The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-06-17
EXAMINATIONS CONTINUE
Industrial Commission Still Digging After
the Trusts and Combines.
G. E. POWERS AND JAMES h. POST TESTIFY
One the President of the Connie rcial
Travellers Association, the other
Sugar Concern Representative.

Washington, June 16.-The industrial
commission began its session today by the
examination of James H. Post of Brook
Ign, a representative of the Mollenhauer
Sugar company and the National Sugar
company of New York. Mr.. Post, refer
ring to list of sugar prices covering the
past nine years, showed that the margin
between raw and refined sugar had huc-
tuated with the revision OF the tariff
and the entrance of competing companies
in the field. The standard price of re-
fined sugar he said, was fixed daily by
the American Sugar Refining company.
and as a rule those prices were followed
by the Independent rehneres.
Mr.. Post said that as general propo-
stion he thought the American Sugar
Refining company had influenced condi-
lions for the good of the country.
Do you think" asked Mr.. Ratchford.
that it would be good thing for the
American company to be in entire con-
troll OF the feld?"
mo" said Mr.. Post ~ think the
entire control of the universal oonsump-
ton in the hand Of any one set of men
would be very dangerous power"
That is what the trust aims at" said
Mr. Ratchford, according to Mr.. Have
meyers own statement"
The business might get into the hands
OF men not so broad minded as Mr. Have
meyer" replied the witness.
Mr.. Post denied that either the Ma
tional OF Mollenhauer company were con-
nected in any way with the American
Sugar Refining company at the present
price of raw sugar
Regarding the effect of the sugar trust
on the price Of raw sugar the witness
said he thought the presence of one great
buyer in the field had tended to keep
down the prices, @It he did not think the
trust could keep down the price more
than Lice Inquiry as to the affidavit
plan of selling to wholesale grocers, Wit
ness said that it had been abandoned
The result was In many places grocers
were cutting the price of sugar and SELL
ing at a loss. Mr. Post said he was
sorry for the grocers, but it was a matter
Of little interest.
The rehners allowed the grocers pront
of 3-16c pound, which was as little as
they could afford to handle it for.
Free sugar from Cuba, the witness said,
would wipe out American raw sugar, both
beet and cane in the next five years.
During the afternoon President G. e.
Powers of the Commercial Travellers
league expressed the opinion that the
trusts were a menace to the community
and were throwing large number of the
$4,000 travelling men of the country out
Of employment In giving specific In
stances, he said:
The National Stamping company,
which depends for its raw material on the
American lin Plate company, has thrown
a great many out of employment. and those
remaining have had their salaries reduced,
Other -mbinations threw out about 5000,
the Continental Tobacco company has
| telegraphed the discharge OF $50 in one
day; the bicycle trust Will throw out 500
statesmen gradually and will cut down
agencies In every city. The chair trust
will 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 en-
ployment hundreds OF statesmen.
| Three hundred statesmen are out OF
work because OF the United States Rubber
company. the statesmen retained have been
| reduced 10 a salary averaging $1,000 year
| The American Tin Plate company cut out
about ninety of their one hundred saleA-
men In giving these estimates I am not
considering the Office force thrown out
through trusts Sugar and coffee monop-
oles have thrown out 1000 statesmen; aver
age reductions in salary of those retained
/ are very nedNN.
The witness said The trusts had raised
the prices Of the commodities they con-
trolled from to 100 per cent in almost
every instance, 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 acquaintance.
The examples he gave were:
Iron pipe, over 100 per cent; tin ware
ana enameled ware, about 33 per cent
brass goods, so per cent; chair trust Just
formed will advance prices 30 per cent:
rubber shoes Omitted States Rubber com
pany), Ii per cent; American Tin Plate
company about so per cent, newspaper.
Ia TO IL cent per pound and a further
advance in prospect; book paper. TO 10
cents An advance is expecting in writ
ing paper, flint glass bottles will be ad
Vapced 10 per cent or more: jobbers and
manufacturers of clocks have advanced
the Wholesale price on account OF the adj :
vance in metals 60 per cent. All metals
nave advanced-brass pins, % per cent.
pipes and brushes, y 1-2; combs. Z ID per
cent; ribbons, 10 per cent school nrni-
ture mas gone up, as well as paper hays
and wrapping paper
The umbrella trust failed four wears