The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-02-26
SUGAR TRUST SUPREME,
If the Sugar Tariff is Increased, Says
Lexow Witness.

a Lexow Witness.
New York, Feb. 26.-The alleged coal
combine was the special object of in
Quiry yesterday by the joint legislative
committee on trusts. President Sam
Sloan of the Observation-Disclosures
Railway company, was on hand, having
been served with a subpoena, and was
the first witness.
In reply to a question by Senator Lex
ow-- Mr.. Sloan said that a conference
of coal road men was held in the city
in 1896. The Philadelphia & Reading,
Lehigh Valley, New York Central, Del
aware & Hudson, the Pennsylvania, the
New York, Lake Erie & Western, the
New York. Ontario & Western, and 9TH
er railroads were represented.
Witness said that the conference last
ed several hours and that it was I'M
derstood that every man in the confer
ence had pledged his honor to maintain
the allotments apportioned them in the
coal carrying trade.
Witness was questioned at length re-
Sardlng the price of coal and its Huc-
tuatiOnS, but failed to throw any light
on the subject. He said, however, that
he thought the combine had right to
fix the price of it's own commodity"
President Thomas of the Erie road
was the next witness. He said his road
had received a per cent allotment of
the coal to be carried by this combine.
Mr.. Thomas stated that the amount of
coal to be produced had never been dis
cussed at any meeting that he had at
tended and he denied tina the purpose
OF the conference in 1896 was to raise
the price of coal He admitted, howev-
er, that the question had been discuss
ed
Edward R. Holden, vice president of
the Delaware, Lackawana & Western
Railroad company, who said he fixed
the price at which his company sold
COAL was asked how it was that after
the conference of presidents in 1896, the
price of coal went up 20 cents ton?
Prior to that time the price of coal
was abncrmally loW-ruinously low," he
answered.
The witness said his company had in
sisted on producing all the coal it could
sell and had always done So
The coal matter was dropped temper
arily while the committee listened to
the testimony of Francis H. Krenning,
a wholesale grocer of st. Louis, who
testified that he had refused to accept
the factors agreement in vogue by the
American Sugar Refining company, and
that in consequence he could not secure
that companys product except upon
paying an extra charge.
Witness identified copies of kilograms
sent to- brokers and factors in ST. LOUIS
asking that no orders be given, as they
would not be accepted until the factors
agreement was complied with
During the grinding season in the
south the American Sugar Refining
company lowered the price of sugar in
ST Louis by Il cent per pound below
the price at which it is sold in the east.
Immediately after the close of the
of the product to be increased in St.
Louis In reply to a question by Sena-
for A1cCarren, witness said tl1at the
factors had to choose between selling
the product of the American Sugar Re
filming company and foreign sugars.
do you consider yourself at a disad-
vantage because you cannot secure the
sugar of the American Refining compa-
ny?''
Il do, yes; because the southern sugar
can only be had for a few months in the
year.
Can you get any sugar from the