New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-03
MORE SUGAR MEN HEARD.
TRUSTS OFFICERS CORROBORATE MR.
HAYEMEYER'S STATEMENTS.
FURTHER EVIDENCE THAT RECIPROCITY
WITH CUBA WOULD NOT AID THE
AMERICAN REFINING
COMPANY.

Washington. May 2-Arthur Bonner, treas
urer of the American Sugar Refining Company
! to-day testified before the subcommittee or the
Senate Committee on Relations with Cuba
concerning American holdings OF Cuban sugar.
He said that Mr. Havemeyer's statement
yesterday to the effect that his company had
purchased $4,000 tons of sugar since Janu-
airy 1 last was correct. No more Cuban sugar
could have been bought, as none could have
been purchased without his knowledge as treas
of the company. He promised Senator
Plat TO send to the committee memorandum
showing the purchases made and giving the
dates. All the sugar which had been purchased
had, he said been paid for.
Senator Platt called attention to the discrep-
ancy between Mr.. Havemeyer's statement as
to purchases amounting to $4,000 tons. and the
returns made by the War Department, placing
the American Company's option at 3,2S3 tons
up to March % but Mr. Bonner was not able
to explain it,
T. Responding TO questions by Senator Teller,
Mr.. Bonner confirmed Mr.. Havemeyer's state
ment that of the trusts purchases of Cuban
sugar, 10000 tons still remain in Cuba. He
said also that his company dealt entirely with
brokers. principally with ZaldO & Co.. Francke
& Co. and CzarnOkow & Co. of Havana and
New York. ana did not know the names of the
producers The American company had made
not advanced any money to the Cuban banks
for the planters. While he did not know. he
said he presumed there were other purchasers
Of Cuban sugar than his own company in
the field. Asked to realty holdings In Cuba,
he said that the trust had there. He
knew nothing of the private holdings OF stock
holders Of the trust.
You have taken some interest IN securing
reduction of sugar duties by Congress, have you
not?" asked Mr.. Teller.
Il have not" the reply
80 far as you know. has the American Sugar
Refining Company taken any interest whatever
in forwarding opposing the reduction of the
duty Cuban sugar." asked Senator Plat.
mo, sir: ] don't think 1t has
you speak of It a corporations" asked
Senator Teller.
Yes"
do you know whether the stockholders have
taken any interest such in the reduction"
Il do not; I know nothing about it,"
Henry C. Mott. purchaser OF raw sugar for the
trust was the next witness. He said he had
acted in that capacity for the last five years.
and that he buys all the sugar for the COM
pany. except the Louisiana sugars. He con-
bought % 900 tons of Cuban sugar since Janu-
airy l. Mr. Mott also said that in the course
of the year the American company probably
purchases 30 per cent of the Cuban sugar prod
uct and he supposed the other 80 per cent was
secured 10y other sugar refners in the Unieed
States
Suppose there should be reduction OF Cuban
sugar duties would the buyer get the full bene-
fit Of IT, or any part of it" asked Senator Platt
The buyer would not get any part of the
benefit" replied Mr. Mott. The reduction would
not make any difference in the purchase price
The benefit would accrue to the CUBAN seleI
the holder OF the sugar The experience with
Porto Rican sugar. which comes in free. justi-
fes that conclusion"
Mr. Mott had not finished his testimony when
the committee adjourned until Monday.