New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-22
TELLS Of SUGAR GIFTS
Mr.. Parsons Says Contributions
Were Incorporate Right"
is FOR CONTROL BY STATE
Advises congressman to Solve
Problem of Handling Trusts,
If It Has To Be Solved.

The combined efforts OF several of the
members of the Congressional committee
which is,investigating the affairs of the so
called Sugar Trust failed yesterday to per-
suade John z. Parsons, who continued his
testimony before the committee. to commit
himself to any plan or the suggestion Of a
plan by which the federal government
might hope TO regulate. with benefit to the
public. the large Industrial corporations.
Mr.. Parsons was appealed to by several OF
the Congressman as the hardy pioneer In
the field of large corporate organization
and an experienced lawyer TO offer a plan
Of legislation by which the government
could. within "the rule of reason" regulate
the trusts.
Mr.. Parsons without showing in the
least the strain on his eightytwo years
from an al-dag session before the commit
tee on Thursday. adroitly parted the ques-
tons without committing himself. He again
expounded at length his economic theories
on the benefits to the ultimate consumer
from the large aggregation of capital In
business. and advised the Congressman 10
solve the problem themselves If ii had TO
be done He admitted. however. that there
should be some government regulation, but
declared forcefully that matters should be
left under state regulation as far as pos
sible.
Mr.. Parsons testified that he had no doubt
that the American Sugar Refining Company
had contributed In it's time TO the national
campaign funds of both political parties.
lie considered this a corporate right as well
as an individual right, If the money was
used for legitimate purposes. He pointed
out that he had contributed to the Congress
sional campaign of his son. Herbert Par
sons, former chairman of the Republican
County Committee. although their political
views were usually divergent Herbert
Parsons was present at the hearing. Mr..
Parsons said he had also given material
support to the campaign Of Alton b. Par
ker for President.
The witness atfrst declined TO state any
specific contribution which he knew the
American company had made. but when in
structed to answer the question said that
the corporation had contributed $1,000 10
the Republican national campaign fund of
1883 or 1892 he was not sure which. Ihat
was the only specific contribution he knew
about. he said.
Tells Of His Large Fees.
At the request OF Congressman Hardwick,
of Georgia. chairman OF the committee. the
witness stated the amounts Of the different
fees. in stock and cash he had received
from the American Sugar Refining Com
panv for services as general counsel for a
period of years. II appeared that he re-
ceived stock having a market value OF
about $4,000 for Incorporating the sugar
Refneries Company. the original trust IN
1897. His firm received $1,000 in 1881, When
the present American Sugar Refining Com
pany was Incorporated. Including the re-
Enumeration for services at the consohda-
ton of various other companies with the
American. the total fees would aggregate
nearly $4,000.
The witness explained that some OF THIS
amount was divided among associate coun-
sci The directors voted $25.cc as a as
bursement for general counsel fees each
veor of which he usually got about 5000
he said.
pafarrirp IN the dominating Influence OF
the late n. O. Havemeyer In directing the
nOltC1eS
most ~ the witnesses so far have tesuhed'
Mr.. Parsons said:
while Mr. Havemeyer's views were al
ways forceful. they were not always maj.
We often entertained differences or opinion
and he did not always prevail. ! know that
he never dominated me and I don't believe
he ever dominated any other members OF
the board of directors. They were not a
lot Of boys.
Mr. Parsons told Of the conference be-
tween Mr. Havemeyer and John Arbucke.
at which. the committee inferred from pre-
vious testimony. a truce had been declared
and the sugar war" between the two in
terests terminated.
Il was told" said Representative Masii-
son. that Mr.. Havemeyer, had he looked
out Of the window, might have seen Mr..
Arbuckle coming UP the street with an
olive branch in his hand as big as a tree.
"Answer in Arabian Nights"
Il don't care to dispute the member from
Arkansas" said the witness. but the only
place to find an adequate answer to that
question is In The Arabian Nights
The witness said that the war had not
been ended at the conference and that II
was still on at the present time.
II am glad TO hear that" said Mr.. Madi-
son. but there are many consumers who
have had no physical evidence of it."
Well does war mean that they are
actually shooting each other or ready to do
so?" asked Mr.. Parsons.
Representative Garrett, Of Tennessee,
created a laugh by suggesting that il was