The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-02-22

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Mr.. Rithet. / fancy there is some
mistake about that in some way At
the time he refers to there the con
tract was i'm existence, but it was
about to expire in the following year,
and we generally renewed the con
tract q year previous, because we
have to ship in March and begin in
February and January. We always
made our contract a little in advance
of the expiration of the previous con
tract | was here at that time, and
had some conversation with MIR. G. A.
Spreckels.
Mr. Malby That would not be
wholly inconsistent with Mr.. Spreck-
els statement
Mr. Rithet. ! was just coming to
that lie said we had no contract
The Chairman Wen, n the con.
tract was about to expire, it amounts
to about the same thing.
Mr. Rithet | had some CONVERSE
ton with him about that, although,
as l said, I was not on the commit
tee, but ! was here in an advisory pJ-
sition.
The Chairman You were with the
committee there at the time he
speaks of?
Mr.. Rithet. 40; at that interview
it was alone with me.
The Chairman. Alone with you?
Mr.. Rithet. I do not know how
many conversations he had with the
committee but he called me into his
Office and l had a conversation with
him, and he wanted to get chance
to bid on the contract | said: what
will YOU give Mr.. Spreckels? What
will | say to the committee you will
pay for the sugar?" He said: "Oh,
you go and see the American ana
come back and see me- ! said: I'VE
do not do that kind Of business; and
am not going to do anything Of the
kind" and We did not go near Mr..
Spreckels again, and ] consider we
were perfectly justified when he re-
fused to give us a bid in the FIRST III
stance and We went over to the
American and got terms which were
satisfactory.
Mr.. Malby. Then he made no bid
whatever to you?
Mr.. Rithet. No.
Mr.. Malby At that time or any
other time?
Mr.. Rithet Never
Mr.. Malby. Did he make bid to
your committee that you know Of?
Mr.. Rithet. Not that I know Of
Mr.. Malby Did your committee re-
port back to you that any price had
been named by Mr.. Spreckels?
Mr.. Rithet. No. sir.
/ The Chairman. Did he offer to raise
any price the American offered?
Mr.. Rithet 10 not know what he
would have done in that way, but we
do not do business in that way.
would not go to a concern like the
American Sugar Refining Company
and say: Now, we want our price
for this" and name the terms We
would take, and then get them to say
they would agree to that and ther
80 to another buyer l would not dc
! that.
The Chairman Would you not ask
different people to Lid against each
other?
Mr.. Rithet. Yes; but I would moi
ask Mr.. Gus Spreckels, if you want
my opinion.
The Chairman. Why not?
Mr.. Rithet Because he is a diff
cult man to handle
Mr.. Kinds. Did he have the capac
ity TO take your product?
Mr.. Rithet. do not think he did at
that time. | am sure he did not.
think we would have had a fight on
every shipment we delivered to him
] IL we udu BOlt W nm, anu We w AO'
want that. We sugar men are peace
able men.
Mr.. Fordney. Mr.. Rithet, you say
there are two refining companies on
the Pacific coast-your own firm and
some other firm?
Mr.. Rithet. Yes, sir; the Western
Sugar Refining Co.
Mr.. Fordney What proportion OF
the sugar consumed in the eleven
states you have mentioned do you
produce?
Mr.. Rithet. think our capacity is
about the same as their capacity now
Mr.. Fordney You are about equal?
Mr.. Rithet Yes. Your point is very
we'll taken, Mr., Fordney, Mr.. Knapp
brought that out, but it was given con
/ fdentially, and | could not tell you
what the proportions were sold in the
profitable part of the territory of the
Pacific coast, and what was sacrificed
as we call it, on the Missouri River
but Mr.. KnaDD had il in that way, anC