The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-06-23
OUT OF EMPLOYMENT
Trusts Discharging Men and Reducing
Salaries to Low Notch.

Trusts Diseharging Men and Reducing
Salaries TO Low Notch.
Washington, D. c., June 16.-The in
dustriaI commission to-day heard a
statement from P. E. Dove Of New
York, president Of the Commercial
Travellers National league. Mr.. Dove
said the opinion Of the commercial
men at large was that the trusts we're
q menace to the community. He esti-
mated the travelling statesmen in the
United States at $4,000, saying that
the census figures of 10000 were gross
" incorrect. The formation Of trusts
and combinations was throwing large
number of these men out of employ
ment.
In giving specific instances he said:
"The National Enameling and Stamp
ing company, which depends for its
raw material upon the American Tin
Plate company, has thrown a great
many out Of employment and those re-
tanned have had their salaries reduced.
'sThe great tobacco combines threw
out about 5000 saIesmen; the Contin-
entail Tobacco company telegraphed
the discharge Of $50 in one day; the
baking powder trust has dispensed
with all excepting half a dozen men. I
know Of two statesmen discharged by
the trust who were formerly in the en-
plOy Of the Cleveland Baking Powder
company, one receiving a salary of
5000 a year, the other $500. Their
routes, with those Of other discharged
statesmen, are covered by one agent at
SIS a week.
''The bicycle trust will throw ont COO
statesmen gradually, and will cut down
agencies in every city; the chair trust
viii affect Immediately more than 500
statesmen, by cutting them out Of the
line.
"One man writes me the Union Bag
and Paper company has thrown out Of
employment hundreds Of statesmen.
''The number of statesmen out of
work because Of the United States
Rubber company are 800; the statesmen
retained have been reduced to a salary
averaging, so I am informed, 1900 a
year. The American Tin Plate com
pany cut off about 90 out of every 100
salesman American Steel and Rod
company, 1 have been told, discharged
80 commercial travellers in one day.
In giving these estimates am not con-
sidering the Office force thrown out
through trusts.
Sugar and COTE mOnOpolies have
thrown out 1000 statesmen, average re-
ductiOn in salary of those retained
$1,000 a year. Twenty i've per cent
only Of the old force being retained in
house positions.
The Standard Oil company employees
fewer statesmen than any other concern
in the mercantile world Of one-balf of
its capital"
Mr.. Dowd said that the trust com
binatiOns had raised the prices of the
commodities they controlled from five
to 100 per cent, in almost every in
stance except coffee and sugar. In
these they were still fighting for con
troll Of the field. He said his figures
IN this line we're absolutely correct,
being from reliable commercial ac-
qaaintances. The examples he gave
were:
Iron pipe, over 100 per cent; tinware
AID enameled ware, about 81 per cent; |
brass goods, 60 per cent; chair trust
just formed will advance prices 80 Der
cent rubber overshoes United States
Rubber company, advanced prices Il |
per cent on May L; American tin plate
advanced prices something like 80. Der
cent; newspaper, quarter to half q cent
3 pound; book papers, i've and ten per
cent; In common soap, . To 80 cents a
box; jObbers and manufacturers OF I
clocks have advanced the wholesale
prices on account Of the advance of (
metals SO per cent; all metal goods
have been advanced; brass pins, . per
cent; pipes and brushes, I21I per cent: |
combs. II per cent; ribbons 10 per
cent
The umbrella trust failed four years
ago. but it advanced prices while in /
and after its break ND the
return TO legitimate and healthy prices
caused q loss 60 the retailer through I
The stock on hand
This witness concluded BY saying that