New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-15
H. D. HAVEMEYER'S STORY
His Testimony Given in 1899 In
troduCed in Sugar Suit.
GLORIED IN HIS MONOPOLY
Called Trusts Inevitable and Adj
vised the Government to
Stop Fighting Them.


II seemed like calling a witness from the
grave when testimony given by the late
Henry -. Havemeyer before the Industrial
Commission IN 1899 was introduced In evil
dence yesterday at the first hearing before
Wilson +. Brice in the dissolution suit
against the American Sugar Refining Com
pany and its subsidiaries.
The voice " the founder of the sugar
trust Of the man who had been its all dur
ing more than two decades. was 10 spread
Itself after all on the pages Of testimony
that may mean the end Of the gigantic com
hlnatlou which he conceived and called into
being which ne made grow until. for
time. at least. it lowered in the business Of
the country as practically the only producer
OF sugar.
There was a storm Of protest from the
counsel for tho American Sugar Refining
Company when Henry y Wise. United
states Attorney. asked to have spread on
he record Of this proceeding III" famous
t. stimouy " the sugar king i'm 1899, In
which he laid personal claim TO the entire
sugar business Of the country aud declared
that 9TH" tariff Is the mother ~ trusts
Finally fl was agreed TO have that testi-
rCny go into the record under protest Of
counsel and subject 20 y ruling by the
Judges ~ tho United states Circuit Court
% Appeals.
IN his testimony before the industrial
commission Mr.. Havemey"r mad made no
attempt 10 conceal iu any way that
sugar trust existed. and his main efforts
were directed TO disseminate the conviction
that seemed 10 sway him that trusts were
necessity and benefit 10 tho country
lie frankly said Jhat one Of his chief aims
was t. drive competitors 81 his company
from the sugar business. ana the unem-
b..lished simplicity with which he stated
his maxim led &. J. Harris. member OF
TIE commission. 20 ask him:
Spoke Frankly Of Monopoly.
"Do gather from your remark that YOU
think It Is a pretty good idea for all con-
p,titorS to be knocked out but the one that
control, the business"
THAT Is trade. and YOU cannot alter II
and tie federal government cannot alter -
and the sooner you realize II and stop I"
talk about IL the better or the country Will
b. I'm that respect" was Mr. Havcmeyer's
answer.
In other parts OF his testimony Mr. Have
meyer said that ne did not consider it a
restriction OF trade that h. controlled 90
per cent ~ the output and practically
fixed the prices OF refined sugar. Anybody
vto wanted TO could enter the sugar bust
ness. Doc said. bu, ne added that It was one
81 hts principal Iookouts 20 get them out
again.
II the competitors OF his company. these
"luter,operS.' We're put on a table 70 be
taken i'm le would take thorn pretty quick
ly. %" said. because ~ long "a there We're
iut"riop,rs che cost of production was IN
creased. and that was detrimental to the
consumer
Il Inferred from your expression a mo-
meut or two ago. These interIopers came
in that il was perhaps part Of your policy
10 SEQ 10 u that they did not stay I'm the
business too long. something In the same
way as you dealt with the Spreckes oppo-
-ition in Philadelphia" asked Representa-
tive jerks.
~; was 8 part Of our policy and prin-
ciples" answered Mr.. Havemeycr. we
did not think that they could have any adj
vtutaE" iu profit over us. and We let them
Why Sugar Price Seesawed.
Your policy was. substantially, 10 put
tie price down $50 that they would not find
# proHtahl" 20 remain In the business
Wa ID" next question.
And TO secure tho continuation OF the
American Sugar Refinery which IS very
vital 10 b." was NJ Iayemcyers frank
amplircatiou.
Then came a query whether the prices OF
sugar would nave gone as low TO the con-
sumner as they did during the three years
ia which iut"rlopers tried to get into the
business n there had not been such vigor-
Gus competition.
There was no doubt about that. Mr.
Halcm"y,r said hut furnishing the con
sumer at a low price was not the only evil
dcncc Of business, and the company had 10
take care OF Itself. and after the price cut
ting had been successful. prices had 10 be
put up To make even the loss.
The commission thereupon wanted 20
know whether that. too. was for the beue-
III Of the consumer and Nj. Hayemeyer
answered
rs he not benefited 10 the extent Of the
reduction Of prices during the fight"
"IIe ls." the qeestioner led on. but II ne
has 10 pay double or three times the price
after the fight is ended | fail 10 see where
h., Is benefited
lie is not II he has to pay that Mr.
Hayemeycr admitted
Il understand YOU 20 say that when the
wal was ended you eyened up9' asked Mr.
jerks.
YES replied Mr. Hayemeyer
The first step in the sugar trial yester-
day was the Introduction by Mr.. Wise Of
papers of Incorporation OF every one Of the
companies involved in the case Later the
government called ". J. Willet. Of the firm
OF Willet 4 Gray. publishers OF The Stats
teal Sugar Journal Mr.. Wilet is consid-
cred an authority on sugar statistics OF the
world.
He explained tables prepared by him,
gave an account OF sugar production, ex-
planned standards of raw and refined sugar
ard furnished other Information concerning
the sugar business that might aid in the
conduct Of the case.
CANALS OPEN AT NOON TO-DAY.
Albany. May H-Superintendent Pack OF
the State Department of Public Works an