Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-03
BUYS HALF OFCUBAN PRODUCT
American Sugar Concern, Says Purchaser,
Takes Fifty Per Cent Yearly.
BONNER DENIES HOLDINGS IN IstANO
Says Trust Makes No 20
Cuban Planters and Believes
There Are other Buyers
of Islands suEar.

WASHINGTON, May 2.-Arthur Bonner,
treasurer Of the American Sugar Refining
company, today testified before the
senate committee on Cuban relations con-
corning 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
the first Of January last was correct. No
more Cuban sugar could have been
bought, as none could have been purchased
without his knowledge as the treasurer
of the company. He promised Senator
Plat to send to the committee a memo
rands showing the purchases made aud
giving dates. All the sugar which had
been purchased had, he said, been paid
for.
Senator Plat called attention to the dis
crepancy between Mr.. sHavemeyer's. State
ment as; to purchases amounting to $4,000
tons and the returns made. by the War de-
paEtment placing the American company's
option at 1926 tons up to March %. but
Mr.. Bonner was not able to explain 1t.
Responding to questions by Senator Teller
Mr.. Bonner confirmed Mr.. Havemeyer's
statement, that Of the trusts PURCHASES OF
Cuban sugar Al, 900 tons still remain in
Cuba. He also said that his company dealt
entirely with brokers', principally with
zaldo & Co., Francke & Co. and Czarnokow
& Co. Of Havana and New York. aud did
not know the names of the producers. The
American company had made no advances
to the Cuban planters and had not ad-
vanted any money to the Cuban banks for
the planters. ~
May BE Buyers.
While he did not know, he said, he pre-
sumed there were other purchasers Of Cuban
sugar besides his W company in the field
Asked as to realty holdings in Cuba he
said that the trust had none there. He
knew nothing OF the private holdings Of
stockholders Of the trust.
you have taken some interest in secur-
ing a reduction of sugar duties by con-
gress, have you not ?" asked Mr.. Teller.
II have not" was the reply.
Senator Plat asked:
So far as you know, has the American
Sugar Refining company taken any inter
est whatever in forwarding or opposing the
reduction Of the duty on Cuban sugar?
mo, sir, 1 don't think So"
Senator Teller-You spoke of it as a cor
poration?
YES"
Mott CONFIRMS Statement.
do you know whether the stockholders
have taken any interest as such in the re-
duction?"
II do not; / know nothing about It,"
Henry G. Mott, purchaser of raw sugar
for the trust, was the next witness. He
said he had acted in that capacity for the
last 1--WE years and that he buys all the raw
sugar for the company except the Louisiana
sugars. He confirmed previous statements
that the trust had bought so, 900 tons o.
Cuban sugar since January /. He said thai
in the course of the year the American
company PURCHASES 80 percent 81, the Cubar
sugar product and that he supposed thu
other so per. cent is occurred tyfother sugaI
refners In the United States. So
Senator Piatt-Suppose there should be
reduction of sugar duties; would the buyel
get the full benefit of 1t, or any part of 1t
The Witness-The buyer would not ge
any part of the benefit. The reduction
would not make any difference in the pur
chase price. The benefit would accrue t
the Cuban seller, the holder of the sugar
The experience with Porto Rican sugar
which comes in free, tustihes that con
clusion.
Mr.. Mott had not concluded his testimon,
when the committee adjourned till Monday