The times., 1899-06-14

THE VALUE OF CRUDE
and REFINED SUGAR
Witnesses Before the Indus
trial Commission.
Prof. Mas, of the Glucose Com
pany, Testifies.
His salary Was stopped Because He
Would Not Say That Glucose
Was Wholesome.

The proceedings of the Industrial Com
mission yesterday embraced testimony
concerning the sugar industry of the ut
most Importance. Claus Doscher the head
of one of the two large refineries which
oppose the Sugar Trust, and Prof Ernest
Mas, the process manager of the Glucose
Sugar Refining Company, each gave tes-
timony. The testimony of Mr.. Doscher
was considered most valuable from the
fact that he was once in the trust, having
gone into that organization at the time
of its formation, as the principal owner
of the Brooklyn Sugar Refining Company.
one OF the largest concerns OF the kind
in the country at that time.
Since Mr.. Doscher went into business
the second time, he says his company has
made no money in refining sugar, although
his plant is the most improved, and has
capacity of turning out three thousand
barrels a day There is something over
SO. .G00, 900 invested in his refinery, and the
only way in which money had been made
since he started operations was by the
price of raw sugar advancing on one or
two occasions after his company had pur-
chased a large stock.
Prof jerks, of Cornell University, ques-
toned the witness for the Commission,
paving special attention to the cost of re-
/ hning In this way ii was ascertained that
/ from 100 pounds of raw sugar 80 pounds OF
| refined sugar we're obtained, besides two
! gallons OF syrup. The difference in the
market value of the raw and refined sugar,
according to the witness, is something like
16 cents a 100 pounds, which just about
! covers the cost of refining. In view OF this,
/ the witness was asked how the American
/ Sugar Refining Company, which is the Of
| fetal name of the trust, could pay divl-
| dend of u per cent on its common stock.
While Mr.. Doscher still owns some Of his
original stock in the Sugar Trust, he said
he was unable to answer the question.
Just after his company had started in
| business, the Arbuckle Sugar Refining
| Company, which is the other principal re-
finery in opposition to the trust. made
| cut in the price of refined sugar. Since
that time several other cuts have been
! made. His company had never been the
/ first to cut prices said the witness. al
though they had followed in the lead of
others. Many questions were asked of the
witness in regard to- the methods OF the
| trust which he declined to answer saying
he knew nothing of their business.
Since his refinery had been running, the
witness said he had been approached sew
| eral times with a proposition to buy 1t,
and while these propositions always came
from the outside, the inference was that
| they emanated from the trust.
Mr.. Doscher had suggestions what
ever to make for the regulation of the
sugar business by law, and had no par
ticular complaint to make against the
trust. He said, however. that he went into
the business with the expectation of real
izing from Is to % per cent on the money
! invested.
Prof Mas testimony related particularly
TO the process oil, the glucose sugar in
dustry The different by-products which
are obtained from corn are glucose. sugar.
which results from starch, dextrine, corn
oil, rubber substitutes, etc.
Prof Mas had signed contract to work
for his company for six years. but on
being asked to sign a statement as a chem
ist that glucose was not unhealthy, at
the time legislation was pending before
Congress last winter regarding pure food,
his refusal had caused the company to
stop his salary. He was Of the opinion
that his company was a part OF the Sugar
Trust, although he was unable to sta>a that
fact positively
Although the Glucose Company was
capitalized for 1000. 600, the plant could
be duplicated for s6,OOO.OOO. in his estima-
ton, including the cost of the real estate.
Mr.. Hayemeyer, head OF the Sugar Trust
is expected to appear before the Commits
sion today, and his testimony Is looked
forward to with great interest.