Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-15
CHARGES REF|NERS
FIXED SUGAR PRICES
SpreckeIs Declares He Pro-
tested Their Appointment to
International Committee.
SAYS PUBLIC HAD NO VOICE

SAYS PUBLIC HAU NU VUlCE
The sugar investigation was resumeo
today, with the Senate committee refus
ing to permit counsel for the food adj
ministration to cross examine any wit
nesses. Chairman Reed said the com
mittec. would inquire into any phase
suggested by the food administration OF
other officials.
Claus A. Spreckels, president of the
Federal Sugar Refining Company. on
resuming his testimony today saic
that he protested to Food Administers
tor Hoover against including refiner'
on the international committee Great
ed by the food administration to pur-
chase air raw sugars for refners
Spreckels stated yesterday that ac-
tions of this committee had worked
against his firm and to the benefit OF
the American Sugar Refining Com
pany.
Fixed Prices, He Charges.
He stated that the price of $50 to be
paid for Cuban raw sugar was fixed by
the three American members of the in
ternational committee, all of whom
were refiners. They also fixed the price
of SEQ at which the refners could sell
the manufactured product. he said.
Was the public represented at this
price-fixing meeting?" asked Senator
Reed;
No answered Mr.. Spreckels.
-
Guilty in seeing members of the interna-
tional committee at the New York head
quarters. III Wall street. He said al
every visit he first had to see E. e
Hooker
who is Hooker" asked Senator Reed
AH I know is that he formerly was
an employe of the American Refining
Company" was answered
Connection With Committee.
What is his connection with this
,committee?- Reed asked.
Il should say he was steering COM
mittee of one said Mr.. Spreckels, ito
judge who should visit the committee
The State Department had "a hand
in fixing the price of $50 for raw
Cuban sugar 4. o. b. Cuba, but to what
extent was not brought out for dip
louaatic reasons, H. Curtis Lindiey. at
torNey for the food administration,
q . ri
George NJ. Roiph stated that he had
several conferences with the state De-
partment on the subject and Mr.. Lind
ley said that the Cuban minister haFe
sidered by the food administrations apd
1ae + wss sasIe shen p;s25e 81 ks es'ns a00 'ov.
Mr.. spreckefs proteSted 70 MT Hoover
Of protest introdncsd he said he com.
plajned. Notwithstanding he raised
Cuban sugar.
Mr.. spreckels Makes Charges.
During his testimony before the COM
mittee yesterday afternoon Mr. Spreck-
els charged that Earl A. Babst, presi-
dent of the American Sugar Refining
Company. and George NJ. Rolph. gem
waiian. Sugar Refining Company, in
their positions as agents of the food
administration had been unduly> active
IN getting raw supplies for the -Ameri-
Of the International sugar committee,
created by the administration. which
liked the price to be paid for raw sugar
coming from outside the United States
Mr.. RoIph is bead of the food admin
istration's sugar division and men,
Der of the International committee.
Mr.. Sprecke1s told of protesting to
the American Sugar Refining Company
was to obtain f00. geo tons of the Louis
lana crop. He said his company had
not considered getting any OF that crop
because the food administration had
, fixed no price. and that he was astound-
ed to learn of the American company
making the contract after a price of
ss.35 for the Louisiana product had
been agreed upon at a conference par
ticipated in by Mr.. Rolph and Mr..
Babst.
Raw Sugar Held In the West.
When the shortage came into sight
In the east, the witness asserted, more
held In the west. Of which the Cali
fornia- a-Hawaiian Company held 10000
tons He said he appealed to Mr. RoIph
TO allow some of this to come east to
keep eastern refineries going. but was
informed IT was necessary to keep the
supply in the west until the new
Hawaiian crop came in.
In support of his charge that Messrs
Rolph and Babst favored the American
company. Mr.. Spreckels related an in
cident that brought out how two COM
paaies operating chain retail stores
recently had sugar when none was tc
he procured at many stores He said
A. II. Lamborn & Co of New York
goes OF Cuban raw sugar for delivery
at New York and offered It to the in.
ternational sugar committee in October
at $3.50 a hundred pounds. but the com.
mittee declined to buy without givins
reason
Asks Aid in Financing Deal.
Mr. Lamborn came TO him soon aft.
erward. Mr. spreckeis said. for mean,
TO further finance the deal and tolc
him that within fifteen minutes aftel
the committee had declined the suga,
buyer for the American had offered
him 1856 for IL.
Mr.. Byedts. for the chain store com
panies. heard o: the situation. purchased
the sugar for sT.15. and. with the per
mission of the food administrator. hat
~ refined by the Federal and the War
ner Refining Company for $3.50 hun
dred.
AFTER CUBAN SUGAR.
Senator Broussard Hopes to Get Par
Of Crop for United States.