New-York tribune., 1911-07-19

that if requests had been made for cam
paign contributions by either party they
would never have got them. Represent
ative Raker said he had been prompted
TO ask such questions because he had
noted in some of the minutes Of the
meetings Of the board of directors that
such requests had been made. He re
ferred particularly TO the minutes of a
meeting in 1902, where such a request
had been noted, he said, and long line
OF little stars" inscribed afterward,
without stating what action had been
taken on the matter.
interpreting the Stars.
"Of course, YOU can interpret the stars
as you like suggested the Congress
man.
Mr.. Thomas called attention TO the
fact that he did not enter the board Of
directors until 1893.
The witness couldn't recall the dates
within from three TO five years when hC
first met Mr.. Havemeyer, John +. Par
sons and other directors of the compan',
and hc appeared hazy as TO the dates On
which the American company had 'ab-
sorbed" the Spreckels refinery In Phila-
depha, and other refneries in Boston
Baltimore and New orleans.
'You say you think YOU first met Mr..
Havemeyer i'm 1891 to 1898 at his office
in New York, and you were then a
Young man of thirty-fvc, with all your
faculties in good condition. said Mr.
Raker. Il can't for the life of me see
how YOU could forget the date of that
meeting, as Mr.. Hartman must have
made a strong impression on you, If nc
was ANYTHING like the dominating figure
and strong personality that witnesses
have described him to be at those hear
ings."
In answer to further questions by Mr.
Raker the witness said he was nifty
seven years old. was born in Maine and
had first entered the sugar business IN
1879. becoming a director in the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining Company in lS93
He also said he was probably worth
from 100000 to $4,000 when he be-
came a director Of the company.
"Why were you, a young man, appar-
emily so unfamiliar with the business
methods of the American company at
that time. elected a diroctor?' asked MI
Raker.
The witness said he knew of no other
reason than that he had been in the
sugar business some time and was sup
nosed to be fairly familiar with that line
Of business.
"Why Lay II to Havemeyer"
why do all these people connected
with the American company who have
testified before this committee want to
lay everything, even to entering items III
the minute books, to Mr.. Havemeyei'
who is now dead" was another question
asked by MIR. Raker.
Mr.. Thomas said he knew Of no reason
why they should want to do that.
Several Of Mr.. Raker's questions were
ruled out by the chairman on the objec-
ton of Mr. Thomass counsel as tending
to incriminate the witness, who is now
under indictment by the government and
marty 10 a civil suit started by the gov
eminent, along with other directors OF
the company.
Earlier in. his examination, in answer
IN Questions bv Chairman HardwiCk and
Congressman :. Garrett, Mr.. Thomas
denied emphatically that his company
endeavored to fix the prices Of refined
sugar throughout the country. lie adj
mitted. however. that most of the inde-
pendent companies followed the prices
Of the American company pretty closely
But it frequently happened. the witness
said. that other companies would lower
tbeir nrices and the American would bc
forced to lower its prices to meet com
petition.
The witness related the causes and
effects of the sugar wars" between the
American company and the Spreckels
and Arbucklc companies At present,
he said. a sort of armistcc existed be
tween his company and the Arbuckes.
They had all got tired of losing money
he said. and stopped fighting,
Discuss Advertising Bills.
stress was laid by Chairman Hard
wick on an advertisement which the
American company had inserted in VIII
lett < Gray's Statistical Weekly Sugar
Trade Journal, for which the company
contributed" 81 600. while the adver-
tisoment was worth about S40o, accord
ing to space rates.
The witness said the extra money was
maid because the company considered
the paper a valuable trade journal. Mr..
Garrett didn't believe II was proper
advertisement TO put out, warning the
ruhlic. as il did. not 10 use raw sugar as
a dangerous and disease spreading in
sect thrived in the raw product, If That
was not the truth. Mr. Thomas couldn't
cav whether the statement was true or
not.
II was brought out that the Arbucklcs,
the National company and other sup
posed independent companies did not go
into the New Orleans market and com
ncto with the American in the purchase
of raw sugar The committeeman
wanted TO know II this condition had
been brought about by any agreement or
"gentIemon's understanding between
the American company and the others.
The witness said he knew of no such
agreement.
The first session of the committee was
held Yesterday at the Custom House.