The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1898-12-10
SUGAR TRUST PROFITS BY
FREIGHT RATES.
Its Customers P0werless-Aren not Per
mltted to Purchase for New York
Delivery and Pay Direct for
Transportation Company
Supreme

Delivery and Pay Direct for
Transportation Company
Supreme
The independent wholesale grocer
Of St. Louis are making q lively protesl
against the sggressions Of the Ameri
can Sugar Refining Company, com
monty known as the Sugar Trust. Il
is asserted that the trust Is charging 1
higher rate Of freight for the delivery
Of sugar in St. Louis than 1t is paying
the railroad companies, and is pocket
ing = neal profit thereby.
According TO the statements Of tive
Of the best posted wholesale grocers 81
the Cupples Station, the trust is charg'
ing the jObbers 92l4 cents 100 pounds
a. freight on sugar delivered in this
city, whereas it has to pay the railroad
not to exceed is cents, thus making at
extra profit Of "a cents on every 100
pounds shipped.
ave learned that this practice was
going on" said one Of the complaining
jobbers to q reporter Of the Republic,
''by comparing the rates charged from
New York to this city oil imported
sugars. We knew that II imported
sugar a be shipped here at a lS-cen'
rate, the American article can be
shipped for the same price. II 1t could
not, the first In the country TO raise q
hue and cry about II would be the
Sugar Trust.
"Not only Is this true, but the trust
refuses to deliver the sugar to Us 10
New York with the privilege Of paying
the freight on it ourselves. For thai
reason we are unable TO help ourselves
and unless we find some way TO stop
the hold-up, we will continue at the
mercy Of the trust"
c. G.. Scudder, when seen by q
reporter of the Republic, said;
alt Is true that we are compelled to
pay . rate Of 22Z cents on sugar we
buy from the American Sugar Refining
Company, and that we can ship i'm
ported sugar to this city at the rate Of
Is cents. They are exactly the same
class Of goods, and it is reasonable to
suppose that the trust people are get
ting that rate and proGtlDg by the
difference.
"Under the existing arrangements 1t
is impossible for q St. Louis jobber TO
buy sugar from the trust and have 1t
delivered in New York so as to reship
II from there. W. can order & lot Of
sugar shipped TO a customer, say 10
Springfield, Mo-, but the matter is tied
up so as TO prevent US from reshipping
sugar and securing any Of the benefits
We might derive from more advantage
Gus rates.
"If you we're to ask the Sugar Trust
people about the equality plan Of sell.
ing sugar, they would tell you they
were pursuing that plan at the request
Of fully 80 per cent Of the wholesale
grocers IN the United States, aud that,
when 30 per cent Of the wholesaler
ask for q change, ii will be granted
There Is more or less truth In thai
statement. but when 30 equality plar
fails to equalize, there is room fol
objection. This is the Ease right now
II doesn't equalize.
what are We going TO do about IL
don't know. II you ask me whether
like it l say, unhesitatingly, No.
We are In a position where it is useless
to kick unless we can do something
II ! had a refinery at my back | would
sell sugar at prices TO suit myself, bul
without It | am powerless to do any
thing. To make 3 nov with nothing
behind me would mean that I coulS
not get sugar 10 sell TO my trade. Tha
is the position OF every wholesale gro
Ger in St. Losis today
Another iObber who objects to th,
methods Of the trust, said:
al am advised that the practice o
getting Q rake-of on the freight rat,
on sugar from New York to this city
which is being carried on by the trust
IS IN violation Of its charter rights
Certainly its practices r in restric
ton Of trade, and | believe the evi
could DO remied BY recourse to thI
courts.
"The charter Of the American suga
Refining Company gives 1t the right u
manufacture and sell sugar, but doe
not give it the right to make 4 prof
on freight rates, and to restrict IL
customers so as 10 render it impossibl
for them 10 pay their own freight an,
secure the regular rates"