The Washington times., 1906-02-09
HINTS APOSTLES
MEANT HIS RUIN
Former Mormon Tells of
Salt Mine Situation.
COMPETITION WAS KEEN
Says an Alleged Publication Was In
tended to Commercially Injure
His Concern.

Charles A Smurthwaite, an ex-Mof-
mon OF Salt Lake City, Utah, was re-
called TO the stand today 10 testify in
TIE Reed SFnoot case now in progress
before the Committee on Privileges and
Elections
A s Worthington, counsel for the
defense, cross-examined the witness on
his connections with a salt mine aud
the part played IN the admins -ratiun
Of the business by the apostles of the
Mormon Church.
Mr. Smurthwaite corroborsted the al
legged statement obtained by a saft
Lake City newspaper and hrs atterup.
tn suppress the publication Of the artf-
Gle on the ground that ii world ruin tho
business of the salt concern in which
he was one of the largest stockholders
The witness said he did not know by
whom the statement was given out. but
thought 1t may have been given By one
Of the church apostles. The article. he
said, would ruin his concern commercial
~. and that that was the ultimatum
given him by the board of APOSTLES
when he Interviewed them some few
days prior.
Church Cut Prices.
he said that the price of salt pro
dUced by concern operated by the
church was reduced from s. per bar
rel 10 81 per barrel after he had de-
clined TO follow the dictates of the
church regarding his becoming interest
ed in the new salt mine. He made COM
plant 10 his bishop. who was the sDir-
itual head of his ward. on this account
but that he never talked to President
Smith.
Payment OF Tithes.
Upon inquiry by Chairman Burrows
regarding fittings. MIR Smurthwaite
said that every convert to the church
was compelled to consecrate all his prop
erty TO the church ana that he was
thereafter required TO pay 10 per cent of
iiis income to the support Of the church
The conservation of property, however.
was only formal in its way. Tie tith-
ing paid to the church was gene rally
invested In property and bonds fittings
amounted TO between one and one-half
millions to two millions a year.
The witness said there was no account
Ing of the fittings made, but that he
rad entered Il suit against the church
TO give an accounting of said funds
The case was now pending in Utah
courts
After Mr. Smurthwaite had concluded
his testimony on SS-examInati ton the
committees adjourned, to meet at the
sides assuring the chair that the case
would be brought to an end as expedi-
tiously IS possible. The hearings will
be resumed in probably three weeks.
Sensations Promised.
When the. smoot hearings are re-
sumed Senator Smoot and his counsel,
a. 5. Worthington. viii submit some
sensational testimony both documen-
tary and otherwise in rebuttaI of the
statements made by witness during the
past three days
The defense will try to show that
the Smurthwaite-Siaith controversy
over tn salt interests in Utah were
brought about entirely by Mr.. Smurth-
waite. The defens claims that Smurth-
waite, on behalf Of the Beck Salt Com
pany, Of which Mr. Smith was one Of
the organizers. and which Was in op-
position TO the Inland Salt Company, /
operated by Joseph E Smith. attempt |
ed to sell majority OF that company 5 |
STOCK for $4,000 to the Inland people. l
The Inland company, however, learr ;Ts. |
that the Beck Salt Comrany had *
purchase, holding that the price as d I
was exorbitant.
according to statements now In pos
session of Mr.. Smoot, the Beck Com
and the company's liabilities are $1,000 |
at (! cents on the dollar They aliege |
lha- Mr.. Smurthwaite visited Richard |
Taylor on the latter's deathbed and |
-ried 10 get TayIor's stock at % cents |
Continued on Second Page.)