New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-02
UR. IA TE.uEYER'S TESTIMONY
HE SAYS THAT RECIPROCITY WITH
CUBA WOULD NOT BENEFIT
THE SUGAR TRUST.

Washington. May THE inquiry into the preser:
holding OF cuban sugar and Cuban sugar lands or
dcrcd by the senate was begun to-day Henry O.
Havemeyer, president Of the American Sugar Re
filming Company. the first witness ReplvInp
to questions by Senator PIatt OF Connecticut Mr.
Hayemcyer said his company was generally known
AS the Sugar Trust. and that its refneries are
located as follows: In New-Jersey one; New-York
three Massachusetts. two Philadelphia. two and
one in New Orleans
VIII you" Senator Platt asked. tell the com
nlitee how much Cuban sugar II any. has been
purchased and is now held by your company"
Since early IN February last have purchased
fifty thousand tons, or $4,000 bags, or about ten
days supply" replied the witness "Of that ouan-
uty twenty-six thousand tons Is In process OF
shipment from Cuba"
The prices paid had, he said ranged from 175
to Ls3. the highest price being paid on March l3
and the lowest April p
Where do you buy your raw sugar?"
All over the world-in Cuba, Java Hamburg
Trieste, the British West Indies, South America
wherever sugar is grown"
Does the fifty thousand tons YOU mention repre-
sent your entire purchases In Cuba since the first
OF january
mo- we have bought all told, ninety-three thou
sand tons OF Cuban sugars during the present wear
or about three-fourths of months supply our
consumption being about thirty-fve thousand tons
a week"
CONTROLS ONLY ITS PURCHASES
DO you control any sugar in Cuba other than
that purchased?"
None whatever, in any manner"
Have you taken any options on Cuban sugars?"
Il have not"
Have YOU made any advance on any Cuban
sugar.
None whatever"
so that YOU wish to be understood as saying
that the amount you have mentioned as having
purchased represents your entire interest direct
and indirect in Cuban sugar?"
"Ihat IS the statement | make" replied Mr.
Havemeyer
Continuing he said the entire Cuban sugar crop
is about 10000 tons but that much of II has been
withheld from the market In view Of possible tariff
concessions 10 he made by Congress. on this ac-
count his purchases had been only about one
third Of the average of other years on this ac-
count. too. the purchases had been made princi-
pally at oupors, where the storage facilities were
poor, rather than at Havana. The purchases from
the outports had caused most of the shipments to
be made from those ports rather than from Ha-
vana, where the company has about 5000 tons now
stored. The purchases at the outports had caused
the sales there to be made on a parity with the
beet sugar prices.
Speaking of the capacity of his company he said
that it refined Go per cent of the American refined
product. lie added that the percentage of his com
pany's product compared to the entire sugar con-
sumption of the United States was about so per
cent. Last year his company produced 200 900
tons of refined sugar while the consumption was
100000 tons
the present year Mr. Havemeyer gave figures OF
purchases for other years TO show the relativ.
volume of the current acquisitions. saying that in
1892 $4,000 tons had been bought; in 1893 24e O0O
tons; In 1884, 32l 600 tons
In reply to other questions he said that the prIce
Of raw sugar in the United States is fixed by the
beet market prices in Hamburg. The price there
fixes the selling price for the entire world On the
subject Of the price of Cuban sugars he said that
his company could not determine their price we
have" he said. mo control over them whatever.
they don't belong to us"
Cuba has to sell her sugar in this market hasn't
she?"
No, that is not true. She sell IN England
for instance if she is DESTROYS to do So England
could take the entire Cuban crop"
RECIPROCITY WOULD NOT AID TRUST.
suppose the United States should make a con-
cesson Of say 20 to % in the tariff rates
on Cuban sugar." asked Mr.. PIatt couldn't Won
refuse 10 buy the Cuban product except at your
rates and thus secure the benefit of the con-
cession?'
In no way was the reply. Cuba would be
under no obligations to sell TO u.s. because as I