The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-07
INVESTIGATING TRUSTS.
LExoW COMMITTEE RESUMES
ITS NEW YORK SESSION.
Philanthropists Who Transact a
Business in Coffee Have Not Made
Cent in Years-A TestifyinF
Workman is Designated as Lila,
by Havemeyer.

New York, Feb. 6.-The joint COM
mittee appointed by the legislature to
investigate trusts and monopolies in
this state resumed it's session this
morning. Senator Lexow and Messrs.
Parsons and Shepherd, counsel for
Secretary Searles of the American
Sugar Refinery company, held a con-
sultation lasting about ten minutes.
AT its conclusion it was learned that
the lawyers had promised that Mr..
Searles would be on hand Monday.
1t was 1870 o'clock when Mr.. Lexow
raped for order. He directed the
sergeant-at-arms to call the name of
John E. Searles. There was no re-
Spouse. Lawyer Parsons said Mr..
Searles was compelled TO take a train
for Washington was he was served
with the subpoenae. He promised that
Mr.. Searles would appear before the
committee on Monday next and bring
the required data.
I'VE will consider your explanation.
Mr.. Parsons. in executive session and
Will determine whether we will hold
Mr.. Searles in contempt or allow him
TO purge himself by appearing on Mon
day before the committee" said SEN
ator LeXOw. John Arbuckle was then
recalled to the stand. He informed
the committee that he wished TO Lnake
a statement. He told the committee
that the profit in coffee in 1896 was
only three-quarters of a cent a pound;
in 1895 a little less than six-tenthS of a
cent, and in 1893 a little less than six
tenths of a cent.
There is no profit in the coffee
business for us now and 1 should say
the Havemeyers must be losing from
$4,000 to $4,000 a day in the business
said Mr.. Arbuckle.
The witness also said that he be-
lieved that if his company stopped
buying sugar refineries, the Havemey-
erS would get out of the coffee bust
ness tomorrow.
James n. Jarvie. the partner of Mr..
Arbuckle, was also recalled. He also
testified that there was no profit in
the coffee business for the past two
years This was in direct contradic-
ton of the statement of H. 0. Have
meyer, who testified yesterday that
the coffee business presented a most
alluring field for speculation and gave
magnificent returns for a year invest
ment. Mr.. Jarvie said there were
about 1000 coffee roasting firms in the
United States. The three leading firms
are the Arbuckles' company, the Nc
Laughlin company of Chicago and the
Woolson Spice company.
Senator LexOw then went into an
inquiry about the coffee
trade and the witness explained all
about the prices. Mr.. Lexow an
nounced a recess until o'clock and
said that in the meantime the COM
mittee would hold an executive ses-~
sion.
The executive session lasted about
ten minutes.
AT its conclusion Chairman LeXow
announced that the committee had de-
ferred action in the matter until 10
n, ho
expect Mr.. Searles would be present.
H. o. Havemeyer was on hand when
the committee reaSSembled. He was
recalled and in reply to a question de-
MED that there were any sugar re-
fnerieS closed after the consolidation
in 1891.
Mr.. Havemeyer gave a lot of figures
showing the price of sugar was re-
duced 10 cents per 100 pounds since the
formation of the trust.
John Bergan testified that he waS
as foreman of the American
Sugar Refinery company up to 1892
and was discharged with 500 or 700
others. The witness said that at the
time of Organization of the trust in
1887, 5000 or 1000 men were discharged.
Mr.. Havemeyer. who was sitting
near the reporters table, smiled at
this statement and said: That man
IS a bigger liar than he looks"
The witness said that the men were
not re-employed and had to scatter.
all over the country in search of en-
ployment.
The witness said that he understood
one of the refineries that closed was
being turned into a coffee mill. Eight
'efineries were closed, he said, since
he formation of the trust and there
vas only one running now.
John Arbuckle again took the stand.
He wanted to explain that the price of /
,offee was very variable, and that he =
believed it to be the most speculative
business in the world. He said his
irm controlled about one-fourth of the
.offee trade of the United States and
vas handling about 100000 bags an
lually. He said there was no agree
nent between his firm and other big
irms to fix prices.
The witness, however, admitted that
he price fixed by his firm was pretty
followed by other firms
Occasionally the price falls under
urs," explained Mr.. Arbuckle
At this juncture Chairman Lexow
adjournment until Monday.
THE DREAM-TOWN SHOW