The news & observer., 1897-02-07
AFTER THE SUGAR KINGS.
THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE CON-
MlTTEE TAKING EVIDENCE.
Arbuckle Denies Havemeyer's State.
ment--SearIes Did Not Appear
Before the Committee.

Before the Committee.
New York, Feb. 6.-Before the legisla-
tive joint committee on trusts adjourned
yesterday Chairman Lexow announced
that failure on the part of John Il.
Searles, secretary and treasurer of the
American Sugar Refining Company, to
appear before the committee to-day
would bring upon him such punishment
for contempt as the laws of the State oi
New York prescribe. Mr.. Searles was
not on hand to-day. Edward M. Shepard
and Jonh e. Parsons, attorneys for the
Sugar Company, explained that the sub
peona to appear before the committee
was served on Mr.. Searles just as he
was leaving the city; he was to-day in
Washington and could not meet the
committee until Monday. On that day,
Mr.. Shepard said, Mr.. Searles would be
either in this city or in Albany, as would
best suit the convenience of the COM
mittee and submit to the proposed IN
quisitiOn. Chairman Lexow said that
the committee would decide in executive
session what should be done in the prem
ises. John Arbuckle was then recalled
to the witness chair.
He said it was not true, as stated by
President Hayemeyer, that the American
Sugar Refining Company did not theaten
to force him out of the coffee business
if he engaged in the refining of sugar.
"There is no porft in the coffee busi-
ness for us now," Mr.. Arbuckle said
and he went on to explain that the profits
from coffee in 1896 was only 3-4 of cent
pound.
In 1895, little less than six-tenths of
a cent and in 1898 little less than six
tenths of a cent pound.
James n. Jarvie, the business partner
of John Arbuckle, was recalled and in
the course of his testimony said that
coffee had fuctuated in the market within
the last ten years. He said there was no
profit In the coffee business nowanays
and read statistics to that effect.
This was in contradiction Of The state
ments made yesterday by Mr.. Haven
meyer, who stated that the coffee business
was 4 thriving and a profitable field of
mercantile industry In reply to Senator
Arbuckle & Co. and VIM. L. MeLaugh-
lin, Of Chicago, control the coffee package
trade in the United States.
'"Do you as a manufacture, consider it
fair to amass from the consumers enor-
directors and stockholders in the charge
of unreasonable prices
The witness tried TO evade the ques-
tion and the spectators gave noisy evil
dence Of their disapproval.
How lang will the public stand such n
thing, do you think?," asked Senator
Lexow.
Witness said that the fifty per cent
dividend only represented a five per cent
dividend ON the par value of the stock.
After recess Chairman Lexow announc-
ed that Mr.. Searles would be given until
10 a. IN. Monday to answer the sub
peona OF the committee. President
Havemeyer was then recalled. He said
that the four refneries i'm Philadelphia
which We're absorbed in 1891 still con-
tinue in operation.
How many men had you in your en-
ploy in New York State at the time of the
organization
II am unable to tell you
Were there 10000 ON the eastside?''
II should not think so''
''Is it not true that 1000 men were at
one time discharged?'
''It is not true; we did not at any time
have that number employed
In reply to another question he denied
that there were any sugar refineries clos
ed after the consolidation in 1891.
John Bergen who had been In the en-
ploy of the American Sugar refining
Company in various capacities from 1876
to 1894 was next called.
He said that in 1892 he was in the en-
ploy of the sugar company as dock fore
man and that at the time of the forma-
tion Of the sugar trust in 1887 between
5000 and 5000 men We're discharged.
Asked as to the number rendered idle by
the closing down of the Brooklyn con-
Germ he said 1900 men were discharged.
John Arbuckle again took the stand
and testified that he controlled at least
one quarter of the coffee trade in the
United States.
Mr.. Arbuckle said that he wanted to
explain that the price of coffee was very
variable and gave it as his candid opin-
ion that it was the most speculative bust
mess in the world.
Have You any agreement with THE
other big firms to fix prices?'
"No sir, we have no agreement, we
only fix our own prices"
This ended the work of the committee
for the day and an adjournment was TAX
en- until 10 o'clock Monday morning.
II ~