The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-06-21
DRUMMERS AND
THE TRUSTS.
STARTLING FACTS GIVEN
BYPREsIDENT OF COM
CIAL LEAGUE.

Washington. June Is The indus
trial commission begsa its session BY
the examination of James q. Post Of
Brooklyn. 3 representative of the
Mullenhsue. Sugar company and the
National Sugar compsny Of New York.
Mr. Post said that as general
proposition he thought the American
Sugar Refining company had iDsu-
enced conditions for the good Of the
country.
Do you think, !" asked Nj. Batch
lord. ..shas it aould be a good thing
sor che american company to be 10
entire control Of tie field p
sNo, said Mr. Poss. "I think the
eatire control o; 90 article of uaiver-
ssl esssumption in the hands of any
one set OF men woald be very danger
eus power.
s.Tbas is what the trust aims at."
said Mr. Ratchford, according to Mr..
Hsyemeyer's owa statement
ssThe business might get iato the
hands of men not so broadminded as
Mr. Havereyer," replied the witness.
Mr. Post denied that either the
Mullenhaper or the National companies
we're connected in any way with the
American Refining company.
In answer 10 an inquiry as to afil-
aayis plan Of selling to wholesale
grocers, witness said that it had recent
II been abandoned. The result was 10
many places grocers yere cutting the
price cf sugar and selliug at a loss.
Mr. Post said he vss sorry fer the
grocsrs, bus it vas matter of little
;n.eses. to she reGuer. The re6oers
allowed the grocers profit of three
eizteenths of q cent poCad. which
Was as little as they could afford to
haadle for.
Free sugar from Cnba. witness said,
would wipe out American raw sugar,
both beet aud cane, in the next i've
yeare.
During the afternoon the commission
heard statement from P. 3. Dove of
New York. president Of the CONNER
eial Travellers National league. Mr..
Dowie said the opinion of the CONNER
eisl men at large was that the trusts
we're a menace to the community. He
estimated the travelling salesmen in
the United States as $50, 600. The
formation Of trusts and combinations
vss shrowiDg largs number Of these
men out Of employment.
In giving specific instances. he said !:
ssThs Na.ioaal Enameiiag aod Stamp.
log company, which depends For its
raw material npon the American Tin
Plate company, has thrown a great
many ous of employment and those
retained have had their salaries reduced
The great tobasco combines threw out
about {. 900 statesmen ; the Continental
Tobacco com pany selegraphed the dis
charge of $50 In one day; the baking
powder trust has dispensed With all
excepting half dczoa usn. | know
o: Two salesmen discharged by the trnst
Who we're formerly ia the employ Of the
Cleveland Baking Powder company,
one receiving salary Of S.. 600 year
ard the other 81. 500. Their routes
with those of other discharged sales
men, are covered by ooe agent at SIS
week. The bicycle trust will throw
cut coo salesmen gradually. and will
cus down the agencies 10 every city;
the chair trust will affect immediately
more than 500 salesmen By cutting
them ons of the line
.sOae mao writes me the Union Bag
and Paper company has thrown out of
employment hundreds Of sslesnen.
..The number of ssIesmeu out Of
work because of the United States
Rubber company is 800; the salesmeu
retaioed have been reduced to salary
ayeragipg, so | sm informed, 81. 300
9 year.
"Tte American Tin Pate company
eus Of about 90 on, of every 100 sales
men. The American Steel ADD Rod
company, I have been told, discharged
goo commercial travellers 10 ooe dev-
10 giving these estimates ! an net
considering the Office forces tbrowo out
through trusts Sugar and coffee mo-
nopolies have thf0vu cut LOCO sales.
men; average reduction 10 salary OF
those retained $1,000 year; % per
cent ooly of the old force being retained
in house positions. The Standard Oil
company employs fever statesmen than
sny otoer concern in the mercantile
world Of one half i,s capital. -
Mr.. Dove said that toe trust combl-
nations had raised the prices OF the
commodities they controlled from FIVE
to 100 per cent. 10 almost every instance,
except coffee aud sugar.
The examples be gave were: