Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-18
HOOVER SNUJBBED
! SUGAR PROBE
Committee Again Refuses
Request for Immediate
Hearing
BROKER HEARD THREAT
British Royal Commissioner
Mentioned as Steam
Roller Subject
BROKER HEARD THREAT
WASHINGTON. Dec. Il

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.
The Senate sugar investigating COM
mlttee today again refused Herbert
Hoover's request for an immediate hear
ing.
Hoover, through his counsel, Judge
Curtis IT. Lindley, asked to be allowed
to testify at once because he has to 60
to New York on business.
Wen hear Mr.. Hoover when he comes
hack from New York." ruled Senator
Reed, committee chairman. "He will be
In town more than some other wit
nesses"
In fve minutes testimony Herbert W.
Bienenstok, grain and provision broker.
of Chicago. said Louis Strauss. Hoover's
secretary, had threatened to steam roll"
A. II. Lamborn, a sugar broker, 'if he
isn't careful"
ct offered my services TO Strauss"
eaid Bienenstok. ''In the course OF the
conversation Strauss asked me IL knew
any New York food dealers. I men,
toned A. II. Lamborn. Strauss said he
was sorry had done SO.
''He said that while Hoover had the
highest regard for Lamborn personally,
yet Lamborn had better be careful or
the steam roller would run over him.
what did Strauss mean by that, do
you know" asked Reed.
''r have no idea" replied tho witness.
STRAUSS didn't tell you why Lalnborn
was to be steam-rollcd?" asked Senator
Nardaman.
mo, he just said what ! have told
you" said Bienenstok, who was then ex-
cused.
A. II. Lamborn & Co. are agents in
this country for the British royal COM
mission. which has had charge of sugar
purchases for France and England
Strauss is to be called to tell what he
meant.
Following Bienenstok's testimony. Earl
n. Babst, sugar trust head, was called.
Babst said he was eager to testify con-
cerning charges against his honor which
he said Claus A. Spreckels had made.
One of the first questions Senator Reed
asked Babst was:
SIS the American Sugar Refining Com.
pany consolidation of many smaller
ones?'
ct don't know about that" replied
Babst.
Don't you as president know Of the
organization of your conpany?" asked
Reed.
well, it's subsidiary sugar reflneries
are operated as one company Babst
admitted.
AT how many places does It own or
control refneries?" asked Reed.
Boston, Jersey City and New Orleans,
with subsidiary companies at Philadel
phia and Brooklyn. We have two SUBJ
sidiary reflneres at Philadelphia, the
Spreckels and the Franklin Refining com
panies.
Contradicting Claus Spreckels's charge
that the food administration created
a sugar shortage. Earl d. Babst head
of the sugar trust, said increased con.
sumption, Inadequate supply and delayed
distribution combined caused the famine
lie stoutly denied Spreckels5s claim that
there is a big surplus of Cuban sugar.
Foreign buyers have cut down United
States supply of Cuban raw sugar 450,-
100000 pounds" said Babst. "Tht
great preserving campaign last summer
took 900,00O,O00 pounds more than Is
usually consumed in the canning period
A demand that the food administra.
tion use it's influence to force an advance
in the price of sugar beets was made &c
Herbert Hoover this afternoon by rep
resentatives of the beet growers oi
California, Utah, Idaho. Colorado
Nebraska and Wyoming. Tomorrow they
will meet with Chairman Reed. of the
Senate probers.
The growers say Babst's company ha,
depressed tho beet price. They claim e
have statistics showing that his com
pany can increase the price from tn,
present figure, s7.25 a ton, to S12 ant
still make so per cent on the investment
One refinery in the West controlled b,
the trust made sl6,O0O,OO0 last year
they say.
Twenty thousand stockholders in th'
trust are women, largely New Engan,
school teachers. according to Babst.
Reed read into record several adver
fisements the trust printed in February
1915. which stated there was no DANCE
of a sugar famine. This was explaine,
by Babst as intended to allay fears il
the trade over labor troubles.
Every sugar refinery in the country
with five exceptions, was closed on o
before last October "a on account o
lack Of raw sugar. Babst testified.