Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-23
WANTS TO BE FAIR.
And Desires a Little Inside In.
formation.
HARTER'S LETTER TO HAvEMEYER

The Free Trade Representative Not Preju-
diced, and willing to Treat Sugar Just
Like Any Other Product-The Few Small
Facts He Wants to Know In a Letter Tint
Appears to Have Several Edges Other
Tariff Matters.
WASHINGTON, July 23-The following
letter from the chairman of the house SUBJ
committee on trusts to the president of the
American Sugar Refining company was
mailed last night. 1t was addressed to
III. o. Havemeyer. Esq. president of the
American Sugar Refining company, New
York.
DEAR SIR: If you will supply to me,
as chairman of the subcommittee on
trusts of the committee on manufactures,
the information asked for herein will
sea that it is laid before the house A
free trader myself. and believing that no
tax should be levied upon sugar tor any
thing else) except for revenue. neverthe-
less as practically every article of general
! consumption is to retain protection fee!
no prejudice against the sugar interests
rs such, and think large number of the
members OF the house entertain the same
view.
1udulges in Some Sarcasm.
AS, however, the sugar trust demands
protection or-more properly speaking the
taxation of the public for its profit-it
should put before congress and the public
its real condition SO that an intelligent
op nion OF the merits of its demands may
lie formed. II. upon an actual and neces
| sary investment OF cash capital it can not
save itself from losses without buriening
the tax payers, then it has as much justi-
| tcation (and more) for being fed from the
public resources by taxation as many in
dustries which we, in passing the Wilson
bill, allowed TO remain upon the charity
list. If, however, its profits have been ex-
cessive, when figured upon an actual cash
nnd unwatered capital stock, then you, as
| fair minded man, will agree with me
| that You should not have any legislative
iavors. In such an event tax of cent
per pound upon 10G-degree sugar for reve-
nue. only. would be Il fair and equitable
one permitting reduction of ! l-lO0 of a
cent foc each degree of sweetness lacking
Such n tax as this, while taking nothing
from the treasury of your company, would
pour great many millions into the gov
ernment Golfers.
| Information That Is Wanted.
''Tbe information asked for is compre-
heGded under four head:
What is the present tax value Ii. e.
cost Of replacing) Of the plants actually in
operation and necessary to produce that
quantity of refined sugar turned out BY
your company
What have been the actual profits of
the American Sugar Refining company
for each full fiscal year since It's organiza-
tion, and what are its profits SO far in the
| current yearf
3.-What annual salary is paid to each
of its general officers?
| 4.-What it the actual paid in cash capt.
tai. including the plants turned in at
their real cash market value. and what is
| the present surplus fund of the com pauy
including all individual profits'
| His Figures on Trust Profits.
'The Mckinley bill gives the sugar re-
finers an opportunity of collecting from
the consumer a tax of y cent per
pound upon all sugars above No. 10 Dutch
standard, and the consumption of all
classes OF sugar during the past three ifs
Cal years aggregated l., 95S, s'E Az pounds.
fully t000, 900. 900 Of which were above this
| limit. Ii follows, therefore, that the sugar
trust and the independent reiiners in the
| United States must have received over
s4O, &C., COO of the peoples money while the
government got during the three years
$40, ,5l.
Has Hopes OF Havcmeyer.
| las your company asks continued ia
vors the propriety of supplying the country
with the Information asked herein will
not be questioned by so reasonable man
of business yourself. You are IA Demo-
crat, and will, l trust, join me in the hope
| rhnf within "a few tho mt
wretched system of taNin. the people
| (under the misleading name of protection)
for the benefit of private interests Will be
done away with entirely and forever.
Yours truly. MICHAEL ID. HAETEEn