The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-06-24
MORMON CHURCHES
 A BUSINESS FIRM Cutler TestifieS Before the Sugar Probe Committee MIR. MOREY EXAMINED Mormons Encourage Material as We'll as Spiritual Enterprise Among
 Their People-Cutler Tells
 of Havemeyer Deal
MIR. MOREY EXAMINED

Washington. June 23.-That the Mormon church in enlsting the aid of Henry O. Havemeyer to extend its beet sugar in- dustries was seeking solely the welfare of it's people was declared to be a fact today by Thomas R. Cutler vice president of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Refining com pany before the House sugar trust ln- yestigating committee. MT. Cutler dis cussed freely the business policy of the church and was frank in revealing de- tails as to the dealing with MT Have meyer, the former sugar king. The sugar committee today also exam ined Chester s. Mercy president of the Great Western Sugar Refining company 1 oe Denver, a combination embracing 16 | Colorado beet sugar factories in which the American Sugar Refining company has acquired a half interest, MT. Mercy will continue on the stand tomorrow
 The committee thus far has disclosed the American Sugar Refining companys interests in the Michigan beet sugar in dustry the Utah beet sugar factories and the Colorado group of factories, and from John D. Spreckles of California, who will arrive tomorrow, 1t expects to show that the corporation has influential interests in the factories of that state.
 Before MT. Cutler concluded his test- mony, he was examined at length as 10 the business purposes of the Mormon church
 why does the Mormon church go into the sugar business and other bus mess enterprises2" asked Representa- | five Kinds of Maine. Anything that affects the material as well as the spiritual interests or it's people. the Mormon church enepur- l ages" said Mir. Cutler. Tt provides occupation for the people in many other lines of business as well as in the beet sugar industry
 "Then the Mormon church, queried Representative Madison of Kansas, lis 1 not only a spiritual organization, but also business organization?" ITO a great extent that Is true," MT. Cutler replied.
 Does the Mormon church own stock
 in the Union Pacific railroad?" MT. Madison asked
 l '1 doubt it. I wish it did l Well, the president of the church ! owns Union Pacific stock at least" MT. Madison continued, and not only as l a matter of encouraging thrift, but as
 a cold -blooded business proposition it l
 agricultural enterprises, wooden and
 sugar factories and other industries. 1 does it not?'
 ITO a certain extent. It would have | to carry on business enterprises that | way or they would fail.
 MT Cutler explained that the business enterprises of the church are managed bv the presiding bishop who acts as lbusiness manager. Questioned regarding the tariff, Mir Cutler said, the howl for free trade" in sugar was being made i by the cane reflneries and that it would ruin the beet sugar business. | In discussing sugar prices in the West l MT Cutler said the price of sugar for Utah, wyoming, Idaho and the inter- mountain territory was fixed by Pa cifc coast price list determined daily at San Francisco, based upon the Hamburg price, and the local conditions. Do you follow those prices?' asked | Chairman Hardwick
 "Yes, we have to follow them From whom do you get those price lists?'
 | 'From the Western Sugar Refining company and the California and Hawaii Sugar company. We make our price plus the freight rate from San Francisco for the local market and less 20 cents. the differential between cane and beet sugar"
 ",rhen in Utah, Idaho and that terri l tory you charge the consumer the freight | although the sugar does not travel the 1 distance?" asked Mir. Hardwick. "Yes, that's the way all the prices or 1 commodities must be fixed" | At the time the deal was made where ! by MT Havemeyer purchased one-half of the original Utah Sugar company be- l fore the consolidatio and formation of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Refining company, MT Cutler declared he had acted as the agent of his own people and did not consider himself as an agent of MT. Havemeyer.
 | After that MT. Havemeyer, he said left the management entirely to the wis | dom of the Western men. l Did you ever ask MT. Havemeyer to sell?"
 1 Yes" was the reply. 1 "I frequently asked MT. Havemeyer for his opinion of the foreign crops and when he thought it would he good time for us to unload our sugar, He would give me his ideas
 Did you follow them?" Mir. Madison asked
 4 did not. MT. Cutler answered. MT.