New-York tribune., 1910-01-07
SEE NEW VIOLATION
MORE SUGAR TROUBLE
Trade agreement Uncovered
Is the Report.

Through witnesses far examined before
the federal grand jury in the new invsst,-
CATION of the sugar refining companies the
government believes that II has found the
trail leading to trade agreement Enough
evidence to show that there was mutual
working plan, II was said yesterday had
been found in the examination of the books
In preparing the weighing fraud cases. but
facts were wanting that could be used In
a charge Of violating the Sherman anti
trust act
Counsel for the government were aware
that directors of the American Sugar Re
fining Company were also directors of the
National but none of the board of the
former had an interest I'm the firm of Ar
buckle Brothers, according to the books
IL was said to be significant that when
prices of sugar We're advanced or lowered
three companies acted together and the
others followed. An advance OF 10 points
was made yesterday IN the way indicated
If the case develops in such way as to
lead TO indictments, Oliver Pagan Assist
ant Attorney General, will be sent for to
prepare the papers. 1t was reported yester-
day that Henry L. Stimson special prose-
cCtor in the fraud cases. might be put in
charge of the new proceedings, owing to his
familiarity with the situation. He has
enough assistants TO give adequate atten-
tion to the case. whatever course the gov
ernment may decide to pursue.
New indictments in the short-weighing
prosecution will be made public in few
days They will be of persons higher in
the affairs of the American Sugar Com
pany than any heretofore found, and
former government officers may be among
the number. The indictments may not be
handed down until after the arraignment of
the convicted men tomorrow.
. IL was reported yesterday that Oliver
Splitter, former dock superintendent of
the Hayemeyer Elder plant. in Will
iamsburg, seriously Ill and that he
would have to be operated on at once He
Is one of the convicted men. 1t was
learned that he was suffering from a pain
full ailment. but that his physician had said
that the operation could be deferred until
after his appearance in court. The coun-
sci for the government consequently de-
clined to entertain a request for the post
ponement of the case
Ihe prosecution is contemplating trying
Splitter on other indictments after the
court proceedings of Saturday have been
concluded. His counsel and the counsel for
the four convicted checkers formerly en-
ployed by the American company will
argue motion for a new trial before Judge
James L. Martin. before whom the case
was heard. He will arrive from Vermont
to-day.
Should the motion be denied the court
will be asked to impose sentence Splitter
cannot be sent to prison for more than four
years. If tried OH other indictments and
convicted. enough counts are included TO
make a very heavy sentence possible As
1hn
largely responsible TO: the frauds. it feels
that four years sentence would be in
adequate. There was a report that if he
| confessed he woulI be most leniently treat
| ed and that no further indictments would
| be pressed
Collector Loeb heard from Washington
| yesterday that one of the automatic scales
building In Boston was completed and
ready for a test This will be made al
an early date. and IL IL is satisfactory work
on the remaining nineteen scales contracted
for will be pushed. The scales will cos,
about $4,000. Mr.. Loeb and Surveyor
Clarkson believe that they will minimize
the possibility of freud in the weighine
of sugar and other commodities
Mr.. Loebs advisory commission, consist
Ing of men from the Custom House and the
Appraisers department. has been making
iaPiu progress IN the investigation OF
weighing and baggage conditions in tn,
port. This commission is doing much OF
the work that a Congressional inquiry
might undertake. and with the investiga-
tlon or the sugar companies covers affairs
at the port pretty thoroughly.
Mr. Stimson and his assistants are nearly
ready 10 submit figures for government
losses due to short Weighing on the docks
OF the sugar companies other than the
American and the Arbuckles If settle
nent is made on figures submitted by the