The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-06-18
MIR. oXNARD's TESTIMONY.

The testimony of Mr.. Oxnard before
the lobby investigating committee Of
the U. S. Senate has little in it that is
new, The organization of the sugar
companies has been on a basis substan-
ttally the same as was that of other
great companies throughout the United
States. The "waterD in the organiza
tion, as testified to by Mr.. Oxnard, was
known of all along; and at its worst
1T does not compare with the '1water
in the big Havemeyer sugar trust. or
the water in some other organiza.
tions. The Tribune has presented the
substance of it all from time to time
heretofore. There has been no secrecy
about it for any one who cared to learn
the facts. The consummation of the
beet sugar consolidation did not. in
fact, include as much "water'' as was
proposed from time TO time during the
process of the negotiations. Whether
Mr.. Oxnard means that the $15,000,00
which he described as ''water' was
finally put into the organization or not,
is not very material as to the point
whether that amount Of Fwaterp in an
organization was unusual, AS a mat
ter of fact, it was very moderate as
compared with the "water' Of some
concerns.
This is not in any way to excuse the
Watering but merely to compare
the facts Of the organization of the
ho
spending organization Of other concerns
in this country. From time to time
The Tribune has condemned them all,
as the watering" would tend to i'm
pose upon the people and seem to JUS
tify dividends that were in fact exces-
sive.
With regard to the future, Mr.. Ok
nard, we believe, is on solid ground
and is entirely sound in his judgment
when he forecasts the organization of
a greater sugar trust than ever, in case
of the passage Of the Wilson tariff bill,
We believe that the sugar trusts Of
this country are in such relations to
each other and to the markets that
the OXnard prediction will be entirely
fulfilled. We have stated from time to
time, and believe it TO be a fact, that
putting sugar on the free list would not
in the least decrease the price of sugar
to the retail buyer It may decrease
the wholesale price to some extent, but
bv the time the retail dealer invests
his dollar for sugar he will get no
more sugar for his dollar than he has
been getting all along. The ultimate
general effect will be that the manu-
facturers and dealers will put into their
pockets the $70,00000O which the gov
ernment will lose in customs duties.
The Sugar markets in the United
States have been held extremely close
and in perfect control. That they Will
continue to be so held in case Of free
sugar, as Mr.. Oxnard s forecast means,
we firmly believe; and we do not doubt
in the least Mr. OXnard's suggestion
that preparations for the continued con
troll of the sugar market OF the United
States by greater sugar trust than
has as yet been seen in this country
are in consideration. His forecast is the
forecast of an expert, a man we'll ac'
uuainted with all the details involved
in the making and marketing of sugar
lie is aptly called "the father Of the
beet sugar industry IN the United
States As such he is in the closest
possible relations with the great sugar
business of the Nation. His candid
statement TO the committee, his great
service to the beet sugar industry, and
his perfect understanding of the whole
question, from the growing Of the beet!
to the final placing Of the sugar, al
mark him as a man Of thorough knowl
edge on the subject, to be relied upor
in his statements, and one whose fore
casts Of what is likely or about to bt
done, carry more weight and promise
more certainty of accomplishment thar
would be the case in similar statement:
from any other man. Mr.. Oxnar(
knows what has been done IN all thi
matter, and his idea as 10 what will b.
done may be accepted with practically
no discount.