The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-06-21
statesmen THROWN OUT BY TRUSTS.
WAGES REDUCED.
The President OF the Commercial Travellers
League Presents Some Startling Figures
to the Industrial Commission.

The industrial commission the other
day heard n statement from p. T..
Dove OF New York. president OF the
commercial Travellers National league.
MIR. Dove said the opinion of the COM
mercial men at large was that the
trusts were menace to the commu-
nifty He estimated the travelling sales
men In the United States at $4,000 say
ing the figures of 10000 were grossly
Incorrect. The formation of trusts and
combinations was throwing a large
number OF these men out OF employ
ment In giving specific Instances he
said:
The National Enamellng and
stamping Company, which depends for
It's raw material upon the American
Tin Plate Company, has thrown a great
many out of employment and those re-
tained have had their salaries reduced.
The great tobacco combine threw out
about 5000 statesmen; the Continental
Tobacco Company telegraphed the dis
charge OF $50 men In one day; the Rak-
ing Powder trust has dispensed with
all excepting half dozen men, l know
OF two statesmen discharged by the
trust, who were formerly In the em-
ploy OF the Cleveland Baking Powder
Company, one receiving a salary of $5.-
900, the other $4,000. Their routes, with
those of other discharged statesmen,
are covered by one agent at S18 week.
The bicycle trust will throw out 600
statesmen gradually, and will cut down
agencies In every city; the chair trust
VIII affect Immediately more than 500
statesmen, by cutting them out of the
line.
"One man writes me the Union Bag
and Paper Company has thrown out of
employment hundreds OF statesmen. The
statesmen retained have been reduced to
q salary averaging so l am informed,
Sl,3OO year. The American Tin Plate
Company cut off about 90 out OF every
100 statesmen. American Steel and Rod
Company, / have been told, discharged
300 commercial travellers in one day. In
giving these estimates, l am not con-
sidering the office force thrown out
through trusts. Sugar and coffee mon
opolies have thrown out 1000 statesmen,
average reduction in salary of those re-
tained 900 a year. 20 per cent only of
the old force being retained I'm house
positions. The Standard Oil Company
employs fewer statesmen than any other
concern In the mercantile world of one
half It's capital"
Mr.. Dove said that the trust combi-
nations had raised the prices of the
commodities they controlled from to
100 per cent In almost every instance
except coffee and sugar. In these they
Ntit sun nSHtlUS lot cOntrOl OF tne
field. He said his figures In this line
were absolutely correct, being from re-
liable commercial acqualntances. The
examples he gave We're:
Iron pipe. over 100 per cent: tinware
and enameled ware. about 80 per cent;
brass goods, 60 per cent; chair trust,
Just formed, will advance prices 30 per
cent; rubber overshoes Omitted States
Rubber Company, advanced prices IA
per cent on May 1; American Tin Plate
Company advanced prices something
liko 30 per cent; news papers, Il to ~
cent pound, n further advance in
prospect; book papers, and 10 per
cent; an advance Is expected in writ
ing paper; In common soap, Is cents
to 80 cents box; flint glass bottles
Will be advanced 10 per cent or more;
Jobbers and manufacturers of clocks
have advanced the wholesale prices on
account of the advance of metals go
per cent; all metal goods have been ad-
vanced; brass pins. 25 per cent pipes
and brushes. 12h per cent; combs. ~
per cent; ribbons, 10 per cent; school
FURNITURE has gone up, as well as paper
bags and wrapping paper