cent for so
degrees sugar. They want cent. They
have put i'll peg at 80 degrees cent
per pound. The committee have put
another on refined at LAO, and there we
are.''
"Very WE'LL" said; 'if that is the
case, you are simply guilty of putting
before the senate o schedule which is
indeiensive according to your own ad-
missions, and it does net seem to me
sugar refining industry should be put in
any such position as that" And with
that the interview closed.
Senator Lodge-Would you prefer the
present schedule to q schedule which
carried 40 per cent ad valorem on raw
and As per cent ad valorem on refined?
Mr.. Searles-I would prefer the As
per cent.
Senator Lindsay-It is to the interest
of the sugar rsfiners to have this bill
take effect at once in view of this fact,
or to postpone it until the first of Jan.
uary.
Mr.. Searlea-My own personal view
would be that there would be nothing
gained by postponing it. have always
supposed that that concession OF the first
OF january WINS for the benefit OF th-
producers of this country.
Senator Allen-You may state briefly
what difference in your judgment there
lie between the Mckinley act and the
pending act as the senate proposes to
amend it, or has amended it, to the
American Sugar Refining company.
Which is the better act for you?
Mr.. Searles-The Mckinley bill, by
far.
Senator Attention. much?
Mr.. Soarlee-I think one-half. think
the protection in the margin to the re-
finer in the proposed schedule is not
over one half of what it was in the Nc
Kinley bill.