St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-10-25
CAPT. BABB TALKS.
He DENIES THE CHARGES MADE BY A
DEMOCRATIC DAILY.

CAPT. BABB TALKS.
He DENIES THE CHARGES MADE BY A
DEMOCRATIC DAILY.
Capt. E c. Babb, the Republican candi-
date for mayor. was asked yesterday II he
had anything TO say in reply to the question
asked IN yesterday mornings edition OF
St Paul Democratic daily. He at first hest
tated about saying anything, and thought
that an article coming from such a source
did not deserve any notice, and especially i'll
view of the tact that those who know him
know that there wasn't Il word of truth in
the underhanded charges that were made.
He said that there was an agreement between
the ice dealers Of the city with regard to phi
ces and the necessity OF preserving uniform
rate.
These agreements are made annually
continued Mr.. Babb. 'and are not for the
purpose of raising prices. but simply to
avoid cutting in rates. " hen the agreement
was made last spring was in Florida and
knew nothing about II till my return. The
statement that an arrangement was made TO
regulate the wages Of the employees Of the
several ice companies is utterly without
foundation OF truth. That question was
never discussed at all My relations WI tn
those under my employ have always been the
pleasantGst. ! pay my ice deliverers $50 per
month. which / think Is more than any one
else Is paying, ard at this time Of the year
they get through work al noon.
There was an agreement made that one
menced the season with another firm, while
the season lasted. This. however, is very
easily explained. ] could engage a man TO
work up a line Of custom for me in particu-
lar portion of the city and if there was not
some provision against it. one OF my com
peIitOTs could hire him after he had
secured a good trade, and the greater
bulk of the trade would 90 with
him. as people do not pay much attention to
the firm from whom they get ice and II the
same man continued to deliver it would not
as d usual thing. notice that he was in the en-
plOv of other ice men than those with whom
be commenced 1t was 10 avoid any such
contingency that We agreed not TO bio against
each other for men. This is all have to say
about the natter
LET Us SEE ABOUT IT.
It is true that ''he at first hesitated
about saving anything" but it is not
true that he was interviewed at all-he
was approached. but failed to give up
ANYTHING Knowing the facts only too
well, he hied himSelftO Lawyer Kellogg
ana engaged him TO prepare a defense,
which should appear to deny that which
he dare not deny over his own sigma
ture. The result was the preparation Of
the SO-called interview which Babb pre-
scented in writing to the Tribune with
request for publication.
1t will be seen that he admits the
formation of the trust, and the eXecu-
nualIY''-and have been ever since he
became an alderman-but denies the
ScOpe thereof. 1t wasn't a combination
to put up the price Of ice, but simply to
keep it up and rush out opposition. The
GLOBE has no space to-day to 90 into
the contract III detail, but appends
hereto a few extracts from the original.
Here they are:
It's hereby agreed, baIgained and under
stood by and between the parties hereto sign
ing this paper being the Ice dealers OF the
CITY OF Minneapolis that the following rates
ana prices be and they hereby are estab-
liShed as the rates and prices to be asked and
Iharged by them for all ice sold by them or
either of them, during the year 1883. COM
meucing at once. Next follows the sched-
ule of prices.
Ii is further agreed, that in case any Gus
TONERS snail fail 10 pay for ice delivered by
INV of the parties hereto. or are indebted 10
them at the present time for ice sold and
delivered. that the others shall not furnish
said customers with ice, or furnish any one
else with ice in such a manner that they
would receive the same until the said Gus
toners shall have first settled their account1
Then follow provisions relative to hir-
Ing and dischargIng employees which will be
given further on !.
II is further agreed that in no manner
whatever are these rates TO be evaded or
rut either by discount or the giving or the
selling Of any other article of merchandise,
whatever. at less figure that the market
price Of such commodity.
Ii is further agreed that no ice is to be
given away after the lst day Of April, 1883,
10 any one and under no circumstances;
and that on or about December l, 1855. the
parties hereto viii meet and agree upon
prices for winter ice.
The foregoing is sufficient to suggest
the general scope of the association
so far as consumers are concerned. and
II is apprehended that very few will be
Iieve that the object is to keep the price
of ice down. more especially as in many
instances the prices have doubled since
the trust was created. Either the COM
panies made no profit then, but sold at
a great loss. or they make large profits
now. Certain it is that all the dealers
commenced business with but few dol
lars and are now Teputed wealthy. But
more on this branch of the subject
hereafter. Sufficient untothe day is the
evil thereof
WHO MADE TIE CONTRACT?
Candidate Babb says the agreement
was made last spring while he was in
Florida. and that he knew nothing
about il until his return. The fact is
that he was absent when it was exc
ruted. but not when it was agreed
TDOu. Long before he went to Florida
he had several talks with II. A. West
phal as TO how much additional tariff
The people would stand. and the terms
were in the main agreed upon between
them subject TO approval of the little fish.
However, this does not cut any great
figure. inasmuch as he admits that
sthese agreements are made an
nually."
Whether or not the Objectwas ''simply
TO avoid cutting in rates" can be easily
ascertained. The covenant by which q
humane dealer is prevented from fur
nishing ice TO a sick man who is i'll
debted to either Of the. others, even
though he pay cash for his purchase
has little TO do Herewith. But let US
see whether or not under the agreement
dealers could regulate the wages of EN-
plOyes and deprive tire discontinued