The evening world., 1917-12-15
SUGAR TRUST AIMS
TOKEEP PRICE HIGH
FOR YEARS TO COME
spreckcls Charges That Food
Administration IS an Adjunct
Of the Combination.

NANliI IfIHt l1f". 70 Nift"F
~ On a'iempt by ths sugar Trust
- saddle hirh prices on ine American
people Tor years through tho iiopv,f
committee. vrrc made 60 day IN th'
senate investigation by CLAUS 4
Srreckels
Tho ~i'ncss charged that the Food
Administration Committee IL "a mere
,djunct Of the Trust" and seeks 10
bind all American ronners 60 allow
~ 20 contract for future Cuban crops
a it- own price.
n renncrs agree 70 this. sprecAes
declared, tho price to tho American
consumer will be unalterably hxcd
for years after tho war at a ngure as
hlgh as at present or higher
Hut unless tho renners agree 20 tho
price fixing. he said. thuy face loss
Of their Government licenses.
Sprockels. under questioning by
Chairman Reed u the Senate Com
mittce, stated that the price OF
American beet sugar would be Ad-
vanced II the Hoover Committee pays
Cuban cano growers cents a pound.
as contemplated.
The Hoover Committee, which
created" a sugar shortage, accord
ing 10 Sprcckcls, is packed with
former employees OF the Sugar
Trust" he declared.
Even the watchmen are former
watchmen for tho American Sugar
Refining Company" said spreckels.
Spreckels prt ,uced a letter from
George Rolph. Chairman OF the
Hoover committee dated Dec. 10, In
which Rolpl said the State Depart
men had boon negotiating with the
Cuban Government regarding price
and supply OF sugar. That was the
first Spreckels had heard OF such
negotiations, he said.
Judge Lindley. counsel for Hoover,
intimated that the high price for
Cuban sugar was being arranged for
some secret diplomatic reason. Lind
ley also denied that the Food Admin
Istration had fixed the price OF beet
sugar.
Chairman Reid tried TO get Jindley
: 20 admit the coercion used by Hoover
was practically price fixing.
Questioning by Senator Reed em-
phasized the fact that all the sugar
price fixing was done without con-
Rultlng any representative OF the
great consuming public.
Turning from the Cuban cane sugar
Turning from the Cuban cane sugar
Reed brought from Sprockles the
statement that beet farmers are not
profting by the price fixed for beet
sugar.
"The beet sugar factories are z IT.
ting the profit" said Spreckels.
He produced n telegram from Food
Administrator Merrill of California 10
Hoover, stating that California beet
sugar growers would not plant their
usual acreage until the Food Ad-
minlstration prevented the factories
from grabbing all the profits.
1.-THE Sugar Trust has big interests
in the beet sugar industry" Spreckels
added.
Before the morning session ended
Spreckels and President Babst OF th'
American Sugar Refining Compan,
clashed over tho antitrust sui
against the American.
Spreckels said Babst, last October
discussed with his competitors disso
luton OF the suit and asked Spreckel
TO write a letter to President Wilson
suggesting that the suit be dropped,
Babst declared he had only aske'
Spreckels n he would Join In such
request 10 other competitors did.
Spreckels testified that on aoou
Oct. / Bahst come TO him and said
I'VE are good now and We have al
intimation from the Attorney Genera
that " you will write a letter TO III
President saying we are good tina
the suit will be dismissed"
what makes you think i hav
such influence with the PRESIDENT
Epreckels said he replied.
Because you are one VI our prin
cipal competitors" was stated as tn
answer.
Spreckels stated that Babst sal
again that we are good now and wi
be In the future" and that h
(Spreckels) answered; "I am no
willing TO take "a chance on Tn
future"
Spreckels said he declined 10 writ
such a letter.
Spreckels read correspondence
showing that Babst and Rolph ha
tried 10 get him to cancel a contraC
with the British Royal Commission
through which France and Englan
were being supplied, on the technicj
ground that the Commissions aeer
had not provided tonnage 10 trans
port the sugar within specific
time.
Spreckels refused TO cancel his cor
tract and waws told, he testified, tha
he might as well release II for n
domestic market because theI
would be no ships 20 carry II abroa
before Jan. l."
II did release the sugar" sal
Spreckels, land waws notified by n
Royal Commissions agent short
thereafter that ships would be pr,
Vided in December TO ship the sugar
'Why did the trust, through Babs
try 10 get you 10 cancel the col
tract?" Reed wanted 20 know.
well. the Sugar Trust had cal
oelled its contract. II stood 20 Sc
the sugar in this country at high'
price than that for which the Roy
Commission had contracted 10 pay
WAS that sugar needed In IN
Country?" asked Senator Jones. Ne
Mexico.
"Yes, It was" said Spreckels.
Was Il needed IN Frsnce7" ask
Reed
"Even mora urgently than here
said spreckels. II pointed that o.