The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-17

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U#ss. - American Sugar Re
-.# .Ha9.- ba5 I#sr ID conditions
1.- r7s# .. ,a= uaa
Hs ##t r. Ratchford,
hing for the
al . entire control
nix the entire
contr.- option in the
hands of any :, -. you'd be a
very dangerous power
THAT is what the trust aims at" said
Mr.. Ratchford, according to Mr.. Have
meyers own statement.
1.-THE business might get into the hands of
men not so broadminded as Mr.. Have
meyer" replied the witness.
Denied the Connection
Mr. Post denied that either the National
or the Mollenhaur company were connected
in any way with the American Refining
company at the present price of raw sugar,
the margin between raw and refined was
63 cents per 100 pounds before the refiner be-
gan to realize a profit. Mr.. Post said that
in past years his refineries have used Gu
ban cane sugar almost altogether, but since
the great reduction in Cuban output they
beet sugar, principally German and Aus
TRAN. The European refined sugar was
cheaper TO produce than the American, but
not of so good quality.
Imported raw sugar, the American re-
finers had cotton large quantities from the
Philippines. Regarding the effect of the
sugar trust on the price of raw sugar, wit
ness said he thought the presence of one
great buyer in the field had tended to
keep down the price, but he did not think
the trust could keep down the price more
than 1-16 cent per pound and that for only
portion of each season. On inquiry to
the affidavit plan of selling wholesale
grocers, witness said that it had recently
been abandoned. The result was in many
places grocers were cutting the price of
sugar and selling at a loss. Mr.. Post said
he was sorry for the grocers, but it was a
matter of little interest. The refiners al
lowed the grocers a profit of 3-16 of a cent
pound, which was as little as they could
afford to handle it for.
Cuban Sugar Dangerous
Free sugar from Cuba, witness said
would wipe out American raw sugar, both
beet and cane, in the next five years.
During the afternoon session, President
p. E. Covers, of the Commercial Travel
ers' League, testified that the trusts were
menace to the community and were
throwing large number of men out OF
employment. In giving specific instruc-
tions, he said:
THE National Enameling and Stamping
company, which depends for its raw ma.
terial upon the American Tin Plate com.
pany, has therein great many out of EN-.
ployment, and those retained have hat
their salaries reduced. The great tobacco
combines threw out out about three thous.
and; the Continental Tobacco company dis.
charged $50 in one day; the bicycle trust
will throw out six hundred statesmen an6
will cut down agencies in every city; the
chair trust will affect Immediately more
than five hundred statesmen by cutting then
out of line. One man writes me that the
Union Bag and Paper company has thrown
out of employment hundreds of statesmen
-Four hundred statesmen are out of work be.
cause of the United States Rubber com.
pany. The statesmen retained have beer
reduced to a salary averaging, so | an
Informed, $3.50 q year The American Tir
Plate company cut off about ninety out OF
every one hundred statesmen The Ameri.
told discharged 500 commercial traveller.
In one day.
Thrown Out by Trusts
''In giving these estimates I am not con.
sidering the office force thrown out throu OF
trusts. Sugar and coffee monopolies have
thrown out 1000 statesmen; average reduc
ton of salary of those retained, 81 600 g
year, a small per cent. of the old force
only being retained. The Standard Oil com
pany employs fewer salesman than any
other concern in the mercantile world o
one-half its capacity" Witness said tn,
trusts had raised the prices of the com
modities they controlled from . to 100 pc,
cent. in almost every instance except coffe,
and sugar.
In these they were still fighting for con.
troll of the field. He said his figures in this
line were absolutely correct, being from re-
liable commercial acquaintance. The ex
amples he gave were: Iron pipe over 10
per cent; tin ware and enameled ware
about SO per cent; brass goods, 60 pei
cent; chair trust just formed will advance
prices 80 per cent; rubber overshoes Omit
ed States Rubber company IA per cent
American Tin Plate company, about 80 pc
cent; newspaper. u to Y cent per pound
and a further advance in prospect; an ad
vance is expected in writing paper; in com
mon soap, % to 80 cents a box; glass bottles
will be advanced 10 per cent. by jobber
and manufacturers; clocks advanced
wholesale price on account of the advanc
in metals, 60 per cent; all metals have beel
advanced, brass pins, 20 per cent; pipe
and brushes 12k per cent; combs, 71R pc
cent; school furniture has gone up, as vel
as paper bags and wrapping paper.
The umbrella trust failed four years ago
but it advanced prices while in existence