The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-10

amounts were given. which might be seriously
Injurious / very well satisfied that the
committee would not wish to be. even innocent
~ the Instrument of harm to any OF fbemr
The committee then into executive SEES
sion to consider the matter. first granting Par
sons permission to mske n statement after the
reporters had been excluded. When the doors
were re opened Chairman Bacon announced that
the committee had decided that il would not,
for the present, insist upon answer th0
question.
In answer 20 q question. the witness said that
the aggregation of capital and the concentration
of the business. he believed. would cheaper
sugar, give fair profits to the manufacturers and
admit of higher wages being paid the laborers
In these refineries the laborers to-day paid
higher wages than were ever paid before for
such work. and the only thing that could lower
wages would be injurious legislation. The wit
ness was asked if this aggregation OF wealth did
not create monopolies. and If monoplies did not
tend to increase prices. he said that such
would be the case where the government granted
q monopoly, but that it rs otherwise generally
impossible and peculiarly SO in the case of sugar.
because the SLIGHTEST advance would bring in
foreign sugar, would tempt the erection OF new
refineries and the enlargement OF existing ones
not parties to the agreement
Mr.. Hermann-In view of the immensely OF
this vast trust association. will it not. In the
end tend to produce an AGGREGATION OF rehner.
les In other countries, and finally wipe out all
competition, and create such a monopoly that IL
will be impossible TO beat III
Mr.. Parsons did not believe such thine pos
sihle. and said he had fully answered the cues
ton in az argument before the New York State
Senate Judiciary committee.
Mr.. Smith inquired how the concentration OF
this particular branch of manufacturing In the
hands of a few benefited labor.
The witness said: because, the more sugar
they can sell, the more laborers they require.
Mr. Smith-AH my experience goes to show
the reverse. AS / Understood your remarks,
you said that by the concentration of these sew
eral N factories the members of this trust
look to it that all its members are supplied with
the best machinery. Now. is it not a fact that
when such appliances are made, labor is more
Mr.. Parsons-No: not at all. That is cot the
experience of manufacturing in any part of the
world. More persons are employed in manu-
featuring under the improvements which exist
to-day than in any previous time
Mr.. Smith caused roar of Laughter when he
retorted: Then my existence here % hui
man boing is mistake"
John w. Dodsworth managing editor of the
New York Commercial Bulletin. testified that
rumors in regard to this trust began to assume
definite shape last October. declining ten
dency in raw sugar and higher tendency in re-
fined sugar, the witness said, followed these
rumors. On the sugar market it was said to be
due to the combination, although there may
have been other causes which influenced prices.
Both raw and refined sugars had advanced since
the formation of tss trust but the latter had adj
vanced than the former. The common
understanding in New York, the witness said
was that the trust was the only buyer OF raw
sugar, and importers had felt themselves more
or less at the mercy of the trust buyers. 1t had
been reported that cargoes destined FOR New
York had been directed to other ports because
MIR. f. B. Thurber, of New York, said that
sugar had advanced in the last five months
Unquestionably these large concerns conld buy
cheaper, work cheaper aud sell cheaper than dis
organized concerns.
Question-Is it not fact that they do not
usually choose TO sell cheaper without competi-
tion2
The Witness-That is the truth sir. The
witness said the sugar business had for some
time not been prof table, and he looked upon
the present organization not unnatural re-
action. He did not think the effect of the
sugar alton had been extreme thus far.
It might become so il they got control and saw
fit to use it. There was the afeguard, however;
competition could be brought in without avery
great expense.