The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-15
No MATCHES WIN CfGAhHTTEs.
Evidence In the Proceedings against the
Tobacco True.


NEW YORK. Dec. 1.-THE examina-
tlcn OF witnesses in the proceedings by
Attornoy-General John 7. Stockton, OF
New Jersey, against the American To-
bacco Trust Company, no ahhui the chdf-
ter OF the company, was resumed before
Commissioner Walter Cledly yesterday.
There have been several examinations
held within the past two months at "hich
the testimony Of jobbers ana retailers
shows that the Trust controls ~ per cent
OF the cigarettes manufactured in the
United Satas. Commissions have also been
issued in other States. ana during the
present week witnesses have been eN-
amined I'm St Louis and Minneapolis. The
first witness to-day was Henry Berbert'
"A Brooklyn cigar dealer. Two years ago
he entered into a contract with the Amer
lean Tobacco Company the terms OF
which he never clearly understood. lis
rebates we're emf of and then his entire
supply Of cigarettes was stopped because
the company deemed his action In giving
away matches TO customers an attempt
10 cut the price. witness soli -'','"
cigarettes without rebate. re receiver
circular from the company with reference
to the terms on which rebates were grant
ed and, after signing a printed paper ne
got his rebate.
Mr. Berbcrt SAID he was 10 sell At $lD
per box. or $3.50 per 1,00o. lie was al
loved per cent. for payments III Ten
days, ana - per cent every SIX months.
He frequently got more than -" per
1000 and sometimes SOLD cigarettes to
retailers AT five cents small box. MI
Berbert did not know what was IN" con-
tract he signed His cigarette business
Tas from S per cent TO I'D per cent OF
his trade. and he would suffer conSId-
cradle loss il the American TOBACCO COM
pany ceased dealing with him.
Mr. Lind5urg then took a hand for the
company, and got the witness 40 admit
that, after his conversation with the
company representative, he had given
his customers no matches with their ciF-
arettes. The witness said that when CIV
ing the matches. he knew be- was violating
The contract with the company.
Julius Enrmau. of the firm Of Esbere.
BaclIman & Co. OF san Francisco, was
the next witness. He is the president OF
the j. r. Pace Tobacco Company OF
Richmond, Va. Mr.. Einstein said mar
ne hoped 10 show boy Mr. Ehrman's 'esti-
mony that since the formation Of the
TILst the price II tobacco for the manu-
facturc OF cigarettes had seriously depre-
ciated.
The witness produced 4 number Of I'M
voices from 1883 to 1894 Of goods supplied
by firms belonging 10 the Trust. ne
invoices prior to 1891 were from III" in
dividual companies which subsequently
formed the Trust. IN the later ones each
company VAS styled branch OF the
American Tobacco Company In Feb
ruary. 1891, he signed a contract with the
American Tobacco Company. He was cut
IF about three years ago. When he went
to headquarters ne was told that ne was
selling cigarettes under stated prices. Al
ter a month he was restored. He then
signed a new contract, agreeing 10 sell
no cigarettes under the stated price OF the
company. lie was cut of q second time
about a year ago. The American To-
bacco Company never asked me % return
cigarettes they have forwarded 10 me.
When ! pay for the cigarettes. less the
> per cent, they belong 10 me-" said the
witness.
Abram r. Armstrong. "A jo5ber IN all
kinds Of cigarettes. said he had con-
tract with the American Tobacco Com
pany. The price fixed for all hye-ccn,
goods was $3.50 per 1000. lie said he had
received a letter from Secretary Brown
saying his firm had violated the contract,
and refusing 10 consign any more goods.
II was not allowed the , per cent. Off
on the goods purchased by me at the time
Mr.. Brown wrote me- Armstrong tesu-
fed
John W. Reswick had also signed an
agreement with the Tobacco Trust, and
was cut off for cutting prices.
Isaac Boas, tobacco dealer. gave tcst-
mony 10 the same effect. as did Arnold
Diamond.
Barrett Kamchetsky. a manufacturer OF
Brooklyn, has been punished twice by the
Trust for violating his ordinances His
testimony was along the same lines as
the rest.
The Investigation then adjourned until
Monday. December 18th at 10 O'Clock.