The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-18

close down in the dead OF winter in 1885,
throwing all its men out OF work
when it was offered a contract to prod
uce ha; is known as third-rate goods
which could have kept the factory going
all the winter?''
81 don't know"
Mr.. Flint said that the United States
Rubber company is producing better
goods at a smaller cost. adding that the
wage scale of its employees had not been
sliced off at any time. Subsequently the
witness denied that ne Cad purchased
the Colchester plant. but admitted that
it was purchased by Hollins & Co., bank
ers
us 1t not a fact that as a result Of
competition the Zetaucket Rubber COM
pany OF Long Island, had to close down
and is still closed?''
II don't know anything about II.
Nr. Flint denied that the banking firm
OF HoliinS & Co. were The authorized
agents of the United States Rubber COM
pany in the matter OF acquiring prop
erty.
The purchase of the Colchester factory
was again gone into and statement
made by Mr.. Flint and Robert B. Ev-
ans. 70 the New York stock exchange. as
N the purchase. was READ BY Senator
Lexow.
II think that statement is correct,
said 2ir. Flint, who conte1ded that the
bankers acted simply as vendors, the
vendors purchasing on the recommends
ton of their committee.
state what element OF value there
was 10 the United States Rubber COM
pany in a factory which was already
closed or was to be closed on acquisi-
ton"
.'The consideration Of the value Of the
property is one on which only an ex-
pert can pass replied Mr. Flint.
Mr. Flint emphatically denied that the
presidents OF the various companies
have place in the directory of the
United States Rubber company. Wit
ness claimed that the United States
Rubber company is an independent or
eanzation whose governing board is not
drawn from sub-companies and has no
connection with them. Witness said the
Para Rubber company. in its competi-
ton with the other companies, lost $780,
0OO The failure of a number of rubber
concerns was due to the fact that they
made counterfeit goods, which failed to
bring the required price.
WAS the United States Rubber COM
pany responsible for the insolvency Of
the Para Rubber company"
''No sir. The United States Rubber
company did not come into existence I'M
Ill after the Para company had lost the
ci,,,1 lraa dv man
EFFECT ON WAGES.
Today" he continued, 1.-The American
wage Garner is enabled to sustain his
rate of wages by the existence of su-
per.or organization Of manufactures. l
think the only way in which wages can
be kept up is by the Capitalization of
manufacture and the economy which re-
suits from superior organization in con-
nection with labor-saving machinery.
by means of Capitalization the Amer
lean wage Garner can compete with
cheap labor countries like China and
Japan
Asked how it was that the United
States Rubber company almost doubled
the price Of rubber shoes since 1898, wit
ness said ne was unable TO explain and
claimed the company he represented !
turned out the best shoe in the country !
today.
In order to give Mr.. Flint an oppor- !
tunity to produce the books and data re- |
CURED by Senator LeXow. he was en-
cused until tomorrow morning.
THE SODA SYNDICATE.
William l. Walker. treasurer Of the |
Soda syndicate. which was incorporated |
July /, 1896, with a capital stock of 81 |
100000, was mex. examined
This witness said the business had |
been limited principally to the states of |
New York and New Jersey, but that |
business in the soda trade had been con- |
Quoted in every state in the Union
How many stockholders are there In |
your concern?''
six. who are the officers Of the corpor- |
atom"
IF the jobber sold the commodity |
a cents pound instead of SO cents.
is it not true that you would deprive the |
jobber of his rebate?"
1T is"
1--WE make no difference in the matter |
Of price in every state in the Union"
added the witness.
Assemblyman Biddell handed the wit |
ness a copy OF the jobbers' agreement for |
verification, and 1t was identified as a |
copy Of the regular factors agreement.
It showed that il the jobbers did not |
secure the schedule price they were de- |
prived Of the regular rebate allowed.
In reply to further inquiry relating 10 |
the factors agreement, the witness testi-
fed that when the corporation discovered |
a violation OF the factors agreement by
the factor, the agreement was with
Drawn.
Were you coerced into making the
the witness was asked.
Yes. sir, practically"
by whom
by the Wholesale Grocers' associa-
ton"
Asked as TO the price his company paid
the Saliva company Of Syracuse for BIZ
carbonate OF soda, he said:
Even IL could answer. would take
good counsel before doing so. / don't
hink the committee should demand any
answer, as We have competitors in the
market and a suit pending against US"
Mr.. Walker said the price OF soda TO
he retailers was abou: 10 cents pound
John E. Dwight. who was next called,
;aid he was second vice president OF ne
inn 90 Church & Dwight, OF which the
asst witness was treasurer. He testified
hat the output OF bi-caToonate OF soda
" MS firm was abou; 10, 900 tons per an
,um-
Charles F. Pope. the junior member o.
he firm Of Monroe. Taylor & Co. test
led that the factors agreement II re-
,ari 20 the sale OF bi-carbonate had con-