The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-19
THE RUBBER COMBINE.
uEssRs FLINT AND LEiOW 10 NOT
lGREE on CERTAIN POINTS.
Mr.. Havemeyer Appears After Hecess-A
Missing Deed of Trust-The Wall
Paper Agreement.

NEW YORK, Feb. Ex-senator Lexow
and his colleagues OF the joint Legislative
Committee. appointed TO investigate the
existence of combinations and monopoies
i'm this state. met again this morning. In
anticipation Of an interesting session,
there was a large attendance OF the out
side public.
president u. o. Havemeyer, Of the
Sugar Refining Company. was not pres
ont. but he sent word that he would APP
pear after recess. lie had gone TO the
funeral Of William r. 81. John.
Mr.. Charles r. Flint and the rubber
combine were accordingly put in the cruz
chile. Chairman Lexows questions were
directed to drawing from Mr.. Flint some
information in regard to the destruction
by agents or employees OF the rubber COM
brne Of facilities for the manufacture Of
rubber at different points on Long Island.
Mr.. Flint. however professed ignorance
of any such proceeding
DIFFERENCES OF OPINION.
There is q great deal Of statement Of
fact or assertion in Mr.. Lexow's method
OF questioning, and Mr.. Flnts replies
were in contradiction or lack OF kno~l-
edge OF the subject Of Mr.. Lexow's ques-
tons.
Mr.. Flint stated that wages IN the rub
Der trust factories were the same now
as before the organization Of his COM
pany. that :hc number OF employees had
decreased. and that the price OF rubber
saocs had increased. not AS much, how
ever rs Mr. Lcxow's alleged. factory
aerc nont between the manufacturers
ARD dealers similar 20 the one mentioned
in the sugar and soda investigations APP
pears to Dee used I'm tho rabber trade. Mr.
Iexow's questions indicated that the rub
Ter company paid II per cent. dividends
last soars. DI. Mr. Flint said the divi-
dcnd was 1 per cent. Then Chairman
Loxow underworld TO make Mr.. Flint ad-
nit that the stock Of the rubber COM
panv was heavily watcred-principaily
water in fact, but Mr.. Flint held a diff
fcrcnt view.
THE DEED or TRUST.
After recess Mir. Havemcyer put I'm an
appearances Nj. Lexow asked ~ De had
brought tho trust decd Of the American
Sugar Refining Company He had not
and did no. know where 1t was. Law
yer Parsons. counsel for the Sugar Com
pany who was present said IT had been
m his possession. but De did not know
where it could be found Mr. Have
meyer said that Tho figures showing the
llSli lbAlbli OF lii' li'l'ii f'f f'NN' II ~ t'
company were cut ont boy AIR Parsons. by
permission of the Arnold Committee AT
the time Of tho investigation by the Unit
ted states Senate
Neither Havemayer nor Parsons could
tell what became of the books Of the ori-
ginal combination. They presumed the
books had been destroyed. Mr.. Have
never expressed regret that the trust
deed had not been destroyed. as IN MS
opinion ii was that deed that had caused
ain the "rersccution' Of the sugar COM
panv. Prosecution" Mr. LexOw sug-
restod. but Tlavemeyer adhered TO his
word The sugar people were then dis
missed with the remark from Chairman
Lexow that the only question remaining
for them was the production Of the deed
of trust All other information had been
supplied.
WALL PAPER.
The wall paper combination was next
put under fire in the person Of it's pres
ident Henry Burn His concern was
stocked 10 the amount of S2s.Oo00JO. It
controlled about 60 per cent. Of the BUSH
ness seventeen concerns being leit out
of the combination. Witness said the
combination aid not restrict the output
of wall paper although some concerns
had been closed. that in the first year OF
its organization the product had Increased
% or go per cent. that more labor had
been employed than before. that WAGES
had not decreased. and that the familiar
agreement with sellers was used In this
trade. Witness was directed To produce