Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-12
Mr.. Havemeyer a Witness Before
the Senate Committee.
he GIVES VERY LITTLE INFORMATION
Talked With Many Senators About
the Sugar Tariff.
KNOWS OF NO SPECULATION

H. o. Havemeyer, president Of the Ameri
can Sugar Refinery. whose name has prob
ably been mentioned more frequently than
that of any other man in the gossip over the
preparation of the sugar schedule Of the
pending tariff bill. has responded to the
summons of Senator Gray's investigating
committee and appeared before the COM
mittee today to give his testimony.
The doors were closed against the press.
as usual Notwithstanding Senator Lodges
efforts to have them opened to the press
associations and the proceedings were Of a
strictly private character. 1t is known.
however. that MIR. Havemeyer was sub
jected to a very rigid examination concern
ing his visits to Washington last spring
while the tariff bill was in its formative
process in the Senate finance committee,
and in regard to his interviews with Sem
ators.
Not Much Information.
At II O'Clock the examination Of Mr..
Havemeyer had not proceeded far enough
to give the committee much enlightenment,
and the committee had despaired of getting
any Information from him upon the points
charged. Mr.. Havemeyer denied the pub
lished statements upon which the investiga-
ton Is based. both as to the contributions
TO the campaign funds and the demands of
the trust that ii should have protection In
the tariff bill for past favors. 1t is under
stood that the questions put to Mr.. Have
meyer ba sed upon the charges were answer
ed by his declaring that the charges were
false I'm all essential particulars.
Had Talked With Several Senators.
MI Havemeyer talked quite freely about
his visit to Washington while the tariff bill
was pending before the finance committee
and he said that he had talked with several
Senators in the interest Of the proper pro-
lection Of the refining interest, among them
Senators Hill, German and Smith. The
two latter. he said, had promised to help
him. but Senator Hill had given him no sat
isfaGtion at all. He said the present tariff
was an unsatisfactory one to the re-
ferss because the differential of one-elghth
fQfR cent was not sufficient to afford al the
NfscQen which their interest should have
received. He confessed that he had advo-
Gated the ad valorem system, and was graf
ified that 1t had been adopted to the extent
that II was, but even with this concession
he declared the schedule was far from sat-
isfactory.
Mr.. Havemeyer denied all knowledge OF
speculation in sugar stocks by United
States Senator's, and said that no influence
had been brought to bear upon the Senate
to secure protection for sugar on account
of contributions on the Fart Of the trust to
the campaign fund.- as no such contribu-
ton had been made.
senator Hill indifferent.
When asked second time as to the In
terest that Senators took in the sugar
| schedule. Mr.. Havemeyer said that when
the difference between the ad valorem and
specific schedules had been explained, and
II rad become apparent that the ad vaiorem
duty was more honest and that II would be
more equitable to all concerned, that Sena-
tors Smith, German and Brice interested
themselves to bring about a change. AS 70
Senator Hill, he was utterly Indifferent
ard that he seemed more inclined to de-
vote himself to side issues, like the income
tax and Peckham nomination.
Other Witnesses Waiting.
Cord Meyer has been near the doors OF
the Investigating committee all day wait
irg to be called. 1t is also understood that
John L. Searles Is in Washington. having
been subpoenaed as a witness.
senator Aliens Questions.
Senator Allen went into a line Of cues-
ti0s1zrige mt ended to cover the subject of
monopdlies and the profits OF trusts and
kpf1red organizations. He asked Mr.. Have
ideyer how many persons we're employed
by the sugar trust, and was told about
26,o00 In all departments. Senator Allen
said he did not mean superintendents and
skilled employees, but men who were COM
PEELED to do manual labor for their daily
bread. Mr.. Havemeyer aid not know the
exact number by classfcations.
Mr.. Hav.meyer was accompanied by two
attorneys, j. c. Carter and F. r. Parsons
Of New York.