The Sentinel=record. (Hot Springs, Ark.) 1900-current, 1911-06-16
SUGAR STORY
INTERESTING
HEAD OF NORMAN CHURCH is
SUMMONED BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE
Palmer Tells of Gradual Absorb
ton of Sugar Business by the
Trust-Jlntroduces Mormons
in Case.

Washington, June 15.-How the
sugar interests combined in first enc
form and then another and how the
American Sugar Refining Company
achieved power IN the sugar world
was the theme of the story to which
the sugar investigation committee lis
tened to today. In point of interest
that story was rivalled in the days
proceedings only by the refusal of
the committee to excuse Joseph F.
Smith, head of the Mormon Church,
from responding to the subpoena to
testify before the committee. He
must appear next week.
By far the most important witness
before the committee today was Low
ell NJ. Palmer, director of the Ameri-
can Suger Refining Company, from
1899 TO 1905, and head of its traffic de
partment for years preceding that.
At the outset of his testimony, Rep
resentative Madison, of Kansas, who
conducted the examination, introduce
ed as a basis of his questions G page
from the minute books of the COM
pany's board of directors 1t bore the
date of September 6, 1898, and its
paramount feature was the authori-
zation of committee to buy outside
refineries.
The page read: "On motion, a spec
ial committee, consisting of the pres
ident. vice president and Mr.. Thomas,
were appointed to ak the price of
refined sugars; they were authorized
In their discretion to make the price
OF granulated not less than 3S above
the price Of centrifugals of ninety
six degree test, other refined sugars
to correspond They were authorized
and empowered to purchase for ao-
count of the company or hold all or
any portion OF outside refineries at
a price and upon terms to be fixed by
, them in their discretion"
With this as a basis from which to
to get at the policy Of the American
Sugar Refining Company. Judge
Madison questioned the witness about
the first combination of sugar refin-
cries in 1887 and commissions or
aequitions during the period MT
Palmer was a director. Incidentally
the witness told of the rebates receiy-
ed by the company, claiming it had
merely got it's share OF the rebates
in the days when such were in fash
ion. He also defended as Legitimate
the company lighterage charges on
transfer of sugar shipments in New
York harbor.
Mr.. Palmer tod about his work FOR
the company in arranging rainc
rates. He took up the so called
Reilly letters" which appeared In
grand jury investigation In New
York.
''On occasions when rebates were
being given to others, Reilly, my
subordinate, generally got what was
coming to u.s. explained Mr.. Palmer
The witness said that in 1886, II. o.
Havemeyer drove Theodore A, have
never out of the firm of Harrison
and Havemeyer of Philadelphia be
cause Theodore had made an adVan-
tageous agreement with the PennsH-
yania railroad. This agreement h'
said, was harmful to Brooklyn ee'
fineries. Former Senator Depew he
said, was harmful to Brooklyn de-
who knew OF the manner in whici
the New York Central bad come te
the rescue of the Havemegers a
times.
He told of how competing interests
were brought together in the hrs
sugar commission in 1897. II.
Haveymeyer said Searles and Iheo
Hayemeyer were cray to go int'
combination. declared Mr.. Palmer
He said he was not so crazy un
less he could get the Harrisons
Philadelphia Harrisons Wer
keen sugar men and Captain Thoma
Of Boston. very wealthy man, wore
about thirty or forty millions OF dol
lars. and president of the Standar
Sugar Refining Company at Bostoi
to 90 into 1t with him. He said Theo
dcre would try to get the. Harrison
and he offered to give me $l0o,ooV
would get Cap. Thomas in"
Did you get him in?' inquired MI
Madison,
-