Evening star., 1902-05-02
UNAWARE OF LOBBYING
TESTIMONY OF TREASURER OF
SUGAR TRUST.
Hearing Resumed by the Senate Com
mittee on Cuban RelationS-EHect
of Tariff Reductions.

Arthur Donner, treasurer of the American
| Sugar Refining Company, today testified
| before the Senate committee on Cuban re-
| lations concerning American holdings of
| Cuban sugar. He said that Mr.. Havemey-
| er's statement yesterday to the effect that
! his company had purchased $4,000 tons of
sugar since the 1st of January last was cor
rect. No more Cuban sugar could have
| been bought. none could have been pur-
| chased without his knowledge as treasurer
of the company. He promised Senator Platt
to send to the committee a memorandum
showing the purchases made and giving
their dates. All the sugar which had been
purchased had, he said, been paid for.
Senator Platt called attention to the dis
crepancy between Mr. Havemeyers state
ment as to purchases amounting to 1000
tons and the returns made by the War De-
partment placing the American company's
option at 3.2s5 tons up to March %, but Mr..
Donner was not able to explain it.
Responding to questions put by Senator
Teller, Mr.. Donner confirmed Mr.. Have
meyers statement that of the trusts pur-
chases of Cuban sugar As 900 tons still re-
main in Cuba. He said also that his COM
pany dealt entirely with brokers, prin-
Co. and Czarnokow & Co of Havana
and New York. and did not know the
names of the producers. The American
company had made no advances to the Gu
ban planters, and had not advanced any
money to the Cuban banks for the planters.
While he did not know, he said, he pre-
sumed there were other purchasers of Gu
ban sugar beside his own 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.
Knows Of No Lobbying.
You have taken some interest in secur-
ing a reduction of sugar duties by Con-
gress, have you not?" asked Mr.. Teller.
Il have not" was the reply.
Senator Platt asked: $50 far as you
know. has the American Sugar Refining
Company taken any interest whatever in
forwarding or opposing the reduction of the
duty on Cuban sugar?"
mo. sir; don't think it has"
Senator Teller: You speak of it as a
corpOration?"
Yes"
do you know whether the stockholders
have taken any interest such in the re-
duction?"
Il 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
past five years, and that he buys all the
Louisiana sugars. He confirmed previous
statements that the trust had bought 90 GOO
tons Of Cuban sugar since January /.
Mr.. Mott also said that in the course of
the year the American company probably
purchases 50 per cent of the Cuban sugar
product, and that he supposed the other so
per cent is secured by other sugar refiners
in the United States.
Effect of Tariff Reduction.
Senator Platt-"Suppose there should be
reduction OF Cuban sugar duties would
the buyer get the full benefit of it, or any
part Of it?''
The witness-"The buyer would not get
any part of the benefit. The reduction
would not make any difference in the pur-
chase price. The benefit would accrue to
the Cuban seller. the holder of the sugar
The experience with Porto Rican sugar
which comes IN free, justifies that conclu-
sion.''
During the course of the proceedings SEN
ator Platt referred to the legislation pend
ing In the Senate as intended to give reci-
procity.
Senator Teller took issue with him. de-
claring that Congress is preparing the. way
rather TO make gift.
Mr.. Mott had not concluded his testimony
when the committee adjourned until Mon
day.