The San Francisco call., 1895-12-18
Brass-Founders Say They Want
Fair Prices for the Manu-.
factured Product.
DENY ANY DESIRE TO CINCH
Claim They Do Not Contemplate a
Trust, but Concerted Action.
Local Views.

Local brass founders appear to greet with
unconcealed satisfaction the news of pro-
posed new scale of prices announced in
CALL dispatch of yesterday.
AT first some of them manifested a GER
tain degree of reluctance to speak when
addressed upon the matter but after thaw-
ing out, they all agreed that the contem-
plated change would be TO their advantage.
Secretary Taylor of the W. 7. Garratt
Company, when the matter was brought to
his attention, remarked:
For some time the larger brass foundries of
the country have been running, If not at a loss,
with so small a margin of profit 10 render
the business practically improbable. The
cost OF the raw metal has gone up,
the prices OF manufactured articles re-
manning substantially unchanged. This
condition of affairs cannot last. The
men who have invested their entire fortunes
and their best efforts in a business, naturally
hate 10 see that business run into the ground.
This StTingency, while keenly felt here, has
by no means been confined to this coast. In
the East things have reached such a state that
the principal brass-workers have long been
meditating a plan of concerted action on the
part OF all the members OF the craft through
out the Union, whereby a certain uniformity
III the price OF manufactured brass might be
secured.
With this end in view the Eastern men have
corresponded extensively with their cOnfreres
in all parts OF the country. This City has been
no exception 10 the rule. all the heads of brass
fOundrieS having received letters on the sub
Ject. Thus far proceedings are in an en-
bTyonic stage. No definite plan OF action has
yet been resolved upon. A combine, strictly
speaking, there cannot be- owing TO the large
number OF small foundreS. many Of which
might not enter the trust; nor, indeed, is
real trust desired, but one thing is certain
the men whose money, brains and LABOR have
made this Citys brass works what they are de-
sire to secure themselves against actual loss.
Mr.. Garratt, who had come in while his
secretary was speaking, here remarked:
am not altogether sure what they are driv-
ing at, but hope they Will be able to do some
thing to resurrect the business.
By they" l mean the brass-workers in all
sections of the country. We cannot afford 10
see our business go to the dogs. With con-
certed action much can be attained in this
connection. We have no wish TO cinch the
public, and any such notion is false in the eX-
treme; but we do consider ourselves Justly
entitled to the same profit which tailor makes
on a suit of clothes. In short, we do not wish
TO be cinched ourselves.
Oscar J. Backus. vice president of the
George II. Tay Company, had something
to say about combines as he had found
them. He said:
There was combine, but it broke up seven
or eight years ago. Our company manufac-
lures no brass goods, but We sell them in large
quantities.; hence any combination of manu-
facturers affects US forthwith, and OF necessity
becomes known TO US. Thus far we know
nothing OF any such movement in this Citv
and if such movement were on foot we would
probably be the last 10 know of II, as its pro-
moters would be careful to keep it from the
knowledge OF their wholesale customers in or
der that We might not buy up big stock in
trade before prices were advanced
The old combine was broken up because the
members commenced 10 distrust each other
and each firm was so much occupied in spying
upon ffs neighbor that business was left more
or less at the mercy OF the smaller foundries,
who were rot slow to take the chances thus
ofered, and thus little by little the great and
once powerful combine fell to pieces. There
may be another one in contemplation. Per
haps the old members may have kissed and
made up, but, as l said, dealers in manufac-
tured brass goods would be the last people to
know OF such state OF things if it existed.
c. H. Dunton, vice president of the Roy
lance Brass Foundry Company, seemed
glad to speak on the subject of the so-called
combine. He said:
In speaking on business matters and meth
DDS it is necessary to avoid using terms which
are open to misconstruction. combine"
in the popular understanding of the term
means trust, or deep-laid scheme to victim
iZe the public for the financial gain of a few
plotters who rely upon their wealth for the ac-
complishment OF their ends.
No such idea is projected in the present in
stance The long and short of the matter is
that the leading firms, both here and else
where, are tired of working for nothing. The
combine" is only an open expression on the
try of desire to get fair price for their work
The movement is National. not local. and
started in New York years ago No definite
course of action has yet been agreed upon, but
hopes are expressed by all the large Eastern
firms that prompt settlement may be reached
and National schedule OF prices formulated.
AS for 'trust" here, there could be none,
owing to the large number of small foundries,
which would surely underbid us.
In the Eastern States there is a sort of COM
bination. One of its rules is for founders to
sell to the jobbing trade only. This is, gen.
.erally.s speaking, our policy; but the California
itself, we cannot bind ourselves to follow any
such regulation. The long and short OF the
whole story is that we want revision of the
old price-list issued by the National Brass
Goods Association fully fifteen years ago
When this comes to pass we may hope for bet
ter times in the annals of the brass industry in
the United States. This is all there is to the
great ''com bine simply desire to dispose of
our wares at decent profit.