The Washington times., 1908-11-16
Law Has Not Been Framed
Already, Says Chair
man Payne.
EACH VIEWPOINT
WILL BE HEARD
Witness at Hearing Declares Sugar
Trust Methods Are
"Damnable."

Representative Payne Of New York
today took exception to criticisms OF
tho Ways and Means Committee, Of
which he is chairman, and said, that
statements to the effect that the COM
mittee had already decided upon the
form Of tariff bin 10 be presented 10
the extra session of Congress next
March. was without foundation.
The criticisms and prophecies. which
have appeared in the press recently,
are without foundation in fact. IL is
the purpose Of this committee to stand
on the facts brought out at these hear
lngs. 1t Is immaterial whether wit
nesses represent special Industries or
are private citizens. We want the views
Of every one competent tc talk on
tariff"
D. d. Co.cock. cane sugar grower OF
Louisiana. who was the first witness
before the committee, charged that the
sugar trust control Of that commodity
was so complete that it not only die
tates the prices at which jObbers and
retailers should sell, but also arbitrarily
likes the price al which u buys from
growers. The growers have the alter
native OF accepting this price, or letting
their sugar rot.
Get No Benefit.
The Louisiana grower. Mr.. COIcock
said, does not receive the benefit Of
the tariff. because OF the unfair treat
ment by the trust, and its ability 20
control price, despite conditions pre-
vailing elsewhere. To demonstrate the
discrimination which existed. he said,
that on Thursday last the price OF
sugar was 416 cents per pound in
Hamburg: 394 in New York, and yet
the trust would pay only 3.621z cents for
sugar in Louisiana.
Mr. COlCOck said, that the methods OF
the american Sugar Refining Company
were "damnable."
why do you stand for it?" asked Mr..
BOUteIl.
Because we can't help ourselves"
replied the witness.
Have you thought OF building ~
hneries and refining your own sugar.
yes. we have thought Of it," said
Mr. COlCOCk. but We are afraid 10 do
so. because the trust would undeTsell
US so much that 10 would drive Us OUT
OF business.
A Small Margain.
There Is only a small margin OF
profit anyway, and the trust would not
only wipe that out, but would sell be-
low cost to hurt US in the market, and
their product, being as good as ours.
the trade would buy at the lower
prices"
Mr.. CoIcock seemed helpless, however.
to suggest an amendment TO the present
tarin schedule which would beneht the
American grocers and lift the Oppres-
sion o. the trust
ID -. ct % !. a
committee some method by which the
trust fixing Of prices could be curbed.
but he admitted that he was unable 10
do so.
the American Beet Sugar Company said
that the sooner Congress settles tho
question OF tariff on sugar the better
1t will be for the sugar industry.
A Staggering Blow.
What the industry needs Is certainty,
and an assurance that II will be let
alone. Tho admission OF sugar from
Hawaii and Porto Rico duty free, and
the admission OF sugar from the Philip
pines and Cuba at prices below the reg
ular tariff schedules IS a staggering
blow, and the question as TO what shall
be done should be disposed
of promptly
Has the American Sugar Company
Mr.. Underwood.
Not that 1 am aware Of" replied
Mr.. CXnard
Have you any agreement with the
American Sugar Company 10 fix uni
form pTices?'
I'VE have not"
Ruin for Both.
In reply 20 another question by MU.
Underwood. Mr.. OXnard said that tie
removal Of the diTerenHal would not
only put the American Sugar Company
out Of business. but would put Louisiana
into competition with the foreign mar
IIets. ard that because Of CheaPer labor
abroad the Louisiana industry would be
ruined. In reply to Mr.. Clark, he said
that the planters did not refine their
sugar because they could get more
money under present Cond .tions He
denied that tho trust had the growers
by the throat"