Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-19
THE LEXOW INQUIRY,
a LARGE ATTENDANCE OF THE
OUTSIDE PUBLIC.
RUBBER TRUST on TIE RACK.
Its Representative Very Ignorant q
Subjects asked About-Mr. Have-
meyer-.The sugar-Trust pred--rh>
WsII-Paper Trust

NEW YORK. February 12-senator
Lexow and his colleagues OF the ,oint
legislative committee appointed to invex-
tigate the existence of trusts and nono-
poles In this State met again this morn
Ing. In anticipation OF an in,erestinr
session, there was large attendance az
the outside public.
President II. o. Havemeyer os IN.
Sugar Refining Company. was not pre-
sent, but he sent word that he would
appear after recess. He had gone TO tha
funeral Of William p. st. John.
Mr.. Charles r. Flint and the Rubber
Trust were accordingly put In the cruci-
bic. Chairman Lexow's questions were
directed to drawing from Mr.. Flint some
information In regard TO the destruction
by agents or employees OF the Rub
Der Trust of facilities for the mannfac.
ture OF rubber at different points on
Long Island. Mr.. Flint. however. pro-
fessed ignorance OF any such proceed-
ings. There Is great deal OF statement
OF ract or assertion in Mr.. Lexow's
method of questioning, and Mr.. Flints
replies were In contradiction or lack OF
+.
questions. Mr. Flint stated that wages
in the Rubber Trust factories were tho
same now as before the organization
OF his company; that the number OF en-
ployees had decreased and that the
price OF rubber shoes had increased not
as much, however. as Mr.. Lexow alleged
factors agreement between the manu.
facturers and dealers, similar TO the one
mentioned in the sugar and soda investi-
cation, appears TO be used In the rubber
trade. Mr.. Lexow's questions Indicated
that the Rubber Company paid Il per
cent. dividends last year but Mr. Flint
said the dividend was l per cent. Then.
Chairman Lexow endeavored TO make
Mr.. Flint admit that the stock OF tho
Rubber Company was heavily watered--
was principally water. i'm fact, but MIR.
Flint held a different view
AFTER recess. Mr.. Havemeyer put In am
appearance Mr.. Lexow asked II he had
brought the trust deed OF the American
Sugar-Rehning Company. He had not.
and did not know where II was. Lawyer
Parsons. counsel for the sugar company,
who was present. said IL had been In mis-
possession. but he did not know where IL
could be found. Mr.. Havemeyer said that
the figures showing the distribution OF the
preferred stock OF the company were cut
out by Mr. Parsons. by permission OF
the Arnold committee. at the time OF tho
investigation by the United States Senate.
Neither Mr.. Havemeyer nor Mr. Parsons
could tell what became OF the books Of
the original trust. They presumed tho
books had been destroyed. Mr.. Have
meyer expressed regret that the trust
deed had not been destroyed, as in HIS
opinion. II was that deed that had caused
all the persecution OF the sugar COM
pany. Prosecution, Lexow suggested, but
Mr.. Havemeyer adhered to his word. The
sugar people were then dismissed, with
the remark from Chairman Lexow that
the only question remaining for them
was the production of the deed OF trust.
All other information had been supplied.
The Wallpaper Trust was next put
under fire. in the person or it's president.
Henry Burn. His concern was stocked
% the amount OF S2S,Oo0OO0. 1t controlled
about 65 per cent. OF the business. seven
teen concerns being left out OF the trust.
Witness said the combination did not re-
strict the output OF wallpaper, although
some concerns had been closed; that In
the first year of its organization the pro-
duct had increased % or - per cent:
that more labor had been employed than
before; that wages had not decreased.
and that the familiar agreement with
sellers was used in this trade. The witt
ness was directed to produce this agree
ment tomorrow.