The times., 1899-10-17
THE INDUSTRIAL ENQUIRY
Testimony on Railroad Tariffs and
the Tin Plate Business.
ingalls,, of the Chesapeake
and Ohio, Presents a Written State
ment He Opposes Government
Ownership - Facts Brought Out
From Two Additional Witnesses.

The Industrial Commission took testi-
mony throughout the day yesterday. The
morning was devoted to hearing President
M. E. ingalls,, of the Chesapeake and Ohio
and Cleveland Cincinnati. Chicago, and st.
Louis railway companies. In the after
noon. the tin plate industry was made the
subject of investigation, and Vice Presi-
dent w. F. Graham and Treasurer F. S.
Wheeler, of the American Tin Plate Com
pany, were heard.
Mr. ingalls, submitted what he had to say
in the form of a written statement. After
reviewing the railroad situation of the
country at some length, the witness sug
geated, in the way of remedial legislation,
that the Interstate Commerce law should be
amended SO as to allow railways to make
agreements for the maintenance of tariffs
and the division of business. Further, that
the accounts of railway corporations should
be made subject to examination by officers
designated by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. With these amendments, and
a rigid enforcement of the law, Mr.. ingalls,
predicted that much more satisfactory
condition would prevail. He opposed Gov
ernment ownership, but believed that sys-
tenn of profit sharing could be made to work
beneficially to all
The afternoon session began at 2:15, and
Vice President Graham, of the American
Tin Flate Company, took the stand. 1t
was asserted by the witness that the tin
plate industry in this country was de-
pendent wholly on the tariff. That il the
duty was removed it would be impossible
for the industry to be conducted. The
American Tin Plate Company is COM
bination Of thirty-five or forty companies
originally in competition with each other.
The company is organized under the laws
of New Jersey, with an authorized capital
ization of $50, 600, 600. Stock to the amount
of $4,000, 900 has been issued. OF this $1S,-
900, 900 is preferred stock, and the balance
what is known as common stock. Annual
dividends of per cent are paid ON the
preferred stock, but no dividends have
ever been paid on the common stock. The
preferred stock, according TO the witness,
represents the actual value of the property
of the company, while the common stock
Of SIS, ,0G0 eco represented the good Will"
Within the past few years the, price Of
tin piate has advanced from $275 per box
to S4.65. The witness said, however, that
the price of the finished article had not
advanced more in proportion than the raw
material. The wages of the workmen
have been advanced from Is to so per cent.
The Is per cent advance was to the Or
gani2ed workers. and the larger percent
age represented individual and isolated
cases, where men had been working in
mills paving lower wages than the aver
age when the combination was made.
Many questions intended! to bring out
information on charges that have been
made that the tinplate trust Is controlling
the machinery for tinplate mills in order
to prevent competition, and other combi-
nations in this line, were not answered in
a way to enlighten the Commission to any
great extent. The witness said he knew
nothing OF that part of the business as
his duties were wholly in the marketing
department. He did say, however, that
he was under the impression that the
company had an agreement with certain
foundries whereby it was to take all of
their output of machinery for the working
OF tin. He said there was opposition in
the business in this country, and named
FIVE or six Independent mills which be said
were practically the extent of the opposi-
tion. There was also some tin imported
into the country, but this was not done to
any considerable extent. The export trade
was infinitesmal.
Mr.. Graham gave the advantages of
bringing the independent mills together
under one management, saying that money
was saved in preventing the cutting of
prices in railroad rates, in putting the pro-
duct on the market, and in the cost of pro-
duction. He knew nothing of any discrimi-
nation of railroad rates, and believed the
company received none. He said many
travelling men and agents had been dis
placed since the combination was formed
There are between 10000 and $4,000 en-
ployes of the American Tin Plate Com
pany, many of whom were brought over
from Wales. The company had no objec
tion to the organization of their employees,
and the advance in their wages of Is per
cent had been made at the request of the
employees through their organization. They
had asked for an advance of 90 per cent
but had compromised on 10.
F. S. Wheeler, Treasurer of the same
company, was then put on the stand for
few minutes. He corroborated as whole
the testimony of Mr.. Graham, but gave no
additional testimony.
Further testimony will be taken on the
subject today.