The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-15
TRUST MAGNATE'S VIEWS.
JOHN W. GATES TALKS FRANKLY
uPON THE SUBJECT OF TRUSTS.
ment Americas Manufacturers
Could supply % Per Cent. of Iron
and Steel Demand Of the World.

WASHINGTON. Nov. i4--In giving his
testimony before the industrial commits
sion today, John W. Gates. managing direc-
tor OF the American Steel and Wire Com
pany. gave an interesting account OF his
Efforts TO effect a consolidation OF ali the
wire producing countries including ths
European nations He said he had visited
Great Britain. France, Germany. Belgium
and other countries for this purpose. Ger
many he found to be the principal COM
peti.or. Kngiand's work In that respect not
being sufficient TO deserve serious consid-
Grafton
Germans Were Too GReeAy.
In Germany tho one source OF fear In
manufacturing centers was competition
with the United States. and bountes and
subsidies were given on every hand TO
hold up the manufacturing interests OF that
country. German manufacturers FIRST pro-
posed that. in case OF an international con-
soiidation. the United States should be- con-
tent with Is per cent. OF the product. This
he had declined and they had increased the
allowance 10 IS per cent. He had run away
from Berlin TO avoid accepting this allow
ance He had himself represented the pcs
zbility OF increasing prices TO the extern,
Of about 80 per ton In case OF the proposed
amaigamation. but found that the Ger
mans had In view an increase OF about ID
per ton. .
liz this connection Mr.. CAFES commented
in high terms the German methods OF en-
coDraKinx the producing and exporting M
tsfests saying that II the United States
government would adopt the plan shsra
pursued they boon would be doing ,, per
cent. OF the iron and steel business OF the
world He advocated subsidies 10 steam
snip lines and 10 national corporations OK
s. 90 aoo capitalization ard over
Advocates Government sspervsston.
He would have the corporations pay lib-
orally Tor such charters In The beginning
and then have them pay large s-ins an
uualiy for the continuance Of the franchise.
increasing the amount a. tue casliaiixats ten
Increased until shs annual Ice s.cn!d Do
not less than a million dollars Tor ga q
company capitalized a. ti11.ssa..so lie adj
yocatso government supervision OK ali sacA
corpcrw tons He said the protecsivs tariff
had much 10 do with building up the iron
ance OF sse policy was necessary 10 the
future prosperity o, tae industry
The workings Of Bis Trust.
He said hss consolidation rad been effect
Ell last January. A number Of plants maj
could no; he operated rad been shut down.
Tne ceEnpAny employs Boo men ard
wages had bssa increased On al average
Of ~ ser cent. The company ali nos. ne
said recog nsxe sse trades uE.sans. dealing
~irs II. men AZ individuals. and would Dot
rweo.S zixs tie apiens - slGn- as sA14 lns
company reEir6ised All fss sarbed afEs
paisass ard bad a irofSpo.l IN IBIS Fe-
ssye~t on shls pvsc2cE = higher charge
va, made shan on other products. becaAss
81 RE monopoly 81 passEts. This Was be-
cause Of sae money spent In their sesg&ss-
,,on Issa~-a.y speaking. the advance Ia
rtrs products had o~en sniv rrnportionats
70 ,tAs inc-sase in The price OF raw Eaxex-
saI and u wages
Advance Set Due tn Combinnttom-
He considered thas 81 these advances
rad ss~s due to demand ard supply and
not 10 sns conshinataSa- iadesd. BE as
serrsx. rrxf ne American company III nor
s~~x a ussnopcly Of ths production 81 the
ssnpassrssd articles or seek 10 coatfl tas
srssiaG prt14 u IL pasxenA Crs the eoz-
esuxy d disp>sstSen - @ Suee0xAU