The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-02-13
SEARLES STAYS AWAY
The Sugar Trust Shows Con-
tempt for Little LexoW
and His Circus.
HAVE THE PRICES INCREASED +?
Lawson n. Fuller Declares They
plHaye - A Wholesale Gro
GERS Grievance.

NEW YORK. Feb. Is. 1Ss7-The joint
legislative Committee appointed to inves-
tigate the existence of trusts and mono
poles in this State resumed its sessions
this morning, Immediately on assem-
bling Chairman Lexow ordered the
names of several persons who had been
subpoenaed. to be called, among them
George r McDougal, Charles R. Flint
and James B. Duke. Mr.. Flint answered
to his name, but the other two did not
respond. An explanation was made in
the, case of Mr.. McDougaI. which was
satisfactory to the committee. Mr..
Lexow directed that Mr.. Dukes absence
be noted
The name of John E. Searles. Secretary
and Treasurer of the American Sugar
Refining Company. was next called.
There was no response from Mr..
Searles. but a young man who said he
represented counsel for the American
Sugar Refining Company, explained that
Mr.. Searles had to leave town. s.Mr
Searles." he said, will be present any
day next week the committee desires.
He understood he was not to be called
To-Day" Mr.. Lexow asked the young
man where the books and documents of
tae American Sugar Refining Company
Mr Shepard, of counsel for the company
promised to have on hand today. He
replied he did not know.
Well" said Mr.. Lexow, ssMr. Shepard
promised to have them here today How
ever. # Mr.. Searles will be here on
Monday morning with the books of the
company we will excuse him until that
time"
This ended the episode.
Samuel H. Randall, of the West Side
Republican Club, got permission from the
committee to read resolution passed by
the club asking the committee to in
vestigate the Gas Trust in this city.
George H. Moller, who was Secretary
OF the North River Sugar Refining Com
papy from 1878 to 1887, was the first witt
ness to take the stand. This was the
company bought by Mr.. Searles for $780,
OO0. who turned it over to the Sugar Re-
inning Company getting sugar certificates
in return.
Mr.. Moller said he was in the sugar
business for over thirty years. In reply
10 questions the witness said the Have
meyers had two plants at the time but
did not know their value.
Did you consider that you got your
value for the property when you sold
1t to Mr.. Searles?" asked the chairman
Yes. sir; we thought we made good
SALE, was the reply.
-Do you knew the Hayemeyer and Ell
der concern?n
Yes. SIR
DO you know anything of the value of
that property in 1882"
mo, sir, / did not
The witness said he did not consider
himself an expert on values and Chair
man Iexow did not get much informa-
ton from his as to the value of the prop
! critics that made up the Sugar Trust in
1887
Lawson N. Fuller was called next. He
said he had been engaged in the sugar
business from 1854 to 1873. Mr.. Fuller was
questioned as to his knowledge of the
value OF the properties of the Sugar
Trust. The witness said he had made
a general estimate of the value of the
Sugar Trust in 1881
The Chairman handed Mr.. Fuller a
copy of Willetts & Gray's bulletin, and
asked him if 1t was not considered au-
thoritatfve. He asked if the deduction
of the experts concerning the reduction
OF prices in nine years after the Trust
- y 49, ~ eAti0 AVA L ulASf SdlQ IL WAS
Mr.. Fuller was then asked to compare
the figures five years after the formation
of the trust and say if the prices were
not greater in the latter five years.
The: witness studied the figures CAREFUL
9ly and answered in the affirmative.
Senator Lexow then gave Mr.. Fuller
another bundle Of figures, and the latter
said there must have been 157 per cent
per pound advance in profit after the
formation of the trust
Is it not true that these figures make
the Increased cost of sugar to the con-
sumner $4,000 year?"
Eyes, SIR; that's so.'
Then it is absolutely false that the
price to the consumer was reduced after
the formation of the trust?"
T think so"
Then, although the cost of raw mater
ial is therefore within a fraction of one
GENT per pound to the refiner the charge
for the refined product has been increased
from 1853 to .9S1 of a cent. per pound, or
at the rate Of So. 400, 900 year increase to
the s cNonsumer?" q M
ses And whatever benefit the consumers
nave derived in the reduction of price
or sugar has been that they have shared
raw material, and this benefit has been
lost to them by the advance of the
pr!fs .sThs q s ithe. q e rsfined prodpct?''
Mrs r uller said when he was in the
Ksuga 8 bq sin essa there were about As buy
HeF dtd not know how many there are
now. MI IEuller gave it as his opinion
sa1lat e. the = daNemeyers controlled the sugar
ANYBODY that produces eighty ner
cent Of the sugar Of the United STATES
must y 4 eonfro, 1.-The market ABSOLUTELY
And they fix the price?''
- fltlwardsJ. Duggan, a wholesale grocer
eflsoln a lbanys was called next He said
the american Sugar Refining Cornpany
througMrepre4entlng one of the GONNA lies
taken into the Trust.
Just give: US your experience?''
When the Trust was formed ref,1sed
TO join the Wholesale Grocers' Associa-
ton, and was suit off from getting sugar
from the New York end of the Trust. ]
~ And II Mwas crime to cut prices?"
u seems it was
~ ,You had been buying imported sugar ?''
s. s. Z. Ana YOU were told soon after that vour
relations as a factor had ceased?"
hats so.s
Nv hat was said to you?"
s.sss obert S. Russell, of No. 107 Water
street, informed me that 1 ought to buy
aAF my sugar from the American Refin-
4 As witness then explained the duties
s ,olsI:a s:sI factor" and produced the agree
tFEan3fliu Refinery of Philadelphia.
- plain why the grocer cannot live
Nnery company?"