Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-16
James q. Post Before the Industrial
Commission.
FOR INDEPENDENT REFINERIES
A Commercial Travellers Argument
Against the Trusts.
MEN THROWN OUT OF WORK

| conclude its present hearing of testimony
on the subject of trusts tomorrow. In July
it will again have testimony on the same
subject. Mex week number of witnesses
will be heard on the agricultural interests
Of the south.
The commission today adopted a resolu-
ton in reference to Mr.. North's resigna-
ton, to the effect that while they are
| pleased to learn that this resignation Is
practically a transfer of the services of Mr..
| North to another field of governmental
duty, yet they part with him with sincere
| regret, because of the loss to the commits
| sion of "his mature judgment on plans of
| procedure in Investigation, large experience
| in the treatment of economic questions.
| liberal views on the relations of labor and
capital, quick analysis of modern business
| methods, and in many other ways an untir-
| ing, Intelligent and safe counsellor on the
! great practical business and social ques-
| lions submitted by Congress for inYeStiga-
| ton and review by this commission.
James II. Post on the Stand.
Today Mr. James H Post of New York
was on the stand. He appeared as the
| representative of the Mollenhaur and Ma
tional Sugar Refining companies. An i'm
| portant question to be determined by his
testimony whether these refineries are
| really independent or are part of the
great sugar trust.
He stated that he is commission agent
of the Mollenhaur sugar refinery of Brook
| lyn and the National refinery of Yonkers.
| They buy raw sugar for these refineries
| and sell their product.
Mr.. Post had been connected with the
firm Of commission agents which now ham
| dies sugar for the refineries since he was a
| boy, or for d period Of twenty-five years.
For ten years he had been member OF the
| firm.
He was asked whether the products of
| the Moilenhaur refinery were sold under
am agreement made with the American
Sugar Refining Company.
| No, they are not ne replied, positively.
| He was thoroughly familiar with the con-
| Germ, and he knew there was no connection
| between them
The general manager of the National
Sugar Company had made a statement to
! him to the cost of refining sugar.
| Taking the JS-degree test" he said.
| there is per cent of impurities and one Of
| water, making up the 1O0-degree basis. The
| loss of sugar in refining is one per cent
| which makes 95 per cent available. They
figure that 92h pounds of gTanulated sugar
| can be had from 100 pounds of the raw
material The sirup they get is figured as
| equivalent to 21a pounds of sugar. They
| calculate that the srup is worth cents
| a pound.
The margin between the raw and refined
| sugar he believed to be So cents hundred
pounds, which represented the cost OF re-
| filming. The cost of refining had not been
| lowered in the last five years. 1t was pos
sible that in a big refinery, like those OF
| Havemeyer and Elder. in Chicago which
| turn out 12,V00 barrels of sugar or the
Spreckles refinery of Philadelphia, which
| turns out $500 barrels day. there might
| be slight economy in the product. but
| the difference would be very small indeed.
The Mollenhaur and National ref1neries to-
gether have a-capacity for 100000 pounds
| a day. or 6,0G0 barrels.
A refinery to turn out 5000 barrels day
| would cost at the present high prices for
| iron and steel about 81 100000. not includ-
| ing the cost of the land, which would vary
| according to location.
| The witness said that if sugar from Cuba
and the Philippines could be admitted free
| to this country there would be an imme-
| date falling off in the beat sugar industry
here. which could not hold out against free
cane sugar from those islands, Cuba being
looked upon as the best place on earth in
which to raise sugar. He believed Mr.
| Havemeyer had sugar plantations in Cuba
| and that other refners had made the same
| kind of investments as individuals
When asked about the tariff. he said:
Present Tariff Sufficient.
81 have the impression that the present
| protection to the reineries is sufficient to
enable US to compete with Europe"
He thought the sugar trust as it had been
conducted had been beneficial to the coun-
try. It had reduced the price of sugar to
| consumers, who are getting refined sugar
| cheaper. He said the American Sugar Re
| filming Company had not made use of the
| great power given it to charge eXtortionate
| prices for it's product.
| 1t has kept the margin down to keep
| out competition. If the trust had not been
| formed he thought that after more of the
| Independent refneries had been driven out
| of the business by low prices prevailing
| before 1887 the result would have been
| that sugar would have gone up in price,
| because but few refneries would have sur
yived the competition and the demand De
| ing greater than the supply would have
| driven the price up.
| RuinOus Competition to End Soon.
| His belief was that the ruinous competi-
| ton now going on in sugar would come to
| an end in a couple of years, If not in the
| next six months. The independent REIN
| cries are not making much sugar now. and
| they do not make 1t when the prices are
| low. If the American company could stand
| the competition. with its great output, he
/ felt satisfied that the Independent COM
! panieS could stand 1t.
| If the American Sugar Refining Company
kept up the fight for fifteen or twenty
| ents, but he did not think they would keep
| it up that long.
Insufficient Raw Sugar.
| The production of raw sugar is not at
| the present time keeping pace with the con-
| sumption The revival of the sugar indus
| try in Cuba would give a big opportunity
for the colored men of this country to find
good conditions of work in that island If 1t
| is under American control. In that way
the island would be organized. though of
course there would be need of some white
labor of superintendent.
Mr.. p. e. Doves Testimony.
| At the afternoon session of the commits
| sion Mr.. P. e. Dove, president of the
American Commercial Travellers League
appeared and testified. His testimony was
| looked forward to with unusual interest.
for it is understood the trusts have done
much to drive the commercial travellers out
of business. Referring to the commercial
travellers, he said:
Even those fortunate enough to retain
positions (often at reduced salary, in the
service of syndicates, do not hesitate In
safe company TO condemn trusts as dan
gerous to personal privileges and barrier
to individual investment in the line of
choice and experience Every commercial
traveller hopes to attain as the goal of the
ambitious and progressive business man as
an equitable return for years of hard work,