Evening star., 1902-05-07
BENEFIT To SELLER
Predicted Effect of Cut in
Cuban Sugar.
VIEWS OF M. RIONDA
MEMBER OF SUGAR BROKERAGE
FIRM TESTIFIES.
VIEWS OF M. RIONDA
Hearing of Senate Committee on Rela-
tions With Cuba Sugar Lands
Held by Americans

d
brokerage firm of Czarnikow, MacDougaIl
& Co. of New York and london, was be-
fore the Senate committee on relations with
Cuba today. He said that his firm has busi-
ness connections in all parts of Cuba, but
no branch houses in that country.
Mr.. Rionda estimated the annual product
United States at 536,O4S tons and said that
his firm sells more Cuban sugars to the
independent refneries than to the trust.
He presented a statement of sales of Gu
ban sugar for the present year. showing
that he had sold less than 5000 tons to the
trust for that period
Asked who fixes the price of sugar, Mr..
Ricnda replied that Germany fixes it be-
cause that country is the largest sugar pro-
ducer in the world. This is why prices are
made in Hamburg. In February and March,
however, there is a reduction on Cuban
sugars below the Hamburg price, owing to
the fact that at that season of the year
the supply is greater than the demand
This variation does not. however, extend to
sugars still held in Cuba--only to the port
of discharge. The variation is seldom, the
witness said, more than one-eighth of a
cent a pound.
Seller Would Benefit.
Senator Platt asked what would be the
Siictl VI ituutlloi Ol lile Uuty OH CUBAN
sugar and the witness replied that the Gu
ban seller would receive the entire benefit.
The price Cuban sugar never would,
however, go beyond the parity of beet su-
gars-that was the danger line--for the pur-
chaser would take the beet sugar in pref
erence He did not believe that the Ameri-
can sugar refining company would get any
OF the benefits of concession. In the
event of this reduction the Cuban producers
could hold their sugar and the refiners
would be compelled to go to another mar
ket, with the result that they would ad-
vance the price in that market and thus
get squeezed themselves instead of squeez-
ing the Cuban producers.
What would be the effect upon Cuban
sugars in case there should be no reduction
in the duty?'
Very disastrous, because those who have
made advances on Cuban sugar to the ex-
tent of 112 cents per pound, would call all
their loans in for fear the price would go
lower and 1t is to be feared that a panic
would ensue."
Would it not lower the price the world
oVer?"
Not necessarily. because Cuba is very
weak financially"
Sugar Lands Held by Americans.
Mr. Rionda was here temporarily excused
to allow George E. Bryson, newspaper edi-
tor and commissioner of deeds of Havana,
to be sworn and examined. Mr. Bryson
gave the names of a number of large sugar
plantations in Cuba which are owned by
Americans. One firm composed of Eng
lishmen and Americans, which ships about
12o,eG0 hogsheads annually, owns a large
part of the land around Guantanamo bay
In addition to the large plantations held by
Americans, Mr.. Bryson said there were
probably 100000 smaller plantations held in
the island by Americans. He also said
m a r-pa 1fn0 hyC I,
in the vicinity of Havana, Matanzas Colon
and Cardenas. AS rule, however the
Spaniards control sugar production by hold
ing mortgages rather than by owning the
estates outright. He estimated that 20 per
cent of the sugar production of the island
is thus controlled by Spanish citizens
He also said in reply to a question asked
by Senator Teller that more than one-half
of the sugar of the island is produced by
American citizens and American corpora
tions.
In reply to Senator Platt Mr.. Bryson
said he knew of no large plantations in
Cuba which are owned by Cuban citizens
There were hundreds of small Cuban plant
ers. but he did not know of single central
or sugar factory, owned by Cubans. Many
of those described as American citizens are
Mr.. Bryson said, natives of Cuba, but nat
uraiized citizens of the United States and
they could If they should so elect now re-
claim their Cuban citizenship.
Senator Platt asked a number of uues-
tions concerning the lands owned by Eng
lish citizens in the vicinity of Guantanamo
Inc witness said the owners arc family
named Brooks and that their connections
are with New York fnanciers.
Mr.. Bryson also sad that much of the
sugar produced by Cubans is grown by
poems or coionps who get only what the
planter on whose estate they are located,
sees fit to give them. He did not think
they would, as rule. receive any benefit
from an increase in the price Of sugar. AS
for the Cuban plantations most of them
were burned out.
Mr.. Bryson admitted In replies to Senator
Platt that he had no absolute personal
knowledge of the production CT the large
plantations, and said that some of the
points testified to were impressions
Compiled Many Newspaper Views.
Oscar w. Donner was questioned by Sen
ator Teller concerning pamphlet entitled
Facts about Cuba which the witness
said he had compiled. The reading matter
was composed of extracts from a number
OF newspapers advocating reduction OF
the duty on sugar. There had he said
been about $4,000 Of these pamphlets
printed at a cost of s1,1OO. He had con-
suited with Mr.. Havemeyer about getting
it up, the object being to counteract the ef-
feet of charges against the sugar trust. He
said that he had had many Of ,hese ar
tIcles reprinted in patent inside papers,
paying for their insertion, but that he had
never had them printed in other papers.