Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-15

Like Other Manufacturing Businesses it
is Depressed-Cutting Prices.

from Ite CNtcNQO A4hNhmos
The Northwestern Rat-Trap Manufac-
tHrers' Association held its annual meet
ing Saturday, with nearly one hundred
delegates from every important centre Of
industry in the West present. In his
annual address President Rodent of
Omaha spoke Of the Importance of the
vast interests of the rat-trap manufac-
ture and its rapid strides during the
decade. Wherever the squeak of his
namesake was heard, in the urban home
or the cOrn-crlb the far Western prairie
the influence OF the rat-trap manufac-
turer was felt and ne was called blessed.
He warned the members of the associa-
| ton tn at these great interests committed
/ TO their trust carried with them CORE
/ spending sponsibilIties, and he hoped
! that their deliberations would be char
acteriZed with the seriousness and
! decorum BETTING their mission. He then
| took up the more practical, il more
! pr0saic, matters TO come before the meet.
ing. Like all trade associations, they had
| had a great deal of trouble in holding to-
/ gether during the year. The association,
in keeping up prices during the boom Of
/ 1SS3'S4, had raised up a large number of
| competitors, resulting in an increase of
| capacity far above the demands of the
/ market and requiring concerted action in
reducing the output in order that the price
OF rat-traps could be maintained at a pay
ing basis.
The reports of the Secretary and Trea-
surer showed the association to be in
lalr way. and were followed by the report
OF the Executive Committee. When it
was concluded storm burst upon the
meeting, aud for a time it looked as if the
world-iamous organization was about to
90 to pieces. Firms in Chicago, kala-
mazOo. Omaha, and Aurora were charged
| with increasing the number OF wires in
! their rat-traps beyond the number fixed
| by the rules Of the association, thereby
! taking away the trade OF members re-
naming true to their pledges. In retalia-
ton it was charged with great neat that
members of the committee and allowed
their drummers to shade prices TO the
amount OF DC. trap, and entered the
/ difference upon their books as ''break-
i age" In the midst of the turmoil a
KOkomO member managed TO secure the
ear OF the Chair, and called attention 70
! an outrageous device of Mendoza manu-
iacturer which threatened bankruptcy to
every member of the association. This
uDprincipled rascal, he said. had discOy-
cred an acid smelling like cheese which
| he placed upon "A yellow sponge in the
| cent, over the use OF real, simon-pure
cheese. Unless he could be induced to
relinQuish his nefariOus scheme, the
speaker continued, amidst the most pro.
found silence, thousands of poor working
men would be thrown out of employment
| groans and the legitimate manufacture
ers surely forced to the wall.
This startling announcement brought
the morning session 10 close, and the
III linz
10 hear a delegation from the retail deal
ers in rat-traps against the manufacture
ers ana wholesale dealers in rat-traps
! selling rat-traps AZ retail. A pyrotechnC
petition signed by many thousand retail
men was also presented. In a number OF
whereases II stated the common interests
OF the wholesalers and retailers in getting
the most possible from the public, which
was under suoh great obligations for the
! blessing Of the rat-trap. The public
could never fully repay its debt OF graft
tude, whatever price was charged for rat.
| traps, and notwithstanding this know.
ledge the petition stated that the whole.
sale men were selling rat-traps at retail
at a much lower rate than the retailers
thought proper, which was denounced as
unfair and a yeritable outrage upon The
inslienable rights of the latter. The
dele CATION and the accompanying
petition were received very respectfully,
and their request was unanimously
granted.
The row did not begin until tho delega.
ton was we'll out Of hearing, when the
members commenced accusing each Other
Of hypocrisy In agreeing 10 do what none
intended doing. President Rodent finally
eot order long enough 70 bear The reports
OF the committees appointed at the morn.
Ing session. They limited the output OF
rat-traps for the next six months at 81
per cent. Of capacity and increased the
price 20 per cent. owing TO a dispatch from
Pittsburg in the morning papers stating
that the IRON market WAS stiilenlng. The
next meeting OF the association will be
held in kRnkakee.