The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-02-23
BLAME SUGAR TRUST
HARDWIcK COMMITTEE REPORTS
IT HAS FOUND VIOLATIONS
OF SHERMAN LAW.
CONDEMNS ORGANIZERS
Stockholders Called Innocent Purehas-
ers-No Remedy Found by In
vestigators-Wouid Not j.
Regulate Prices.

Washington, ID. C.-The Hard
wick sugar trust investigating COM
mittee after many weeks of open hear
ings here and In New York and almost
continuous work since last May, re-
ported to the house that sugar trust
exists. The report, which is signed
by all the members Of the committee,
Republicans as well as Democrats.
makes no recommendation whatever
as to how the alleged trust and those
responsible for it shall be dealt with,
suggesting that this phase Of the stu
alton is one to be handled by a stand
ing committee of the house.
AS to the effect of the combine on
the cost of sugar to the consumer, the
committee expressed the belief that
monopoly keeps the price up. but
makes no attempt to fix accurately
the extent to which reasonable prices
that might exist under competitive
conditions are exceeded.
The report severely condemns the
original promoters of the sugar trust.
but describes the 10000 present own
ers of the stock of the American Sugar
Refining company as innocent pur-
chasers" of profitable stock which was
unloaded on them by the few men
who organized the sugar trust.
Henry o. Havemeyer is given credit
for the organization OF the combina-
ton.
Law Violation Charged.
The committee charges that since
the organization of the American
Sugar Refining company in 1891 1t has
repeatedly violated the Sherman law.
AT the time il was chartered the
Sherman law had been in force more
than six months, and both its organiza-
ton and existence. coupled with its
methods of doing business, was, as the
testimony seems to indicate to your
committee. a palpable and continuing
violation of the Sherman law" the re-
port continues.
And yet no serious attempt was
made (prior to November. 1910D to
invoke the civil remedies provided by
the antitrust law against the cor
poration. Ii is also to be noted that
the government has not even up to the
present time. so far as has appeared.
made any effort to enforce the penal
provisions OF the Sherman law"
Against Price Regulation.
Twenty-one actions which the COM
mittee holds violations of the Sherman
law are enumerated, and the report
says:
These salient facts indicate with
supreme emphasis the basic condition
of the problem uncovered by this COM
mittee:
That We have in this government
ample machinery for rigid inquisition
into the property of these $4,000 peo-
pie and for suits to decompose that
property into its original parts by the
destruction of its organization. but
there is no arrangement of govern.
ment whatever whereby any one OF
these $4,000 people might have been
informed definitely of the hazards in
to which he or she was buying"
The report discusses the doctrine OF
government regulation of prices but
discouraees il. saying. Competition
and individuality are the great rene
uleS tndt nave uctH
oil the ages to protect us from the
evils that now threaten. We are moi
yet ready to write an epitaph ovel
either"
No Beet Sugar Combine.
The committee estimates that 62.3!
Der cent of the sugar business Is con
trolled by the combine. II also findi
that the trust" has a large interes
in the beet sugar end of the business
With its strongest competitor. Al
buckle Brothers. there is said to be
condition of armed neutrality"
OF the beet sugar growers the repor
says:
, Your committee reports that tn
evidence as taken does not disclos
combinations between manufacturer
In the beet sugar industry that hav
caused or had a, tendency to cause
decrease in the cost of sugar beets.
Washington. ID. c. - lnvestigatio
Of the war department as an GU
growth of the difference between tn
, secretary of war and General Woo
, and former Adjutant General Aim
/ worth, which eliminated in the la
/. ter's retirement after a threatene
, courtmartial, is now practically a
sured.
General Ainsworth was subpoenae
, to appear before the house commit
} tee of expenditure in the war depar
. ment. He was directed to produc
I papers of the department relating
o the charges against Major b. Ray, b,
members of the committee. includin
Chairman Helm. admitted Gener,
"a mn Qeuard For rhisf