The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18
TRUSTS HAVE A HEARING.
SOME FACTS LAID BEFORE THE M
DUSTRIiL COMMISSION.


WASHINGTON. Oct. 17.-Tsstimony was heard
by the Industrial Comml ssion to-day from Mr..
Daniel g. Reid. President OF tho American Tin
Plate Company OF Chicago: Mr.. William II.
Refs. President OF the National Steel Company.
also OF Chicago: Mr.. c. s. Guthrie, President OF
tho American Steel Hoop Company OF Pitts
burg. aud Judge William II. Moore OF Chicago.
organizers Of nearly all the successful trusts In
the country. After the examination, which
developed the Methods OF organizing such cor
porntons and conducting their affairs the
witnesses presented their expense allowances
to st. Josephs Orphan Asylum OF this city.
Their gift was increased by similar contribu-
lions from other trust witnesses to a total OF
about $500.
Il am satisfied" said Mr.. Reed. that the
consumer obtains tin plate cheaper to-day
because OF our combination into one corpora
ton than would be the case II those combined
plants operated Independently. i believe that
the tariff played part In this union. II is
due entirely think. to the business consider
atoms OF economy and cooperation. The
establishment Of our plant. indeed the estab-
lishment in this country Of the industry itself.
is due. however. to the protective tariff under
which we now operate. That this situation has
not been obtained at an unfair cost to the con-
sumner is indicated by the present reduced price
vailing among our employees"
Mr.. Reed devoted most Of his time to consid-
ering the effect OF q protective tariff intended
as a restriction on tho importation Of Welsh tin
plate In 1874 he said. an effort had been made
to manufacture tin plate in this country. For
this purpose about $1,000 was invested. But
the American product could not be sold at the
prices asked for Welsh goods. because of
the difference in the wages paid the workmen.
Sixteen years ago Congress imposed a duty on
imported tin. raising the price OF imported
wares to about 81 box, while the price OF Am.
erican wares was 50 box. To-day American
tin plate can be and is produced at 1856 per
box and the price OF imported tin has fallen to
1927 q box.
1T will be a long time probably" said the
witness. before our tin plate can invade for
sign markets. Our company lowers its price
consistently in order to meet all competition.
but while American wages remain as they are
1t is unlikely that we shall be able to meet
Welsh prices. At present there are about 400
Hills in Great Britain and about $50 in this
country. and the American mills produce
about two-thirds Of all of the tin plato OF the
world However. the productive capacity OF
a single mill in this country is about 30 per-
cent. greater than that Of the average
British plant We brought our first skilled
workmen from Wales. The percentage
OF Welshmen employed has steadily declined
since and the American workman has been
advanced in tho same proportion. Each mill
for example. employs one roller. and his wage
$3.50 to- So per day and the unskilled laborers
Sl.4O. Women and Erls get about $l.25. On
day each This scale is Facilitated dG by the labor
Wales at s.. N2tWi,hstsndins these wages
probably kept So men In this country"
Mr. Refs xplained the growth Of the National
900. OF which S27.OOOO0O is preferred and
sirei stock ' Tas gwen o for s o Of
procured from the smaller companies entering
,ne rymhnH0n anG 500 Of stock
Of the company is now conducted nominally
from New Jersey. where it was organized and
brought into the combination. Mr.. Refs OK
planned that the National Company owns large
Great Lakes. which have a capacity of mill
lion tons OF steel. n little less than the
HeT and boa. bronght ssS to T
at nearly iiXed, ,rriec., 1t almost never hap
penei. SAID Dir. Refs that the National Com
too IIonga period About half tho employees
mated Association Of Steel. Iron and Tin
Workers. and their wages are hxed by
nn' IT, e hs S TO hs opa nE
that the National Company needs O protection
except on tin rlate In the prod uction Of which
ested. No steel biIlsts are imported and they
are manufactured only on order. Tbs witness
ton had materially l"ssened the number OF
stock holders IN stee;-wolking manutactpres.
the organization OF the National. he said to
one who IL now member OF that COMPANY,
AR guthrie sE2Ee only lew MINUTES ds
industrial houses and the export trade. Be-
fore such union Of resources. said Mr.. Guthrie,
means and liability Of the small dealer.
Large companies are able to force their way
iinto foreign marksis. are already building
the neld Of American commerce widely as
S SsnR hf hs organization
Of the american Tin Plate Company, the Ma
trust" Corporations His testimony before
OF organizing such comb nations and their
present' condition., He had invariably APP
chase This purchase " was al Away. Effected eH
without the use OF any great sum OF
money The owner Of the plant agreeing to aG
premium on the transfer. Nearly every great
this way. all under tho laws OF New Jersey.
That state was chosen because its legislative
the manufacturer and most lust to every one.
The Iseway given the combination under New
Jersey law made it practically a business i'm
possibility for a large corporation to organize
under the laY Of any other State.
Nearly all the States in the Union must
come sooner or later to the New Jersey point
OF view, said Judge Moore. England was
at ono time just az preJudiced against large
com binatons as our people are to-day but
feelings there changed az they must change in
the United States. ordinations have come
to stay in this country. as they have come to
stay everywhere. In effect the people OF Amer
lea are endorsing them every day. Our pre-
fsrrcd stock is a good investment: it pays in
terest at per cent. 1t il as secure as a bond.
Il people buy II. they approve the issue Of it.
To-day our preferred stock il steadily aivanc-
ing In price because the people Of tho United
stotes are so anxious 10 have it,"
Al the witnesses heard by the commission
receive ten cents per mile for the distance
they must travel to appear before it and 81 80
per day tor expenses. Such of them as have
testified for the trusts entered into n tacit
agreement that their allowances should be
given to st. Joseph's Male Orphan Asylum
hrof, Jenks Of Cornell University, counsel for
the commission, escorted to-days witnesses
to the asylum and anneunced that they
brought with them n gift ot $500. The boys
who gathered about set up shout after shout
and robbed the ceremony Of all trace OF for
mality II Is understood that thu gift will lie
swelled By subsequent contributions TO the