The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-07

treasurer of the American Sugar Re
firing company, to appear before the
committee today would bring upon
him such punishment for contempt as
the laws of the state of New York
prescribed. Mr.. Searles was not on
hand today. Edward NJ. Shepard and
John E. Parsons, attorneys for the
sugar company, explained that the
subpoena to appear before the COM
n1ittee was served on Mr.. Searles just
as he was leaving the city; he was tc-
day in Washington, and could not
meet the committee until Monday.
On that day, Mr.. Shepard said. Mr..
Searles would be either in this city or
in Albany, as would best suit the con-
Venience of the committee, and submit
To the proposed inquisition. Chairman
Lexow said that the committee would
decide in executive session what should
be done in the premises.
John Arbucllle was then recalled to
the witness chair. He said it was not
true, as stated by President Have
meyer, that the American Sugar COM
pany did not threaten him out of the
coffee business, if he engaged in the
refining of sugar. There is no coffee
business now" Mr.. Arbuckle said. and
explained that profit in 1896 was only
three-fourths of a cent a pound. In
1870 little less than siX-tenths of q
cent, and n 1898 little less than six
tenths of a cent a pound
James M. Jarvie, the business partner
OF John Arbuckle, was recalled. and. in
the course of his testimony. said that
coffee had fluctuated in the market
within the past ten years. He said
there was no profit in the coffee bust
ness nowadays, and read statistics to
that effect. This was in contradiction
OF the statement made yesterday bv
MI. HaVemeyer, who said that the
coffee was a profitable and thriving
Held of mercantile industry. In replv
&C Senator Lexow, the witness testi-
ned that the firm Of Arbuckle & CO.
ard William F. Mclaughlin, of Chi
cago, controlled the coffee package
trade in the United States, and that
the Havemeyers control the bulk
trade to the same extent. The
witness said there were several grades
OF coffee, ranging in price from 10 to
80 cents a pound, the latter price be-
ing paid for Java and Mocha.
What was the purchase price OF
coffee when the American Sugar Re-
ming company W mt into the coffee
business through the WooIson COM
pany?"
Il should say the market price for
no coftee was 10 cents a pound and
II SOLO at 10 cents a pound to the
nliddlemen.'
What price do you sell it at now?"
AT 131a cents per pound"
Does a profit accrue?"
L am not prepared to say just now. :"
ANA the WOolson Spice companv
settled it at 10 cents a pound?"
yes SIR
DO you, as a manufacturer. consid-
er 1t falr to amass from the consumers
profits to be distributed among the di-
rectors and stockholders in the charge
OF unreasonable prices %
The witness tried to evade the uues-
ton, and the spectators gave noisy
evidence Of their disapproval.
senator Lexow pounded the desk
with his gavel and ordered that no
display Of feeling be permitted.
How long will the public stand such
a thing, do you think?'' asked Senator
LeXOw
Witness said that the so per cent
dividend only represented a 5 pei. cent
dividend on the present value Of the
ste ok. He said his company paid
81 600 for a single share of the Woolson
Spice company.
1T is a fact that they are putting
up a better coffee at less price than
you for the purpose of driving you out
% the market?"
L think our coffee is better than
theirs" the witness replied.
At this jUncture Senator LeXow asked
Cor 9 o Havemeyer, and Mr. Parsons
sid ne had just received word that Mr..
1aEculeyer would be on hand at 2
clock 10 which hour recess was taken
~sH1a-nr LexOw then announced that
during recess the committee would con-
st-er the question of Mr.. Searles dis
90 SILENCE 70 the order Of the commit
tee AEeE ~ecess Chairman Lexow
g-luf-eed that Mr. ScarIes would be
= ea@M ~ n m Monday. to answer
.ee sun pseua If the committee. Presi-
eEt EaF ctneyer was then recalled He
I'D thas the fOu- refineries In PhiIa-