The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-07
SEARLES is SAUCY
PAYS NO ATTENTION TO THE
LEX0W COMMITTEE.

Is OF to Washington, d. c., or Wherever
Business Calls Him, Letting the Trust
Investigators Know that He Will Testify
when He Gets Good and Ready, Mean
while, IL They Want to See Him Real
Bad, They Can Chase Around After
Him-Haveneyer and ArbuckIe Testify
Regarding Their Operations.
New York. Feb 6.-Before the legisla-
tive joint committee on trusts adjourned
yesterday, Chairman Lexow announced
that failure on the part Of John F.
s,carles, secretary and treasurer of the
American Sugar Refining company, to
appear before the committee today
would bring upon him such punishment
for contempt as the laws of the state of
New York prescribed. Mr. Searles was
not on hand today. Edward NJ. Shepard
and John Z. Parsons, attorneys for the
sugar company, explained that the sub
poera to appear before the committee
was served on Mr.. Searles just as ne
was leaving the city. He was today IN
Washington and could not meet the COM
mittee until Monday. On that day, Mr..
Shepard said, Mr.. Searles would be eth
er in this city or in Albany, as would
best suit the convenience of the commit
tee, and submit to the proposed inquis-
ton. Chairman Lexow said that the
committee would decide in executive
session VIVA. should be done in the
premises
ARBUCKLE RECALLED.
John ArbuckIe was then recalled to the
witness chair. He said it was not true,
as stated by President Havemeyer, that
the American Sugar Refining company
did not threaten TO force him out Of the
Office business If he engaged in the re-
filming Of sugar.
There is no coffee business now, Mr..
Arbuckia said, and explained that the
profit in 1896 was only q cent pound,
and in 1895 a little less $40 of a cent.
James n. Jarvie, the business partner
of John Arbuckle. was recalled and in
the course of his testimony said that
coffee had f1uctuated in the market with
in the last ten years. He said there was
10 profit in the coffee business nowadays
and read statistics to that effect
This was in contradiction Of the state
malts made yesterday by Mr. Havemey-
er, who stated that the coffee business
was a thriving and profitable field Of
mercantile industry. In reply TO Sena-
tor Lexow, witness testified that the
firm of Arbuckle & Co. and William +.
Mclaughlin Of Chicago control the cof-
fee package trade in the United States
and that the Havemeyers control the
bulk trade TO the same extent. The wit
ness said that there were several grades
OF coffee in price from 10 10 80 cents a
pound, the latter price being paid for
Java and Mocha.
What was the purchase price on cof-
fee when the American Sugar Refining
company went into the coffee business
through the Woolson company"
Il should say the market price for
Rio coffee was 10 cents a pound and it
sold at 10 cents a pound to the middle
men,
What price do you sell it at nov?"
AT 1879 cents per pound
Does a profit accrue?"
II am not prepared TO say just now"
And the Woolson Spice company set
tied to Is cents a pound?''
Yes sir
''Do you as manufacturer consider it
fair to amass from the consumers
enormous profits to be distributed among
the directors and stockholders in the
charge of unreasonable prices?"
The witness tried to eVade the ques-
ton and the spectators gave noisy evil
dence OF their disapproval.
Senator LeXow pounded the desk with
lis gayei and ordered that no display OF
feeling be permitted.
How long will the public stand such
p thing, do you think?" asked Senator
LeXov.
The witness said that the so per cent
dividend only represented a 5 per cent
dividend on the present value of the
stock.
He 50 d his company paid $1,000 for a
single share OF the Woolson Spice COM
p1ny.
rs it fact that they are putting up
4 better coffee for the same price than |
YOU, for the purpose of driving you out
% the MARKET"
Il think orr coffee is better than |
theirs" the witness replied.
At this juncture Senator Lexow asked |
'or c. Q. Havemeyer, and Mr.. Parsons |
said he had just received word that Mr.. |
would be on hand at ? o'clock |
to which hour recess vas taken. Senator |
LeXow then announced that during the |
recess the committee would consider the |
question of Mr.. Searles' diSObedience TO |
the order OF the committee. After re- |
cess Chairman LeXow announced that |
Mr.. Searles would be given until 10 a. m. |
to answer the subpoena of the commit /
tee.
HAVEMEYER RECALLED.
President Havemeyer was then recall |
I'd. He said that the four refineries in /
Philadelphia which were absorbed in 1891 |
still continue in operation.
In reply to a question he denied that
there were any sugar refineries closed |
after the consolidation in 1891,
81 think he said. my brother was |
IN error when he said that some Of the
refineries were closed. after the consoi-
dalton in 1891
The witness further testified that prior
TO the consolidation six factories. en-
ploying 5000 hands were closed down.
Mr.. Hayemeyer then read long list OF |
figures showing The profit per pound of |
sugar derived by the company |
for specified number Of years.
John Bergen, who had been in the en-
ploy OF the American Sugar company in
various capacities from 1876 to 1894, was
next called. He said that in 1892 he was
in the employ OF the sugar company as
dock foreman and that al the time of the
formation of the sugar trust in 1887, be-
tween 5000 and 5000 men were discharg-
I'd. Asked as 10 the number rendered idle
by the closing down Of the Brooklyn con-
,ern, he said 1000 men were discharged.
The witness said that he understood that |
1ne Of the closed rsfineries was now be-
ng operated as a coffee mil. Eight re-
fneries were closed. he said. since the !
formation OF the company, and this cof-
fee concern is the only one of them now |
n operation.
ARBUCKLE AGAIN.
John Arbuckle again took the stand