Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-16
Pointed Questions from
The House Committee.
Director Palmer Of Refining Go.
Gives Some Information
About Havemsyer's Connection
With The National Co.
Pres. Jos. Smith Of Mormon Church
and others Summoned.

Washington. June 15-How the Su-
gar interests combined in first one
form and then another and how the
American Sugar Refining Co. achieved
power in the sugar world was the
theme of the testimony to which the
House Sugar investigation committee
listened today.
In point of interest that recital was
rivalled in the days proceedings only
by the refusal of the committee to eX
cuse Joseph +. Smith. head of the Nor
mon church, from responding to the
subpoena TO testify before the commit
tee. He must appear next week.
Subpoenas were issued for the fol-
lowing; They include Alfred Harrison
and Charles X. Harrison of the Frank
lin Sugar Refining Co, Philadelphia;
Horace Havemeyer. New York;
Charles B. Warren, Detroit; Chester s.
Morey. Denver: John F. Harper. Cleve-
land; Joseph +. Smith of the Mormon
church and Thomas r. Cutler. Salt
Lake City. John d. Spreekles and
Adolrh Spreckles, San Francisco.
BY far the most important witness
before the committee today was Low
ell NJ. Palmer, director of the Amer
. lean Sugar Refining Co. from 1899 to
1905, and head of its traffic department
for years preceding that.
At the outset of his testimony, Rep.
Madison Of Kansas. who conducted the
examination, introduced as basis of
his questions page from the minute
books OF the company's board of direc-
tors IT bore the date of Sept 6. 1898
and its paramount feature was the au-
thorization of a committee~to buy out
side rcfneries. The page read:
"On motion, a special committee con-
sisting of the president, vice president
ard Mr. Thomas, were appointed to
fix the price of refined sugars; they
were authorized i'm their discretion, to
make the price of graduated not less
than p above the price of centrifugals
of 81 degree test, other refined sugars
to correspond. They were authorized
and empowered to purchase for account
of the company or hold any portion of
outside refineries. at a price and upon
terms to be fixed by them in their dis
cretion' =
With this as q basis from which to
gsfztxthe policy of the American
" Hkfining Co. Mr.. Madison dues
the witness about the first com
ef of sugar refineries. in 1887
&pmbinations or acquisitions dur
L 4hf period Mr.. Palmer was di
Co., Incidentally. the witness told
XIX stYie rebates received by the COM
parry. hut he said II merely got its
share Of the rebates in the days when
such were in fashion He also de-
Tended as Legitimate the companys
lighterage charges on transfers of
sugar shipments in New York harbor.
Mr. Madison questioned the witness
concerning the formation of the Ma
tional Sugar Refining Co. of New Jer-
sey. 1T was organized for the pur-
pose of buying four companies said
the witness. Mr. Havemeyer told
me he had organized it with his own
money and little he had got from the
National City Bank.
Were not these companies compet-
ing?" Yes. | think they We're"
The witness said the American Co,
procured a majority of the preferred
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