Omaha daily bee., 1896-04-04
Obstacles to the Proposed Combination
About All Removed.
MlDDLEMEN LEFT OUT OF THE SHUTTLE
Manufacturers Get Together and
Agree to Advance Rates by Deal
ing with Consumer Direct
Ms Far ns Possible.

50 SNaAb NNhNf ~ - NN'Nf 49,
action has been taken in regard to the pro-
test against the pooling made by the
Schoengerber Steel company of Pittsburg and
discussed at the meeting yesterday. The
consensus of opinion was that an advance
would probably be agreed to in the price Of
everything made of steel.
At the conclusion Of the meeting T. Oliver,
president of the Hoinsworth Steel company,
Pittsburg, made the following statement:
with the exception of a few weeks last
fall the manufacturers of Bessemer steel in
the United States have been conducting a
losing business for the past three years. This
has resulted more through the growing in
fuence Of the middlemen than on account OF
competition between the manufacturers them
selves. With the purpose in view of elimi-
mating such influences and of bringing about
closer relations between buyer and seller the
steel men met in session and have succeeded
in agreeing among themselves that in the
future all negotiations shall be confined
strictly to the producer on the one hand
and to the consumer on the other. 1t is
not intended to restrict production, except so
far as such restriction will be brought about
by doing away with such fictitious transac-
lions and the combining of business to the
actual wants of the country. In many IN
stances a middleman will purchase steel in
large quantities from a manufacturer. for
which he has no customer N sight. When
the time of delivery arrives the manufacturer
will naturally expect his customer to furnish
specifications for the steel. His only course
Is to dump it on the market at any price it
will bring. One such transaction has in
many instances resulted in the decentralization
of the entire market and even the business
for the rest of the season. We hope through
the influence of this organization and by fire.
quent meetings and interchange of views to
do away with this evil. We think we can
do so.
1t is not our intention to bring about ary
undue advance in prices. The price which
has been agreed upon for the present, 500
per ton, is fully justified by the strong ad-
vance which has taken place within the past
two weeks in pig iron and iron ore, and 1t is
really doubtful whether, in view of the exist
ing conditions, manufacturers can make any
profit at that price,"
Mr.. Oliver admitted with some reluctance
that another meeting would be held tomorrow
afternoon. He intimated that an organization
would probably be perfected at this meeting.
Before the conference began today the steel
manufacturers were waited upon by a COM
mittee from the Tin Plate association, made
up of Warner Arms of Niles, o.; w. T.
Graham Of Bridgeport, o.; George Grier,
president Of the New Castle Tin Plate CON-
pany, and John Jarrett, secretary of the
Tin Plate Manufacturers association. The
tin plate manufacturers desired that a dis
elimination should be made in their favor,
as they commended that should the advance
in steel bars be applied to them, the Ameri-
can tin plate industry would be seriously
affected. Secretary Jarrett, who acted as
spokesman for the tin plate manufacturers,
asserted that foreign tin plate would regain
all 1t had lost If the price of steel was adj
vanced, with reference to the home industry.
The tin plate manufacturers were informed
that their contention would receive due con-
sideration.
Neither Schoenberger G. Co. of Pittsburg,
nor the Illinois Steel company of Chicago is
represented at the conference.
When the meeting adjourned for luncheon
the gentlemen refused to make any state
ment, but one of them intimated that the
tangle had been Strengthened out.
The Bessemer steel manufacturers COM
pleted their organization today at the Hotel
Waldorf. The executive committee Is: John
Galeishman of the Carnegie company, chair
man; Henry Wick of the Ohio Steel COM
pany, HI. H. Hubbard of the Wheeling Steel
and Iron company and Powell Stackhouse of
the Cambria Iron company.
1t was decided that a commissioner to man
age the organization is not necessary. The
of the output Of billets is to be
left to the executive committee. They will
be the judges OF the demand and will fix the
figure for each month. A certain portion
of the total will be allotted to- each company
in the organization. The apportionment will
be made on the basis of last years output.
any company produces more than it's al
loted portion, the profits on the surplus are
to go to the organization, and by it will
be turned over to that company or those COM
panies which have not produced their al
loted portion.
Rubber Trust n the Coast.
SAN FRANCISCO, April 3.-The Chronicle
says that within the next few weeks there
have been consummated here and in Port
land a consolidation of the Pacific coast
of four of the largest rubber boot
and shoe manufacturing concerns in the
States-the Goodyear Rubber company,
the Boston Rubber Shoe company, the Woon-
socket Rubber company and the Bowers Rub
Der company, as agents for the Candee line
rubber footwear. The consolidation will
work a trust in the rubber boot and shoe
trade ON the Pacific coast and will make the
combine dictators in the rubber boot and
shoe market. This combine will be known
~ the United States Rubber company, and
will be in reality the Pacific coast branch
If the corporation of that name which has
existed for the past three years in cities of
he east.
NEW YORK, April 3.-The New York
ubber houses mentioned In a dispatch to the
Associated press from San Francisco today
IS combining their separate agencies on the
Pacific coast into one, and forming what Will
,e In reality a Pacific coast branch of the
United States Rubber company, are unwil-
ing to admit that there is any truth in the
eport. The manager of the Boston Rubber
;hoe company denies that the concern is In
he combination that is admitted to exist
ere.
r. d. Evans, president of the United
Rubber company, which controls the
gencies of the Goodyear and Bowers rub
er companies on the Pacific coast, said
Oday that although there had been as yet
consultations of the agencies of these
oncerns on the Pacific coast, such a condi-
lon of affairs would in all probability
ccur before long. These agents are agents
IT the Candee goods, which have been con-
rolled by the United States company for
lree years, so that a union of the agencies
ill have little or no effect on prices. Re
arding the report that both the Woonsocket
nd Boston Shoe Rubber companies were to
3 consolidated with the agency represent
* the concerns controlled by the United
Rubber company. Mr.. Evans said
lat they were individual corporations, and
e thought 1t likely that they would con-
nue to preserve their individuality.
HIi1F REDELL MAKES HIS REPORT.
oss by Fire During the Past Three
Months.