Evening star., 1924-01-15
TARIFF RATE F|XER
ADMITS THAT WIFE
OWNS SUGAR MILL
Three Commission Members
Challenge Classics Right
to Sit at Hearing.

The internal fight of the Tariff
at the beginning today of the public
hearings on sugar duties.
Three members. Vice Chairman
Culbertson and Commissioners Costi-
gan and Lewis, challenged participa-
ton by Commissioner Classic in dis
position of the questions involved.
Commissioner Classic made state
ment as soon as the hearing opened,
declaring that he. personally. had no
that his wife and members Of her
family owned and operated a sugar
plantation and mill. He contended
that this circumstance did not bar
him from participation in the case.
Protest by Costf8nn.
Commissioner Costigan countered
Immediately with his formal protest.
saying that he was authorized to
say that Mr.. Culbertson and Mr.
Lewis Joined in the challenge.
Commencing Mr.. Classic for his
high sense of duty" in stating the
situation, Chairman Marvin said the
commission in November had decided
that-it had no authority to- disbar
Mr.. Classic. Mr.. Costigan interrupted
to question the accuracy of the chair
mans statement, saying that instead
there had been no decision on that
point by reason Of q three-to-three
tie vote.
Long Argument Developed.
A long and technical legal argu-
ment developed over the situation.
which recently had been laid before
President Coolidge. but in which he
declined to make any decision.
While members Of the commission
were discussing the question an
HNse 1snt Yas ssidsn maze a at the "he
decided to redesignate Mr.. Marvin as
chairman and Mr.. Culbertson as vice
chairman for the year beginning to-
day.
Their terms expired yesterday and
had been involved in the controversy
between the two groups In the COM
mission. Friends of Mr.. Culberston
had brought considerable pressure to
bear to obtain his appointment as
Counsel for those interested in the
sugar investigation took part In the
argument over Mr.. Classics qualifl-
Dut 1t was O0ClQeU Hnally TO
go ahead with the hearing without
deciding the point. Mr.. Classic said
he would announce later in the day
whether he intended to participate.
He was urged to do 80 by former
Senator McCumber OF North Dakota,
for the Louisiana raw sugar
producers, but Edwin P. Shattuck, rep
resenting the petitioners for a change
in rates, said he did not desire to argue
either way.
VIII Last for Week.
Commission members expect the
sugar rate question to consume the rest
of the week. with advocates OF a reduc-
tion In the present duty and those favor
ing It's retention. indicating a readiness
to contest vigorously every technical as
we'll as every fundamental point. A
score OF attorneys were before the COM
mission and the members, in addition,
had sheaves Of data supplied them by
their own experts and submitted by
various interests involved.
The commissions study of the sugar
rates arises from a controversy which
originated more than a year ago and
took form later in a complaint sub
mitted by New York sugar interests
asking q reduction in the duty of the
full so per cent authorized under. the
flexible provisions Of the law. The COM
plainants against the present duties
were the first to present their case in
accordance with the commissions rules.