The Washington times., 1902-05-16
Declares Mr.. Havemayer
Made False Statements
to the Committee.
WOULD BENEFIT BY ANY REBATE
Letter From Sir W. c. Van Horne Re-
garding the Projects and Method of
the Cuba Company Read by Sena-
tor Plat.

Hayward G. Leavitt, president OF the
Leavitt (Nebraska) beet sugar factory. re-
sumed his testimony yesterday before the
Senate Committee on Relations with Cuba
In the course of his testimony. he
charged President Havemeyer, OF the
sugar trust, with making false state
ments before the committee, and asserted
that the trust has been working for the
passage of the reciprocity bill, despite Mr..
Havemeyers denials.
His testimony was the most interest
ing yet heard by the committee. and the
first in which any important charges have
been made against the sugar trust.
Mr.. Leayitt took up the war last sum-
mer in the Missouri River territory, be-
tween the beet sugar manufacturers and
the sugar trust, when the sugar trust.
with the purpose. he said, OF driving the
beet men out of business. reduced the
price of refined sugar in Nebraska and
Colorado from 5h to 81 cents a pound.
This price applied only to those two
States. the natural markets of the beet
factories in those States; across the river
in Iowa the price was not then reduced
Had to Store Product.
1.-THE beet men had TO store their prod
uct rather than sell at the price below
cost OF production. and every attempt
since then to dispose of it had been met
with a reduction in price by the trust.
The result had been that the beet fac
tories had been unable to borrow money
easily, and had been compelled to ship
their sugar to Chicago and other large
markets, to their great disadvantage in
the matter of freight.
The price at which the sugar was sold
by the trust, he said, was less than the
cost of raw sugar alone. without the
cost of refining and of freight from New
York. The purpose of the trust was TO
compel the beet men TO deliver sugar
at ruinous prices. but their contracts
contained a provision which saved them.
He put in evidence copy OF contracts
between the jobbers and the beet fac
tories. aud challenged MIR. Havemeyer to
produce evidence that the blank contracts
he had spoken OF were used by the beet
men. These contracts, Mr.. Havemeyer
had testified, obligated the jobbers to buy
meme but beet sugar.
Mr.. Leayitt quoted from the testimony
of Mr. Havemeyer the statement OF the
latter that the trust was not interested
in the pending reciprocity bill; and that
il had not attempted to influence that
and called the attention of
the committee to the testimony Of Mr.
Bonner, the advertising agent OF the
American Coffee Company, which be said
was an adjunct of the trust.
Sanctioned by Mr.. Havemeyer.
Mr.. Bonner had said the pamphlet IA
voring the legislation he had published
had the sanction of Mr.. Hayemeyer. Mr..
Dcnner had also acknowledged that he Sc
cured the publication of similar argu-
ment in newspapers throughout the coun-
try.
While Mr.. Havemeyer had testified the
would receive no benefit from
the proposed reduction, yet he had sane
toned the publication OF those articles
holding out the promise to the consumers
hat they would obtain refined sugar at a
lower price.
Witness declared that in so doing Mr..
Hayemeyer had practiced a direct fraud
on the people of the United States. which
was sufficient TO show that the trust was
connected with the proposed Legislation.
MIR. Leavitt charged that the mass
meeting held some time since in Carnegie
Hall, New York, in favor of Cuban reei-
Drocity, was organized by Attorney Shop
pard. 1.-THE paid lobbyist Of the sugar
trust" who had declined to permit Wit
ness TO present at that meeting the argu-
,.psc NJ the kQpt men
Witness said that If what Mr.. Have
never testified was true-that the Cuban
sugar grower would be paid the market
rice for his raw sugar plus the amount
II the proposed reduction in the tariff
he trust would be paying the Cuban
more than he could get anywhere else in
he world and he did not believe that Mr..
was in business for his health.
The witness had been basing his argu
uent on what he said were Treasury De-
artment figures. In response to Mr.. |
'Iatt. however. he admitted that he had |
btained them from an official in the Ag- |
icultural Department. who claimed that |
hey were Treasury figures.
you seem to be much disturbed about |
10 sugar trusts interest in this mat
sr," remarked Mr.. Plat.
II am" was the reply. ut makes no