The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-07-23

Washington, July 22.-The following
letter from the chairman of the House
subcommittee on trusts, to the presi-
dent of the American Sugar Refining
company, was mailed tonight:
II. o. Havemeyer, Esq,
president 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 manufac-
turers, the information asked for here
in, 1 will see that it is laid before the
House.
"a free-trader myself, and believing
no tax should be levied upon sugar Tor
anything else) except for revenue,
nevertheless as practically every article
of general consumption is to retain
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
las, however, the sugar trust de-
mands protection, or more properly
speaking, the taxation Of the public
for its profit, it should put before Con-
gress and the public its real condition
so as an intelligent opinion of the
merits of it's demand may be formed
If, upon an actual and necessary in
vestment of cash capital it cannot save
itself from loss without burdening
the taxpayers, then it has as much
justification (and more for being fed
from the public resources by taxation
as many industries which We in passing
the Wilson bill, allowed to remain up
on the charity list; if, however, it's
profits have been excessive, when
figured upon an actual cash and I'M
watered capital stock, then you, as a
fair minded man, will agree with me
that you should not have any legisla-
tive favors. In such an event, a tax
of one cent per pound upon 100 degree
sugar for revenue only would be a
fair and equitable one, permitting a
reduction of one hundredth of a cent
for each degree of sweetness lacking.
Such a tax as this, while taking nothing
to the treasury of your company, would
pour a great many millions into the
government Golfers. The information
asked for is comprehended under four
heads:
''First-What is the present tax val
lie Ii. E., cost of replacing) Of the plants
actually in operation and necessary to
produce the quantity of refined sugar
turned out by your company?
"Second-What have been the actual
lprofits of the American Sugar Rein
/ ing company for each full fiscal year
since it's organization, and what are
its profits so far during the current
year?
'"Third-What annual salary is paid
to each of its general officers?
"Fourth-What is the actual paid-in
cash capital, including the plants turn
ed in at their real cash market value
and what is the present surplus fund of
the company, including all individual
profits?
1.-The Mckinley bill gives the sugar
refiners an opportunity of collecting
from the consumer a tax of one-half
cent per pound upon all sugars above
No. Is, Dutch standard, and the con-
sumption of all classes Of sugar dur
ing the past three fiscal years aggre-
gated 1856 S02, 446 pounds, fully nine
billion of which were alSeIe this limit.
It follows, Therefore, that the sugar
trusts and Independent reiners in the
United States must have received over
$40, OOO, 900 of the peoples money while
| the government got during three years
$40, ISL. AS your company asked con-
tinued favors, the propriety of supply
| ing the country with the information
Iasked herein will not be questioned by
| so reasonable a man Of business as
| yourself
you are Democrat, and will I
| trust. Join me in the hope that within a
| few years the present wretched system
of taxing the people (under the mislead-
ling name of protection) for the benefit
! of private interests will be done away
with entirely and forever.
| yours truly.
"MICHAEI. D. HARTER."