The times., 1897-08-25
FIGHTING THE IMPORTERS
Alleged to Have Influenced the Ohio
Food commissioners in Reporting
uct-Crooks & Co.'s Charges-The
Federal Authorities Investigating.

as we'll rs the government of the Neither
lands The charge d'affaires of the Dutch
government on July 16 requested the
Secretary of State to make tn invehti-
cation OF the matter If possible, at the
instance of the firm of Crooks Co, OF
New York. importers OF Dutch refined
sugar.
These sugars enter into competition
with the product of the American Sugar
Refining Company, better known In this
country as the Sugar Trust, and 1t is i'll.
tiinated by MI. Crooks that the Ono pros.
ecutions are instigated by the Sugar Trust,
with view to driving Dutch sugars out
of the market.
On July 90 Acting Secretary Adee, of
the Department of State, communicated to
the governor OF Ohio request by the repre-
sentative Of the Netherlands government
that a United States Treasury chemist be
permitted 10 proceed to Ohio TO assist in
making analysis of the sugars in CUES
tion. Tie Department of State suggested
that In view of the courteous request OF
tie Dutch government, 1t would be pleased
TO oe advised whether the competent au.
thorittes cr the State desired TO avail them
selves GI ILt dsStsldItt lfiHS oiltItu.
Treasury chemist referred to is DR.. Scherer,
OF the United States appraisers office DIT
the port of y ew York, who has been in the
service OF the government many years, and
is widely known DIS u II expert in the testing
of sugars.
subsequently the Department of State,
at the instance of the charge daffaires
of the Netherlands sought to make an
sioner of Ohio was to send, under seal,
directly to the Treasury Department
for analysis, samples OF the sugar which
has been seized, and on July % the com
missioner notified the Secretary OF State
that samples of the alleged adulterated
sugar sent into Ohio by Crooks & Co. had
been prepared for shipment The sam
pies were held, however, to await as
surances that the analysis would be made
by two chemists, and also that a copy of
their report would be sent TO the com
missioner as soon as tie result was
known
On the same day the governor of Ohio
repned TO the request OF the Depart
meut of State, stating that the food com
missioner had on hand only d small guam
tity of the sugar on which he based his
].
plies of sugar of the same kind and inn
ported by the same firm, W hich the
commissioner could identify as coming
under the same terms as the sugar in
hts possession, could toe furnished.
To this the Secretary Of State gave his
assent, and stated that, as SD0n as the
samples referred to were received, they
would be submitted to chemists or the
Treasury and Agricultural departments,
The FOOD Commissioner then renewed his
request for copy Of the report OF the
Government chemists. No response having
been made to this request, the Ohio food
commissioner replied TO the original inquiry
OF tie Department. OF State as 10 whether
tie Ohio authorities would desire TO avail
themselves of the assistance of a Treasury
chemist by stating that his department
had five thoroughly competent chemists
OF its own, and it felt fully equipped and
capable of discharging its duties in a
manner satisfactory to all concerned, wiGh
the possible exception OF few who had
been attempting to violate the pure food
laws OF the State.
AS TO the matter of sending the Treas
ury chemist to Ohio for the purpose Of
rendering assistance during the pro
ceedings, the value of his services would,
in his opinion, depend on the capacity in
which he was to appear. If the chemist
was TO represent the national Government
with the single desire to ascertain the
facts, lac would be welcomed with pleasure
The commissioner stated, however, that
he was OF the belief that the Treasury
chemist was to come in the interest and
under tie pay Of the sugar importers OF
New York city, and the presumption would
be that he was more interested in securing
verdict for the defendants han he would
be in learning the exact cause Of the con.
troversy. Referring to the sending OF
samples to Washington to be tested, the
comm ssiou er reviewed the conditions
upon which they would be sent, namely,
upon assurances that prompt report OF
the result should be made to him. aud he
gave rs his reason for this condition that
the firm Of Crooks & Co. had sent out
garbled and misleading, if not totally
false statement, animadverting on the
methods pursued by the pure food and
dairy commissioner of Ohio.
In a previous case prosecuted by the
commissioner a test had been made by
Treasury chemist OF samples Or avn by con
sent, under the supervision of the commits
Crooks & Co which resultedin an analysis
Of 80. g OF pure cane sugar. 1t was cl3imed
ty the American Sugar Refining Company
that subsequenttest of fine samples from
the same sugars resulted in finding two
pure and three containing tin cry yStals.
Crooks & Co. denounce as ''grotesque fic-
tions' the reports about the adulter alton
Of foreign sugar which have appear ed in
print. One of these printed reports stated
that Five pounds of the sugar contained
enough coloring matter TO dye q suit OF
Clothes In letter to the Treasury De-
paTtment, dated July 81, Crooks & Co.
suggest that there would seem to be no
reason why the food commissioner should
Insist on formal engagement for a copy
of the Government analysis, as he might
have reCRoneG on receiving what there
could be no objection to supplying; and the
allegation is made that the movement
against foreign sugar. which the firm be-
lieves to be instigated by trust factors, is
now spreading.
Crooks Co. have urged that the COM
miss;oners reque st for a copy of the find
ing OF the Government chemist be COM
Piled with. in order that they may guard
against being hurried into a trial before.
biased jury, and thus have Dutch sugar
unjusuy condemned. The firm insists that
1T courts the most rigid investigation of
the Dutch sugars imported by it, and on
August the representatives OF the Meth
erlands appealed to the Federal Govern
ment fcI assistance to secure iustice IN