The times., 1899-06-17
TRAVELLING MEN And
THE TRADE Combines
Testimony Before the Indus
trial Commission.
Statement of the President of the
Commercial Travellers League.
Z. u. DOVE Says the Trusts Have
Thrown Many Men Out of
Employment.


the Industrial Commission on the subject
of trusts. James H. Post, of New York
representing the Mollenhaur and National
Sugar Refining Companies, and E. P.
Dove, President of the American Com
mercial Travellers League. Mr.. Posts
testimony related entirely to the sugar
industry. while that of Mr.. Dove embrac-
ed a general expression of the travelling
men of the country in regard to trusts and
! trade combines.
Previous to taking testimony the Com
mission adopted a resolution expressing
regret at the resignation of Mr.. North,
who is to conduct the Statistical Depart
ment of the Census Bureau. The resolu-
ton complimented Mr.. North very highly,
and regretted his withdrawal from the
body on account of his mature judgment
| on plans of procedure in investigation,
large experience in the treatment of eco
nomic questions, liberal views on the re-
lations of labor and capital, quick analysis
of modern business methods, and in many
| other ways an untiring, intelligent, and
| safe counselor on the great practical busi-
| ness and social questions submitted by
| Congress for investigation and review by
| this Commission
| According to the testimony of Mr. Post,
there is no connection between the rein-
cries he represents and the Sugar Trust
as has been claimed. The witness went
over the ground previously covered as to
the cost of refining, saying that the margin
| OF difference between the raw and refined
| sugar was about 80 cents a hundred
pounds. which just about covered the cost
OF refining. The present tariff was suf-
! fcient, in his opinion, to enable this
| country TO compete with Europe on re-
fined sugar. If the tariff were taken OFF
| Cuban sugar. Mr.. Post believed it would
seriously injure the beet sugar industry
| of this country. He believed Mr.. Have
meyer and other large refners of this
| country personally owned large sugar
! plantations in Cuba.
The witness said that. in his opinion
the Sugar Trust had been a benefit to the
public, by reducing the price of that ar
! ticle, and as yet the combination had not
made use of the great power given it to
charge exorbitant prices. 1t had kept the
margin down TO keep out competition. He
| predicted that the present war between
| the trust and the independent companies
would come to an end inside OF two yeaIs,
and perhaps in six months The produc-
tion of raw sugar, he said had not kept
pace with the consumption. The witness
said that the revival of the sugar Industry
in Cuba would open field for the Amer
lean negro to find lucrative employment
MIR. Dove appeared before the Commits
sion at the afternoon session After he
had made arrangements to give testi-
mony several weeks ago he prepared a cir
cular letter, asking the opinion of travel
| ing men with reference to trusts; as 10
how their lines of business had been af-
fected and the number of men in their re-
spective lines who had been thrown out
Of employment; also the individual opinion
of each on the subject. In this way ne was
| enabled TO get an expression from some
| 5000 travelling statesmen in all lines of
business and from all parts of the country.
Mr.. Dove summarized their answers in a
statement which he presented to the Com
mission. As a preface, he said that out
OF the answers he received, but two were
in favor of trusts. one of these whole
sale dealer and the other was unsigned
From this he deduced that the travelling
men of the country were against trusts and
combinations for controlling trade Many
men had been thrown out of employment by
reason of the fact, as stated by the wit
ness, that, when combination got control
of any commercial article, there was no
need for statesmen; a bookkeeper could 60
out and take the orders, or they could be
sent by mail The average salary of sales
men for trusts was only SIS a week Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Dove said:
THE only argument in favor of trusts
and advanced by those directly interested
or by their henchmen, that the intention
is generally to reduce prices, and the con-
sumer to receive benefit, l will attempt to
show as fallacious from evidence OF those
who have an accurate conception of the
true situation-the commercial travellers
i quote the sentiments of one very able
traveller: Trusts are conceived in infamy
born OF greed. and Graded in the lap Of
dishonesty
Commercial travellers are against trusts
both from self-interest, naturally to be ex.
pected under the conditions as an out.
growth of combinations, and because of tn.
principles involved, the injustice to tn,
people, the menace TO democracy. the sem
! blance to plutoeracy and the rottenness o.
| the whole movement.
THE travelling men believe that in a few
years most of the trusts will have beer
broken: but that it will be impossible tt
completely shake off the grasp of som,
monopolies upon the throats of the people
. My correspondents state that the buyer
: generally do not like the trusts, and woul,
prefer 10 buy from outsiders, condition,
being equal.
The census OF 1890 shows less than 81, co
. commercial travellers in the United States
the census is incorrect; probably man
commercial statesmen are included unde
! the head of clerks and statesmen.
. THE number of statesmen out of worl
because Of the United States Rubber Com
pany are 300; the statesmen retained lav
been reduced to a salary, averaging, SO
am informed, 81 800 year. The American
. Tin Plate Company, cut off about 80 ou
of every leo statesmen. American Stee
and Rod Company. | have been told dis
charged 300 commercial travellers in on
day.
In giving these estimates / am not con.
sidering the Office force thrown out through
trusts. ! was not invited to speak in theil
behalf; but | will call your attention to tn,
fact that the American Tobacco Company
discharged Its office help in St. Louis a
the time of removing the headquarters Il
New York. ] know of two head clerks il
different establishments who were dis
charged by concerns absorbed by the trust,
after nearly twenty-five years of service
and hundreds of like instances can be dis.
covered upon investigation.
Sugar and coffee monopolies hav.
thrown out 600 statesmen; average reduc
. tion in salary Of those retained. 81 900 (
. year, 25 per cent Of the old force bein,
retained in house positions. The STANDARD
. Oil Company employs fewer statesmen thai
any other concern in the mercantile worls
OF one-half its capital and profits; 1t ha.
. reduced the salaries OF the statesmen in it,
employ, with only very few exceptions, Il
. less than the income of the average me
: chanic.
. THE Leather trust has affected nearl. Q
per cent OF the statesmen; the Electric Car
: riage trust has compelled several men Il
seek work elsewhere The Thread trus