New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-17
ADAYOF SUGAR AND RUBBER
CONTINUATION OF THE LEXOw TRUST
INQU1SITION.

CHARLES r. FLINT GIVES REASONS FOR THE
FORMATION OF THE UNITED STATES RUBBER
COMPANY SIMILAR TO THOSE GIVEN BY
Mr.. sEARLEs IN THE CASE OF THE
SUGAR TRUST. AND HAS JUST AS
GRAVE DOUBTS CONCERNING
HIS ABILITY TO PRO
DUCE THE BOOKS.
/ 1t is now practically certain that the Sugar
/ Trust will not produce it's books for the nspec-
ton Of the Lexow Investigating Committee. In
his previous examinations John T.. Searles, the
| secretary-treasurer OF the company. has fatty
refused to produce these books, and again yes
terday he calmly informed the committee that
/ its request would he laid before the directors
! Of the trust at their usual weekly meeting to-
day. 1t has already been asserted in evidence
that the only records the trust has of the various
details concerning the consolidation of the re-
fneres composing the trust contained in the
minute book of the company Mr.. Seares mas
expressed his doubts Of the right Of any in
vestigating committee to examine the minute
| book Of any corporation. and further, 1t has been
| limited that in the event OF the committee en-
deavoring to use legal force to compel the pro-
ducton Of the book. the trust will shelter itself
| behind the contention that, being Incorporated
| in New-Jersey, It is beyond the control or the
Legislature Of this State. So that it Is not diffi-
cult to make the forecast that the directors TO-
day will he unable to comply with the commit
tees request.
! II was also demonstrated yesterday that the
! stand taken by the Sugar Trust will also be
| taken by other trusts. The Rubber Trust
| which was investigated by the committee yes
! terday, practically refused. through Its mouth
| piece Charles r. Flint. produce certain rec
| ords that would show the basis upon which the
| valuations Of the different concerns forming the
United States Rubber Company were arrived
at. and in what proportions the Rubber Trusts
| certificates were distributed among these firms
| Like its saccharine contemporary. this trust
| was incorporated in New-Jersey, and. although
II was admitted that its affairs were almost
! wholly administered in this city, Mr.. Flint de-
clared that its books and records were kept at
| the New-Brunswick Office Without the sane
! ton Of the directors Mr.. Flint doubted his
ability to produce the books. There Is every
probability therefore. that the Senate commit
tee will make further progress with the
Rubber Trust than it has done in the case OF the
Sugar Trust.
The question OF the prices paid by these trusts
| to absorb competing concerns Is one or con-
siderable Importance to the practical result Oh
the committees investigation and it Is just this
| information which the trusts are stubbornly
Withholding. and which in the minds or many
people. tho committee will not succeed In OBJ
tanning.
| The conclusion is also being impressed upon
| peoples minds that the members OF the COM
mttee are not violently opposed to trusts IN
general and the Sugar Trust in particular. Inc
| nature Of Senator Lexows questions ana the
| aim ost apologize manner at times In which ne
| puts them make II appear to his hearers as II
| the chairman himself is not by any means hos
tile to the trust 1t is felt that after all he VIII
do very little harm to these industrial combna-
| tions. This was the view apparently taken by
Wall Street Yesterday, as there rise OF
! mere than two points In the stock OF the sugar
Trust. Senator McCarren. of BROOKLYN. has
| also made 1t perfectly evident from the trend
OF his questioning, that he is not violent an
| tagonlst Of the Sugar Trust. He has never lost
an opportunity to give Mr. searles an opening
10 show the Sugar Trust a philanthropic nsti-
tuition that has for its guiding purpose the
| cheapening ~ the commodity for the benefit OF
| the consumer. There was great eagerness on
! the part OF the Democratic Senators at Albany
70 got this place on the committee. which Sena-
| tor McCarren has obtained. and 1t was said that
several Democratic Senator'S desirous OK
securing the friendship Of the Sugar Trust
Senator McCarren. It will be remembered Is
the distinguished legislator who induced the
Republican party in his district few years
ago to put up a bartender named Owen-a
| wholly gnoran. and unfit man-as the Repubi-
can candidate for the Senate. McCarren selected
him as his opponent, thinking that Owens de-
| feat would be easily brought about. But Nc
| Carren's plan miscarried That year a great
| Republican tidal wave swept over Brooklyn, ana
| Owen the bartender, was actually elected. and
went to the Senate. In the agitation that led
! to the appointment Of the present committee
| the Democratic members Of both the Senate and
the Assembly pretended to be consumed with
| feelings Of the greatest enmity 70 all trusts.
and as anxious for their destruction. but here
is one of the leading Democratic members Of the
! Senate apparently trying to give his pest as
! sistance to the Sugar Trust
1t was nearly 1890 before the committee began
its sixth DAYS investigation yesterday morning
Senator Lexow. as usual. was the tardy mem
Der John f.. Searles called again. and en-
! deavored to show once more that the Sugar
Trust was not a monopoly, but constitution
! of interests for economical purposes the beneht
OF which was enjoyed by the people in the way
OF cheaper sugar Lawson y. Fuller was also
| recalled and in the course Of brief examina>
| ton asserted that thousands Of men had been
thrown out OF employment by the Sugar Trust
and that It had caused many independent re-
! ineries TO close.
After this evidence the committee began It's
researches into the Rubber Trust. Charles r.
| Flint asserted that the motive for It's organiza-
| ton was To bring about economy OF production
by the Capitalization of the interests OF various
| companies He denied emphatically that the
nrornoters Of the trust were swayed by any in
| tent 70 stine competition, although he was I'M
| able satisfactorily to explain why the trust con-
tinued to buy independent concerns when 1t was
| unable to utilize more than half its facilities.
| QUESTIONS ANSWERS AND ENASlDNS.