The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-27
TREATED ALLAL|KE
Says Sugar Trust Didn't
Punish Independents.
MS MEMORY TRtAChtROUS
Henry L. Mott, Purchasing Agent,
Declares American Company
Did Not Discriminate
in Buying.

New YORK, July henry =. Mot''
purchasing agent Tor and a director OF
The American Sugar Refining company
who was a witness before the special
cousrees SIGNAL committee investigating
the so.called sugar trust, declared that
IN making purchases Of sugar the com
pan, never Disseminated against any
planters. never punished any LOUIS
lana planters for selling sugar to the
independent rcnners, and never arbi
uliily fixed the purchasing price Of
SUGAR
AFTER MIR. Mott had testified, Claus
A. Spreckels was recalled to the
stand. where he identified some let
tors to be placed in evidence. ANA
these are the letters" he said. 'tha'
resulted in a break between my father
and my brothers that lasted fifteen
Years, until five years ago, when my
father sent for me and told me he had
found these people oil wrong. and that
he had made the mistake Of his life.
Joseph T.. Freeman. secretary OF the
American Sugar Refining company
was then recalled. lie said he knew
nothing Of the alleged mutilatlon OF
the minutes OF the American Sugar
Refining company.
Mr.. Mott. who was elected direc
tor following the death Of II. o. Have
meyer. said he did much OF the cor
rcspondencc for Mr.. Hayemeyer. but
his memory was so treacherous that
hc could not recall any Of the cores
pondonce relative to the acquiring OF
the Independents.
Asked about the company's pur
chases Of sugar in Louisiana, Mr.. Mott
said
We paid the New York price less
the freight rate to New York. which Is
about Is cents a hundred pounds"
Yet you used much Of that Louis.
lana sugar in your New Orleans re
anery and did not send it to New
York;"
oh We sent n great deal to New
York"
Mr.. Mott said that he would guar'
antee to purchase in Louisiana for any
independent all the sugar they wanted
IL they paid the Americans price. or
132 more and had the cash. Other vii.
nosses had said the planters were
afraid 10 sell 10 the Independents be-
cause II they did they would be boy
cotted by the American. which Is the
largest purchaser.
Mr.. Mott insisted that II there had
been any discrimination against any
Of the Louisiana planters or boycott
ting Of any OF them it had been done
bv the American Sugar Refining com
iany's local purchasing agent there
and not with the knowledge or consent
Of the company.
so far as | know no instructions
were ever given any Of our rehneries.
with a total capacity OF 10000 barrels,
10 limit their production" he said.
"Of course we give directions from
time to time 10 reduce or increase their
output. according TO the stocks on
hand. the demand and the consump
ton. These instructions. the witness
added are given by the president.
why do YOU pay the Louisiana
planters the New York price less the
freight rate when you refine most OF
; that sugar in New Orleans?"
I'VE have to buy approximately 300
oOO tons Of the total crop OF 100000
tons within three months Our rehn
ing capacity at New Orleans Is only
-. 900 tons for that time. and the re-
/ suit IS that We have to store from
T.. 900 to l0O.0 900 tons Of raw sugar We
must take all tho risks of fire. deierio
ration and the change in marketing
price. We figure that the freight rate
paws ms for this trouble. risk and ex
/ pense
As the American purchases about
/ 200 600 tons Of Louisiana sugar cane
It pays the planters SGoo.ooo less han
the New York rate.