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Show iMWF M TIF mini n ! OB 10 iOTfiBIPT omlm litUul Non-Competitive Zones in the Sugar Trade i of the Country i Washington, June 13. EfTort to discover dis-cover whether non-compctltlvc zones have been established by the American Ameri-can Sugar Refin.ng company, in an effort to control prices, marked thc re -umptlon of the "sugar trust" inves-t'gatlon inves-t'gatlon today. JEdward Atkins, acting head of the corporation, who only became be-came an official of the company" two years ago said he was unable to answer an-swer many of the Questions put to him. Mr. Atkins declared, however, that the American Sugar Refining company-owned practically a majority of stock In he sugar refineries in California, Cali-fornia, and that it did not attempt to compete with them. He gave as the reason for this abandonment of the coast business, tho freight rate difference dif-ference of half a cent a pound on sugar su-gar transported from tho eastern refineries re-fineries This, he said, was the principal prin-cipal reason for the failure of competition. compe-tition. Questioned by Representative Mal-b Mal-b of New Voile, tho witness said that fifty per cent of the Western Sugar Refining company In California was owned by the American Sugar Rcfin-I Rcfin-I ing company, while the Spreckels I company owned the other 50 per cent. Thc American also owned, Mr Atkins said, 19 per cent In the Alameda Sugar Refining company Wliat the purposo of tho purchase of this stock ns, Mr. Atkins was unable to tell the committee. commit-tee. "Do you havo any understanding that there should he no competition," asked Mr. Malby. "So far as jnv "knowledge goes, there Is not tho slightest." Mr Malby sought light on thc moth-od moth-od of electing directors In tho California Cali-fornia companies, but Mr Atkins could give him no satisfaction. "Is It a matter of Indifference to the American Sugar Refining company com-pany as to how the other companies conduct their business?" he queried. Mr. Atkins replied that ho was not informed on the subject. The sugar tariff, according to Mr. Atkins, cnnbles the Pacific coast sugar su-gar refineries to make a larger margin mar-gin of profit than the eastern refineries refin-eries Replying to Representative Raker of California, Mr Atkins said the prlco i of sugar was the same on the Pacific I and thc Atlantic coasts, but the Pacific , manufacturers are able to sell as far I east as Chicago. The eastern refineries cannot ship further west than Kansas City and Omaha "'Tho reas-n Is that the Pacific const has free raw sugar," said Mr. Atkins. "The refineries get thf Hawaiian and PhlllpplDO sugars without duty while we have to pay SI. 34 duty on each hundred pounds of Cuban sugar," ho continued. "Tho sugar oucht to bo lower on thp Pacific coat?' 'asked Mr. Baker. "Yes," said Mr Atkins, who added tiat he knew nothing of tho conduct of the far western comDanles. Ho did not kuow Mr Rnreckels, nor what Intorest tho latter had in various beet sugar companies of the wesL "I have not been able to got any Information from any of thc companies compan-ies In which wo are largoly Interested." Interest-ed." said Mr Atkina. "We aro minority min-ority stock holders and they refuse to i tell us anyth.ng about their business. I oo |