Bisbee daily review. [volume] (Bisbee, Ariz.) 1901-1971, 1917-12-18

SIDE OF SUGAR
CONTROVERSY
is COVEREDUP
State Department Deems 1t
Unadvisable to Make PUP
lie Cuban Sugar Contracts.
Spreckels Again on Witness
Stand.

ASIAl-NG lONs Dec. lt.-EiIOrIS
OF the foOd administration TO bring out
before the senate investigatlns com
mittee its side of the story of Cuban
raw sugar contracts were blocked to-
day by an announcement that the state
department deemed il inadvisable TO
discuss Igrther the negotiations which
resulted III their contracts.
This ruling OF the committee. which
followed a conference with Counsellor
Polk of the state department, virtual
ly ended an attempt by H. Curtis Lind
ley. counsel for the food administra-
tion, TO question through members of
the committee Claus A Spreckels. who
during three days on the witness stand
had vigorously attacked the admin
istration.
Hoover Leaves.
The Committee toward the end OF
today's session, had agreed TO permit
Mr.. Lindley to suggest questions, after
ignoring earlier request by Food Ad-
mlnistrator Hoover that he be given
an opportunity TO make a statement
in reply to Mr.. Spreckels' attacks.
When the committee, after an hours
executive session, during which he
waited in anti-room. recalled Spreck-
els 10 the stand without answering
his request, Hoover left the building.
Tonight the food administrator went
to the White House and laid the situa-
ton before the president. He would
not discuss the visit
Mr.. Lindley insisted that the COM
mittee allow him to Try TO controvert
statements of the witness. Finally.
however, he said:
If We cannot explain the contracts
for the Cuban crop we are placed on
a pillory while irving to solve very
difficult situation
Spreckeis' Charges.
Mr.. SpTeckles, who is president OF
the Federal Sugar Refining company.
had charged that the Californla-ha-
waiian Sugar Refining company of
which George NJ. Rolph. director OF
the food ADMINISTRATORS sugar divi-
slSn, in president, would gain S9.OOO,-
600 additional revenue this year in-
directly through the price fixed for
the Cuban crop which, he declared,
was entirely too high. The Hawaiian
price, he said. was based on the Cuban
price
Did Not Object.
Through questioning of Spreckels by
j. z. Freeman. counsel for Earl A.
Babst, president of the American
Sugar Refining company, it was
brought out that the Federal president
did not object to the appointment OF
Henry c. Mott, buyer for the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining company. as buyer
for the international committee which
was 10 purchase all the raw sugar
available and parcel il out of refiners
at the time the appointment was prop
osed.
Il agreed to the appointment" Mr..
Spreckels said. but after / found that
all of the employees of the committee
from watchman up were to be emplo-
yees of the American ana that Mott
was to get $4,000 a year l strenu-
ously protested"
Statement Attacked.
The Spreckels statement that the
fixing of price of 7-25 for granulated
sugar at seaports worked a hardship
on his company was attacked by Sen
ator Jones. The witness said Satur-
day that his company manufactured
virtually nothing but granulated and
brown sugars, while his competitors
put up many special advertised brands
which could be sold at prices regard
less of that fixed. On questioning by
Senator Jones he admitted manufact-
uring five grades into fourteen forms
of packages
Denies Hoover Allegation.
MIR. HOover's statement. published
Sunday TO the effect that Mr.. Spreck-
els was sore at the food administra-
tion was denied by the witness when
Chairman Reed questioned him con-
cerning it, The witness referred to
letter already introduced in which
he offered - cooperate with the food
administration even to the extent of
operating without profit il necessary.
He also challenged the Hoover state
ment that 80 per cent of the sugar
available in this country in the last
three months had been sent to France,
producing figures which. he said.
showed that in October 24.30O tons
were sent t. France but none had
been sent in November or during this
month.