The CHAIRMAN. You state if we want him he will be brought here, and you asked for those other people to be brought here? Mr. MAYER. I will say to the committee that he will be brought here if by any legal or physical power we can do so. The CHAIRMAN. Where is he now? Mr. MAYER. I think in New Orleans. He will not be run out of the country, nor will he leave the country with our permission, consent, or knowledge. We are, of course, not his keepers. He is assistant secretary of the company. Mr. FISHER. Treasurer? Mr. MAYER. Assistant secretary. Mr. MAYER. Maj. Dinkins testified as to his position. So far as it may be in our power, gentlemen of the committee, we will bring him here. Of course, we can not forcibly physically get him here, but he will not get outside of the jurisdiction of the United States if we can control it, and he will not go to Habana and meet Mr. Montes if we can prevent it. Mr. FISHER. With regard to the matter to which Mr. Mayer has just alluded, assuming that the committee desires to act with impartiality in this matter The CHAIRMAN. We surely do. Mr. FISHER. I do not wish to cross the bridge at this time as to whether or not statements may be introduced, even not under oath, by gentlemen who are permitted to be examined, and that shall not be done by the other side. I do not quite understand the distinction between the assistant secretary or the assistant treasurer of the Pan American Corporation and the head of the fiber department of the International Harvester Co., or why I am supposed to have a control over the one that will enable me to produce him, whereas the gentleman is so very anxious to qualify his undertaking to produce the officer of his own corporation at this time; but I assume that this committee intends to follow the same course with regard to any of the interests that are involved in this matter and extend uniformity of treatment, and I certainly do not believe it is proper to accept long statements prepared with the assistance of whoever may be available for that purpose Mr. SPENCER. I will inform you, Mr. Fisher The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen, the committee will take care of that. We have done that, and we have done it deliberately. If we have done wrong that is all there is to it. Mr. FISHER. I am not stating that you have done wrong. The CHAIRMAN. Please do not criticise the committee. Mr. FISHER. I have not done so. I am merely saying that when it comes to the presentation of evidence by witnesses I assume the same privilege will be accorded both sides. The CHAIRMAN. We will undertake to treat everybody fairly. If you have any Spanish people who want to come here, we will let them come here and put their statements in writing if they can not speak English, but we are not going to be bothered by interpreters because of the economy of time. That was our main reason for allowing this man to submit his statement in writing. Mr. FISHER. I am very glad to know that. The CHAIRMAN. That is the only reason; otherwise we would have put him on like the balance. Mr. FISHER. I am very glad to know that. Senator GRONNA. Mr. Wolfer handed me a telegram from the warden of our State prison in North Dakota, Frank S. Talcott. I expected him here this morning, but he evidently has not arrived yet. If we adjourn for any length of time, I presume that we could have Mr. Talcott file a written statement. Of course, that would be a disadvantage to the attorneys who are here. Mr. SPENCER. I am perfectly willing, so far as we are concerned. The CHAIRMAN. I was going to suggest, Senator Gronna, and I believe we talked it over just a little bit, that it might be better to adjourn subject to call rather than fixing the time to which we shall adjourn, so that the three members of the committee can get together and decide just when we will reconvene; and then if these gentlemen come, the three members of this subcommittee, or two of us will get together, and we will just take the testimony. Mr. MAYER. That is entirely satisfactory to us, and I would be glad if they would include a statement of their purchases of sisal, when purchased, of whom purchased, and the prices; that is all we care about. Mr. FISHER. I make this suggestion, that they be asked to read the statements of the other gentlemen, and make whatever statement they care to make upon any of all the items touched upon by counsel upon either side. The CHAIRMAN. We will take care of that, Mr. Fisher. Mr. MAYER. May I put one question to Mr. Wolfer? Mr. WOLFER. I am right here. Mr. MAYER. Have you been able, Mr. Wolfer, since you testified day before yesterday to recall the years when you went down to Yucatan, prior to 1909? You said you went there three times. Mr. WOLFER. I could not place them definitely. Mr. MAYER. Can you recall the year of your first visit? Mr. WOLFER. I am pretty sure that was in 1901. Mr. MAYER. And the second visit was between 1901 and 1909 ? Mr. WOLFER. Yes. Mr. MAYER. And the last visit was in 1909. Did you go down there alone or with company? Mr. WOLFER. The first time I did. Mr. MAYER. And how long did you remain there the first time? Mr. WOLFER. The first time I was there about-oh, I should say two weeks. Mr. MAYER. And the second time? Mr. WOLFER. I was there only a short time. Mr. MAYER. A couple of days? Mr. WOLFER. Yes; three days. Mr. MAYER. And the last time? Mr. WOLFER. I was there, I think, about a week. Mr. MAYER. Do you speak any language other than English? Mr. WOLFER. No, sir. Mr. MAYER. That is all. Mr. FISHER. I have handed, Mr. Chairman, to Mr. Spencer a copy of the request for particular documents to which reference has been made, and I would like to incorporate a copy of it in the record. The CHAIRMAN. Very well. (The request for documents here submitted by Mr. Fisher is as follows:) Mr. WALKER SPENCER and Mr. LEVY MAYER. MARCH 3, 1916. GENTLEMEN: In the matter of the sisal hemp investigation under Senate resolution 24, and in accordance with the suggestion of the chairman of the subcommittee on March 2, 1916 (transcript, p. 1594) we hand you the following list of documents and other data of which we request copies to be inserted in the record: 1. The Spanish originals of all the documents relating to the Reguladora, translations whereof appear in the record (printed) on pages 12 to 24, inclusive. 2. The Spanish original of the decree of November 11, 1915, issued by Gov. Alverado, and affecting the organization of the Reguladora, whereof a translation appears in the typewritten record of February 29, 1916, on pages 1051 to 1057, inclusive. 3. The Spanish original of the letter of the Yucatan chamber of commerce to the investigating committee, dated February 14, 1916, whereof a translation appears in the record for February 25, 1916, on printed galley 54. 4. The Spanish original of the cablegram from the Campeche planters to the investigating committee, dated February 19, 1916, whereof translation appears in the record for February 25, 1916, on printed galley 55. 5. A copy in Spanish and English of the Reguladora's form of contract with the planters, referred to in the record of February 24, 1916, on printed galley 12. 6. A record of all the Reguladora's sales from its organization to date. This was promised, as noted in the record (typewritten) of February 29, 1916, page 1064, and March 2, 1916, page 1578. 7. Copies of the printed annual reports of the Reguladora from its organization to date. These are referred to in the record of March 2, 1916, typewritten page 1579. 8. Spanish and English copy of the newspaper announcement of the Reguladora asking all planters to sign the uniform 5-year contract, referred to in the record, March 1, 1916, typewritten page 1240. 9. A list of the successive freight rate advances heretofore promised. See the printed record, page 135. 10. The names of the brokers who gave Dr. Rendon the figures published in his pamphlet "Yucatan and an American Monopoly" as to quantities of sisal sold by the International and Plymouth Cos. to other manufacturers. These were promised by Dr. Rendon (see printed record, pages 147 and 149). 11. Copy of the modification of the contract between the Reguladora and the Pan American Commission Corporation as to the commission to be paid per bale. Promised by Mr. Spencer, record for February 24, 1916, printed galley 5. 12. List of the record stockholders of the Pan American Commission Corporation. Promised by Mr. Wexler, printed record, page 205. 13. Complete list of the actual stockholders of the Pan American Commission Corporation. The chairman has stated that the committee will take up and decide the question whether this list shall be furnished and (as we understand) v hether, if furnished, it shall be incorporated in the record. See record for February 24, 1916, printed galley 9 and for February 25, 1916, printed galley 38. 14. Copies of all letters by Mr. Dinkins to Lee U. Brown, and originals of Brown's letters to Mr. Dinkins, from the beginning of their correspondence to November 13, 1915. The existence of this correspondence appears from the record at printed galley 25 for February 24, 1916. 15. All correspondence between said Brown on the one part and Gov. Argumedo and Gov. Alverado on the other part, during the whole time when each of them was in the governorship of Yucatan, concerning or bearing in any way upon the production and marketing of sisal or upon any phase whatever of the sisal question. Yours, very truly, WALTER L. FISHER. Mr. SPENCER. I would like to have this put in the record: Mr. Fisher and I have mutually agreed that we will call on each other for the production of certain papers, records, and so on. He has made an extensive call on me, and I shall serve him this afternoon with a call for the documents and papers we require. I should like to have the committee treat this as practically a subpoena from the committee, so that it will not be Mr. Spencer asking Mr. Fisher and Mr. Fisher asking Mr. Spencer. The CHAIRMAN. You say you two gentlemen have entered into an agreement? Mr. FISHER. I do not quite agree with that. The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Spencer, have you your letter? Mr. SPENCER. No, sir; but I will prepare it and give a copy to the clerk. Mr. FISHER. I am serving you with that because you said you would like to have it put in writing. Mr. SPENCER. Certainly. Mr. FISHER. And I put it in writing to please you, that is all. Mr. SPENCER. It seems to me I am entitled to the same privilege. The CHAIRMAN. We would think so normally; but since you have not yours in writing Mr. SPENCER. I would like to have Mr. Fisher have those statements here when he brings his witnesses, because I am going to ask the committee to wait until we get them. Mr. FISHER. I will try to be quite as fair as the gentleman on the other side. Mr. FRENSDORF. I ask the committee if they believe they have sufficient evidence of the farmers' interests in this matter, the consumers, or should I go ahead and produce more men representing the consumers? The CHAIRMAN. The committee thinks they have enough on that now. Mr. WOLFER. If the committee want any points from men up in the Northwest, there are plenty who want to be heard. The CHAIRMAN. We understand the feeling of the farmers, and if we need more evidence we will give you notice. Mr. FRENSDORF. Would it be of any advantage to have a petition signed by a hundred thousand and presented to the committee? The CHAIRMAN. I do not think so. It would cost the Government a good deal to print it, and it would not be read. We know you gen tlemen are truthfully representing the sentiment of the farmers out there. We will now stand adjourned subject to call. (Thereupon, at 1.56 o'clock p. m., the committee adjourned to meet at the call of the chairman.) IMPORTATION OF SISAL AND MANILA HEMP. MONDAY, MARCH 6, 1916. UNITED STATES SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY, Washington, D. C. The subcommittee met at 11 o'clock a. m. pursuant to adjournment. Present: Senator Ransdell (chairman), Senator Gronna, and Senator Wadsworth. Senator WADSWORTH. Senator, just tell us in your own way your connection with the binder-twine industry. STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK S. TALCOTT, WARDEN NORTH DAKOTA STATE PENITENTIARY, BISMARCK, N. DAK. Mr. TALCOTT. Well, I will speak from the standpoint of being the warden of the penitentiary of North Dakota, which makes me manager of the binding-twine industry there, and say that although it affects us in the purchase of the necessary sisal hemp that we use in the manufacture of twine, the question really is a very much. larger one, affecting the consumers, the farmers, of the State, and that any monopoly or organization that would control the price of sisal hemp would be a hardship not only in the State of North Dakota, but in any agricultural State. Our little plant there, running at maximum capacity, without working nights or overtime, which is what is called the "one-shop" plant, that is, a preparing room and 120 spindles, has a maximum output in the neighborhood of 3,000,000 pounds. Senator WADSWORTH. Per year? Mr. TALCOTT. Per year. Now, in the State of North Dakota, in an average crop year, in order to take care of the grain, it requires in the neighborhood of from 25,000,000 to 30,000,000 pounds. So that the effect of the output of our little institution is only about one-ninth or one-tenth of the total necessary to be used, and that is what I mean when I say that whatever I can do with my testimony, or in the way of substantiating the testimony already given, is not alone from the standpoint of the manager of that little plant, but from the standpoint of saying a word in behalf of the farmers of the State in regard to the amount of twine that they have to purchase. 28201-VOL 1-16-50 785 |