The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-16
BOOKS ARE ms NEW JERSEY.
NIT THE SECRETARY TO PRO-
DUCE ITTIEM.
Legislative Committee May FINALLY
Get mt Something Material. and
Then Again 1t May Not.

American Sugar Refining company.
and his lawyer, John e. Parsons. were
present today when the joint legislative
committee on trusts resumed it's sitting.
AS the latter took his seat he drew
from his overcoat pocket a bundle
of documents.
Are those the missing documents
Senator Lexow wants?" asked a. re-
porter
Does Senator Lexow himself know
what documents he wants?" Mr.. Par
sons replied with a broad smile.
James H. Post a coffee and tea
broker, was the first witness exam
med by the committee today. Mr.. Post
said he represented the firms of Mol
lenhauer and B. Howell, refiners. He
admitted that competition between the
Moilenhauer and Howell companies
was carried on in his office, though
ne first recognized agents of the COM
panfes mentioned.
There are times when those refin-
cries 90 not want to sell, and hence
the competition Of which speak," said
the witness.
When asked as to the extent of the
output OF the sugar companies he rep
resented, witness said it reached 15.-
oOO tons annually. Asked If the prof
us OF the concerns CONFORMITY reached
$12,OOO,O0O or $14,000,0OO annually. wit
ness said he doubted the accuracy of
the figures quoted, and finally said
that his house made less than l cent
pound profit last year.
Senator LexoW was evidently dis
pleased with the reply given by the
to read the question
This was done, and Senator Lexov
sternly said: sc
Now, Mr.. Post, answer, and don't
be beating around the BUSH"
Il am not beating around the bush. :"
Fetorted the witness with much heat.
Asked about the relations of the Mol
lenhauer and Howell companies to tha
American Sugar Refining company.
MI. Post said he knew absolutely moth
ing about the affairs of the sugar
trust.
is 1t a fact that you compete with
tne american Sugar Refining COMPANY
IN the matter Of prices?'' asked the
chairman VAC
1t happens in some grades everv
Gay through the various brokers here
ness replied
Golng back to the question Of profits.
witness said the profit to the whole
SAFER on refined sugar. was 3-16 of a
cent a pound and added that if his
company realized 1s of a cent profit on
fenned sugar it would be perfectly con
tent with the transaction. He knew
nothing about the extent Of the annual
output of the American
SUGAR REFINING COMPANY
Don't you fix the price Of the raw
material?''
mo, how could we? The markets OF
the whole world would have to do
that
rs It not a fact that the factors
get 5-16 Of cent rebate when the re-
finer does not make Il Of a CENT?
THAT is so''
In reply to another question he said
that the National companys capacity
was 1850 barrels a day and the value
or the property was about 81 900, 000
You do not seem to know much
about your business, or If you do you
won't tell" said Senator Lexow.
I'm not a wholesale grocer and
know nothing of their rules. The whole
sale grocers association was not start
ed because the grocers wanted to make
a little profit out Of sugar and not sell
1t at loss.''
Witness denied the statement that
no man can live in the sugar business
unless he becomes a factor. The price
of sugar was fixed by the daily state
Of the market and not by refining COM
panieS he stated. -
SEARLES BACK AGAIN.
John E. Searles then took the stand
admitted that orir Of
between raw and refined sugar had in
creased during the last three years
Az effort was made to elicit from Mr.
Searles his knowledge of the effect Of
the consolidation of the companies into
the American Sugar Refining company,
but Mr.. Searles stated that he had no
knowledge Of the affairs of the COM
panies outside the American.
Senator LeXoW changed his inquiries
to another direction and brought out
the information that during the past
year the Greenpoint refinery, one in
Louisiana, the Continental in Boston
and the De Castro were closed and that
the purchase of the United States Re
timing company's plant in Camden was
in contemplation by the American Su-
gar Refining company
We'll, what in the world prompts
you to contemplate the purchase Of
the United States Refining company al
you don't use 60 per cent Of your re,
fineries now?"
1--WE may be able to utilize that
property for the interest of the COM
| pany.'
How much money does the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining company pay an
| nually to maintain the unworked fac
| torieS?"
II have no figures to answer that
question. 1t enters into the expense
account Of the company
The witness was then questioned at
considerable length as to the organ
ization of the sugar trust. AS the re-
suit Of many questions he said he did
not know the exact number of share,
| holders in the original companies. There
are now over 9,000,I the stock being sold
| on change. The stock had been re,
capitalized from $7,000,000, and the
| ownership increased by 5000. The rea,
son the public did~notl get a chance to
! buy stocks was because the corpora
ton was owned by private gentlemen
| before the consolidation. At this juno
| ture a recess was taken.
| On resuming, Mr.. Searles denied
having any arrangement with individ-
| ual wholesale gr0cers but admitted
having an agreement with the factors
east of the Missouri in relation to the
rates Of freight withinccertain specified
| limits.
II have only to reiterate," he said,
what / have already testified to and
| desire to say again, that we do not
| restrain or compel any competing con-
ern in the country to follow our prices,
| nor do we command the regulation OF
prices In the South or East:
Now. Is not IT a fact that the fac
tors contract connled with the whole