New-York tribune., 1896-04-04

,,sr YEAR-CoNFERENCE WITH
TIN-PLATE MEN-A FINAL
SESSION TO-DAY
IL. orrangements were made at yester-
D.''., ..ss,on. the second of the meeting Of steel
days s' n form the Bessemer billet
repie'. most important details of the organi-
pool 10 enallv adjusted in secret conclave
1auoh ..or room at the Waldorf and a sched-
IN INC ,o.s fixed which will prevail for a
ule Of prlcS ''N''
moa' moa'--.,os,t;on 10 increase the rate to $22 so a
i"' ,oe, billets. which was discussed the
"" r.u, was changed and an agreement
'a' a,o az the price at 500 IS ton on billets
1,s,ern market. an advance of S3 20 above
-. ,o.a,,on OF S19 so prevailing in the East re-
80, w This schedule is in effect for the present
IT and future adjustments will be made at
a subsequent meeuAs
Tho western price for steel billets was fixed
,v the pool yesterday at s2o % a ton an In
.,sase Of % cents over the schedule under con-
.,aorat,on at the first days meeting. The
xrsstern price for tin bars was fixed at S22 a
Can and for sheet bars at s2S ton. All the
-,ces in this schedule for the West are in effect
tor April. and the quotations that Will rule there
after are TO be decided upon later
specuators In Steel anticipating advanced
rrices. have been securing the country in an
effort 10 pick up cheap lots Of billets. Offering
from slS25 10 $40 so. but somehow those who
controlled the small stocks outside the makers
hands have heard from New-York and have
had no billets TO sell.
PRODUCTION FOR APRIL
Among the important transactions at yester-
days session in the Waldorf was the allotment
of production TO each member of the steel pool.
Consideration was given TO the plan to divide
The manufacture Of billets among the concerns
on the basis Of last years output from each
mill and its capacity. This arrangement being
favorably received. the total amount Of billets
TO be produced was finally fixed upon. In line
with the purpose Of the combination TO check
cverproduction and consequent stagnaton OF
business. 1t was decided that the production for
April should be between 100000 and 250,0o0 tons.
This. 1t was believed. would be sufficient
quantity TO engage the mills profitably. and
afford a satisfactory distribution among manu-
facturers who have been forced to cease opera
tions under the stress of unsettled business in
recent years. and who will now be enabled to
resume manufacturing. opening mills and CIV
Ing employment TO thousands
These transactions were fully and finally agreed
upon yesterday everything signed and
sealeo, and the one important detail remaining
the election Of a Pool Commissioner-came UP for
consideration
THE POOL COMMISSIONERS OFFICE.
The office Of Commissioner, II was shown. en-
tailed much responsibility. it was one Of the
plans Of the organization that all sales were to
be made through this official. and the distribu
tion OF orders for billets and other business was
to pass through his hands. A long discussion
was held by the representatives present respect
Ing the qualifications of several men who were
named for Pool Commissioner. The able
opinions expressed for " l.. Abbott occupied the
attention of the representatives. Mr.. Abbott
is the ex-charman Of the Carnegie Steel Com
pany. OF Pttsburg. He has arranged 10 go
abroad this summer. but whether or not this will
Influence him in any way in regard TO accepting
the Office of Pool Commissioner is not known.
APPEAL FROM THE TIN-PLATE INTEREST.
The committee from the Tin-Plate Manufactur
ers Association Informally conferred with the
steel representatives. reiterating It's statements
that any advance contemplated in the price Of
steel sheets or plates would adversely affect the
tin-plate industry. which depended for future
prosperity on the lowest price possible on the
steel plates to be converted into tin. 1t was
also repeated that the tin-plate interests Of this
country, which now led here where he foreign
tin-plate formerly held sway. could not meet an
advanced price in steel and still hold their own
against the Welshmen, who were eagerly await
ing an opportunity again to invade the United
STATES with their product.
The committee asked the steel representatives
to keep the price Of blets al figure that
would ena bic the tlnplate men to compete with
tne Welsh manufacturers.
STATEMENTS OF JOHN JARRETT
John Jarrett. secrtary Of the Tin-Plate
Aanufacturers' Association. said: II doubt
whether not operate successfully with
oillets at $50 25 ton We may do so in time at
some profit. with improved facilities. The
price Of tin bars in Wales is slS 35. The price
OF billets Is 500 "a. In that country the tin
plate manufacturer buys his plates already
rolled while in the United States tinpate manu-
lecturers buy the billets and roll them them
selves. You that the price Of tin
bar in Wales is less than the price Of billets
here fixed by the pool. The additional cost
OF rolling tin bars from billets falls upon the
finplate manufacturer in this country: so you
zee 'hat those abroad have material advan-
taga over US, while the foreign manufacturer
this country" ~ 49,
1t is said that the cost of rolling tin bars from
Dilets In this country is about 81 80 a ton,
which the tinplate manufacturers must pay out
or their pockets
a., Inc sentiment prevailed In the conference
tnat the steel manufacturers should make no
unjust discrimination. and that no action would
oe taken to deprive themselves Of the trade OF
american tinplate manufacturers.
THE POOLS MEMBERSHIP
Inc meeting adjourned 10 hold a final session
to-day' which will be short and devoted to the
nhishng OF such details as are yet necessary
!" the completion Of the organization Of the steel
pool 10 which the following concerns. the most
p'ominent in the country and representing an
snn;ense capital subscribed yesterday: Carnegie
Te .eei Company. Jones & Laughlin. National
nsn' uoe works Company. Hainsworth Steel Com
ytany' snoenberger e. Co.. the Spang Steel and
nan vm company Pittsburg; Cambria Iron Com
sa,,y,. 'onnstown: the Bethlehem Iron Company.
n llIx.L.l- GAlal tAnxaI,