New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-16
DETAILS OF THE HEARINGS.
MR. LEXow ANGRILY ASKS MR.. POST II
THE LATTER is GIVING HONEST TES-
TIMONY-ADMISSIONS AT THE
MORNING SESSION

The morning session OF the committee was late In
beginning Senator Lexow being the tardy member.
as usual John +. Searles. who has recently had 50
much business out Of town, was on hand fully half
an hour before the chairman OF the committee ar
rived. With him came John f. Parsons. When
asked whether he had brought the books Of the
American Sugar Refining Company that the COM
mittee desired 10 see he answered: You had bet
ter ask Mr.. Parsons that" Mr. Parsons. In reply
to a question, said "Will you tell me, X you can,
what books the committee wants, anyhow" This
Indicated that the books were not present and so
1t turned out.
Mr. searles and Mr.. Parsons looked surprised
when James r. Post a sugar merchant. OF No. 100
Wall-s was called as the first witness OF the day.
Apparently the treasurer of the Sugar Trust had
thought that he TO have the first turn. Mr..
Pos, said he bought and sold sugar for B. II. How
ell Son & Co. as we'll for the Moenhauer Sugar
Refining Company one of the few large refneres
outside of the trust
do these two firms compete with each other in
the purchase OF sugar from you?' was the first
question asked the witness
Sometimes" he replied. land sometimes one
buys when another does not. There Is no rule
about it."
Are you interested in either Of these compa-
nles?'
Yes: own some stock In the National Refinery
and have an interest in the sugar owned by
the Molenhauers"
Then you sometimes are placed In position
where you compete with YOURSELF"
Not exactly that These two firms sometimes
compete in my Office. ! can't help that. you know.
I don't own the companies"
But your relations with the two companies are
confidential. they not?"
Yes"
How can there be any competition then?'
why. customers sometimes prefer the sugar Of
one company and sometimes that OF another"
oh" said the chairman. and then he continues:
DO YOU remember a time when the price OF raw
material was only 81 cents and the price OF refined
sugar was "a cents. thus giving to the rehners .
profit OF II. cents?"
Il do think that was the profit. think the
raw material at the time than the market
price OF II would Indicate
Are your two mills running a, their full
capacity?"
Yes. sir" -
THE QUESTION OF PROFIT AGAIN
Now. the testimony before this committee has
been the effect that the profit made on refined
sugar in this country has been between $1,000 900
and 100000 annually. DO you think this 10 cor.
rect?'
81 don't know"
How much profit do you make on sugar."
Less than one-qu..rter OF a cent pound"
do you dispose OF your commodity through the
same factors those employed by the American
Yes. practically the same. We sell to wholesale
grocers they do
do you have agreement with your factors
like that Of the Sugar Trust"
About the same"
you are "A competitor OF the trust them"
I'm way Some buyers prefer our sugar 10
theirs. Some brands are more popular than Others"
Then It is a competition OF brand against brandr"
To a certain extent"
What brands do you sell?'
The Mollenhauer and the National. about twenty.
five in ALL"
can you name any firms in this country with
whom you have dealings that do also have deal.
ings with your competitors. the American Sugar Re.
filming Company
The witness named several firms The chairman
then wanted TO know few things about factors.
lis not the factor a creation Of the trust for the
purpose of evadng the Jaw and holding a threat over
the wholesale grocer" he asked.
mo. sir. don't think II is" replied Mr.. Post.
Then Senator Lexow came precious near to losing
his temper. DO you know who il In charge o. tina
affairs OF the Moenhauer Refinery" he went on
Their officers are upon record. They have
II am not referring 10 the outward form Of the
corporation interrupted the Senator. Il want 70
know who is really in control OF its affairs"
'All can do is to give you the names OF the ON
GERS" answered the witness imperturbably
Then the Senator from Rockland County leaned
forward in his seat shook his finger al the witness
and aueried angrly: Are you giving honest testi.
mony?'
II am under oath" came the calm reply
How often have you known the National Re.
fnery to run at its full capacty?'
About three-f OF the time"
do not that company and the Mollenhauer
keep about the same percentage OF product the
year around?'
NO. | don't think So"
Don't you know they do?"
No"
"Can 1t he possible. Mr.. Post" said Senator
Lexow graYey. that In three days We have harmed