Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-06-17

Continued from First Page)
Sugar company had never had any connec-
ton with the American Sugar Refining
company except a contract in 1902 under
which the latter became the selling
agency" of the former.
Didn't it say where your sugar was to
be sold?" inquired Chairman Hardwick.
NO." replied Mr.. Oxnard. There was
a provision that 1t was to be sold every
where except in New England"
How about this phrase in the contract?"
and Mr.. Hardwick read from an alleged
copy of the contract the following:
Care being taken by us american Beet
Sugar company, except when necessary,
to avoid your markets."
Written In by Lawyers.
We'll, that was written in there by the
lawyers. They said that it was not against
the Sherman antitrust law. AS a matter
Of fact, 1t never amounted to anything, for
we sold where we wanted to-"
Chairman Hardwick wanted to know
why the contract was abandoned.
Il ceased to be president in 1906" said
Mr.. Oxnard My brother succeeded me
and Colonel Dwell came on the board.
The colonel was familiar with the rail-
roads and the Sherman law. He said:
Here, this violates the Sherman antitrust
law told him the lawyers said 1t was
all right; that John E. Parsons OF the
American Sugar Refining company said it
was legal
HE asked II 1 would object to his
friend, Wayne MacVeagh, looking at it.
Mr. McVeagh said 1t was illegal. So, Mr.
Cutting went to H. o. Havemeyer of the
American Sugar Refining company and
told him the contract was Illegal He
wanted it to be continued through the
year. Mr.. Cutting said: No, this contract
ends today So, that was amen, and the
thing was dead from that day."
After long discussion of the beet sugar
industry and the tariff on raw and refined
sugar, Mr. oxnard asked % be allowed to
make a statement.
quite a little has been said about the
trust controlling the beet sugar re-
fineries," he said. THE trust does not
control all told more than 20 per cent Of
the beet sugar industry and the beet sugar
people compete with the output of the
other sugar refining companies. There
Is no such thing as restraint of trade
between the beet sugar people and the
other people.
II think you should give the devil his
dues. II the trust had not gone into the
beet sugar business in this country, the
industry would not have advanced as 1t
has. 1t had the money and the brain and
chemists to put into the work"
Mr.. Oxnard said the American Beet Sugar
company was capitalized at $20000,000 and
that the value OF it's plant was about s12,-
100000. He could not say why the capitalize
ton was fixed at s20,0ooO00.
Is it not true" asked Representative
Madison, that the beet sugar refiners pro-
duce about one-fifth of the sugar con-
sumed and that you are compelled to mar
ket It at a little below cane sugar.
Yes, custom has forced us to do So"
was the reply.
The witness declined to agree, however,
that an organization with a production of
more than 50 per cent Of the cane sugar
that of the American Sugar Refining COM
pany-fixed the price Of cane sugar.
Representative Barrett asked II the peo-
pie near beet sugar factories got their
sugar cheaper than those who must pay
freight on It.
1--WE are not philanthropists" said Mr..
oxnard, I'VE sell at the best price We can
get and that depends on competition"