Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-06-16
0xnard Tells Senate Lobby
Probers 1t Is Likely
to Be Formed.
ONLY STRONG CONCERNS
COULD LIVE, HE ASSERTS
Says Free Sugar Would Drive Eff
ficiently Managed Factories
Into a Consolidation.

Henry T. Oxnard, vice president OF the
American Beet Sugar Company. today
warned the Senate lobby committee that
the free sugar provision Of the tariff bill
would result in the formation of new
sugar trust Mr.. OXnard said that If
the Underwood bill becomes law only
the best managed sugar factories will be
able to survive free sugar and that a
combination would result
Then You are going to form "a new
'trust'?" asked Senator Reed.
Il have that in mind" said the wit
ness.
In violation of the antitrust law?'
No. sir; there is no law to prevent it.
/ have been so advised by counsel
Mr.. Oxnard started to explain how such
combination, controlling. he said.
about 10 per cent would not be un-
lawful. but Senator Reed shut him off
and brought the inquiry back to the lines
Of the lobby" investigation.
Tells of Forming Trust.
Mr.. Oxnard told of the organization of
the American Beet Sugar Company in
1898 and 1899. He said the stock had
sold between so and $50 share. but
that recently it had sold at $40 share.
Senator Walsh kept at the witness
about the operation Of the American Beet
Sugar Association, an organization of
most Of the beet producers. the predeces-
sor of the United States Beet Sugar In
dustry, which has backed the fight
against free sugar. The witness said he
didn't know how much the associa tion
| had spent, the books were destroyed
| about two years ago. He said he author
iZpd their doStrncfion nv ia then froa g.
| urer who is now manager of the Ok
| nard cane plantation in Louisiana. He
| said the books were not well kept. anc
were practically valueless. and that he
| thought they We're of no use.
| Mr.. Oxnard said he tdidn't maintain al
| office here but transacted his business a,
| home. in his club or in the Office of the
| United States Beet Sugar Industry. The
! Louisianian. Hawaiian and Porto Ricar
! cane growers and the beet sugar people
| were all concerned in the campaign
| against free sugar, he said.
Disowns "Sugar at a Glance"
| Senator Walsh sought to find out from
Mr.. Oxnard whether he was in Washing
ton last summer and fall. when '.Suga
| at Glance" was subjected to changes
by some one. which the committee holds
violated the Senate sorder making it &
away at that time. He said he knew 6
great deal about Sugar at a Glance,
| but disclaimed responsibility for it.
Senator Reed asked MI. Oxnard agair
| as to the destruction of the sugar as
| sociation's books.
| II told w. ]. Pardonner, the treas
urer, to destroy them,' he said. las they
I'VE wanted them" said Senator Reed
do you always destroy your books?"
Many of them,' said Mr.. Oxnard
private books and private correspond
| ence.'
| Have you burned your books since
that timer
I'VE don't have any books now
Fate of Other Books.
| Mr.. Oxnard explained that c. c. Ham
lin of Colorado Springs. chairman OF
the board of directors Of the beet asso-
| citation, had been treasurer of the
United States Beet Sugar Industry un-
til last July. He had been succeeded
by John F. Harper of Cleveland.
! Were Hamlins books destroyed"
asked Mr.. Reed.
II don't know"
| Were Harper's books destroyed?
| II don't know.
! MIR Oxnard would not admit that he
and his COMPANIES had contributed $4,000
| to the United States Beet Industry and
! its predecessors who have fought free
sugar He said it might be $4,000, but
promised to produce the figures later.
Mr. Oxnard said he received $1,000 a
year as vice president of the American
/. Beet Sugar Company, but denied that he
! was paid this salary for legislative
work. He drew for any expenses in
Cured he said. and spent as much time
! as he wished on such work