Norwich bulletin., 1910-03-29
Denial from
 WiCkersham
CHARGE MADE BY REP-
 RESENTATIVE MARTIN.
NEVER COUNSEL FOR SUcAR-TRUsT
Congressman from Colorado to En- deavor to Show Up Gigantic Grab of Friars' Lands in the Philippines.

Washington, March 2S.-The charge preferred on the floor of the house last Friday by Representative Martin (democrat) of Denver that the former attorney of the sugar trust is now the head of the department of justice ot the present administration, brought forth a letter of denial from Attorney General Wickersham, addressed to and read into the record today. MT WIckersham's letter follows: Text of Denial.
 T have read in the congressional rec ord of March 25 statement made by member from Colorado to the effect that the former attorney of the sugar trust is at the head of the department ton, and later on what purports to be a quotation from a newspaper editorial reading Attorney General Wicker sham, the former attorney of the sugar trust
 Tn order that such statement may not gain any currency, should like to state through you that never was at- torney for the sugar trust-by which understand is meant the American Su- gar Refining company and it's allied or subsidiary corporations-nor had any professional or business relations with 1t.
 'SThe only possible foundation for such a statement lies in the fact that one Of my partners three years ago was retained as one of counsel for the American Sugar Refining company in a single law suit brought against it, and pursuant to such retainer he assisted in the defense of the company in that action and an appeal taken from a Judgment in its favor, but In that law suit I was neither consulted nor did render any service"
 Representative Martin was not on the floor of the house at the time the letter was read by MT. Bonnet, but when advised of the matter secured a copy of the attorney generals letter. MT. Martin announced that he intend ed to carry his charges against the department of justice to a definite con- ciusion- He now has resolution pending for an investigation of the ac- quis1tiOn Of friar lands in the Philip pines by the Havemeyer interests.
 Representative Martins Views.
 MT. Martin said in an interview:
 "The attorney general you will ob- serve, carefully avoided making any denial of the principal features of my charges, to wit: that his decision gave the sugar trust 55.000 acres Of friar lands for a price less than the govern ment paid for it, and that there was no warrant of law for such a decision. The law plainly limits the sale of pub- lie lands to any one person or com pany to 2,500 acres and there is no question of the friar lands being pub lie lands.
 MT. Wickersham says that his part ner, whom 1 understand was Henry w Taft, brother of the president, and not he, was attorney for the sugar trust. This form of disavowal will not carry much weight
 T shall continue my efforts to show up what I believe is but the beginning of gigantic grab of the friar lands of the Philippines by the sugar trust, all made possible by an unwarranted de- cision of the attorney general. I shall fr1rf fEar~ fx, day or two.
 There are 40s,000 acres of these frfar lands in the Philippines, acquired by the government at cost of $7,2O0.- 900, which is SIS per acre. The sugar trust acquired this 55.000 acres for $6 an acre."