The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-09-06
COAST REF|NERs
MUST TESTIFY

San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. IS
John D. Spreekels, president of tn,
Western Sugar Company, will probabl,
be called upon Saturday TO give hi;
deposition in the big SS0.OOO,000 dam
age suit recently instituted in New
York by the receivers for the Pennsyl
vania Sugar Company against the
American Sugar Refining Company
owned by H. o. Havemeyer and his as
soeiates, which is commonly known as
the sugar trust
The suit is brought at the direction
Of the United States Circuit Court of
New York and J. W. Hutchinson, eoun-
sci for the Pennsylvania company, is
taking the dispositions of various local
sugar magnates, under an order from
the court which gives him the power of
compelling the testimony of witnesses.
D. B. Richards, local attorney. is
acting as commissioner.
pany Is both for conspiracy and for a
violation of the Sherman antitrust law.
Under this law the receivers for the
Pennsylvania concern are asking dam
ages, asserting that the trust is acting
IN restraint of trade: that it forced the
Pennsylvania company from the sugar
industry, and controls over 80 per cent
OF the cane sugar output of the coun-
try.
In this connection the president of
the Western Sugar Refining Company
viii be questioned by Attorney Hutehi-
son as TO its relations with the Amer
lean Sugar Refining Company. He will
be asked how much stock of the West
ern company is held by the Havemey-
ers, and incidentally. it will be the at
tempt of the attorney for the Penn
sylvania people to get the sugar mag
nate TO admit that there is an agree
nent between his concern and the
American Sugar Refining Company by
which it divided up the business SO
that Havcmeyer does not compete with
the Western concern and the Western
refinery is TO leave the cane sugar bust
ness east OF the Missouri river entirely
IN the hands OF the trust.
Yesterday Attorney Hutchinson took
the deposition OF Geurge NJ. Rolph,
of the California and Hawai-
ian Sugar Company. an Independent
concern having refinery at Crockett,
and controlling many sugar fields in
the Islands, not owned or leased by
the Western Sugar Refining Company.
Roiph's testimony brought out the fact
that his concern Is not affiliated in
any manner with the trust 1t con-
-rols the output of about two-ffths of
he cane sugar used on the Coast, and
rs refinery produces about 800 tons
| day. The balance of the cane sugar
produced on the Coast, Rolph said, !
S by the Western Company, and Its
output, he stated, was about 10000 |
ons a year.
The deposition of v. H. Hannah, |
eeretary OF the Western Sugar Rein
ng Company, taken Tuesday, brought |
'ut the following facts: That the
American Sugar Refining Company |
WINS 1880 shares of the 10000 shares in |
he Western concern, and that this
tock is held jointly oy II. o. Have
meyer and clerk in his office in New
York.
After taking the deposition of the
PRESIDENT of the Western refinery At
Orney Hutchinson will return East and
eek additional evidence against the
fayemeyers there. He said last night
hat his sole purpose in taking the
.eposltlons was to be able to show that
he American Sugar Refining Company
vas trust in violation of the Sher-
nan law. He Will make no attempt TO
onnect the Western Company with any
cts OF that concern.
Hutchinson also said last night that
here was much evidence of some sort
I an agreement between the Have
meyers and the local concern as to
that territory each would take.
Since those who control the West
m company retired from the Eastern
eld 1t is very clear that one concern
as operated entirely East of the Mis-
ourl river he said, Sand the other
onfned itself to the territory west of
hat. This will undoubtedly be ex-
lained as mere matter of freight
ates by which the consumer benefits.
ut there is much room for doubt as to
Thether the sugar people are not do
ng business in restraint of trade. un-
er the meaning of the law