Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-15
DEFENSE OF TRUSTS.
The President Of a Grocers' Asso-
citation Favors Combines.
OKLAHOMA PASTURES LITIGATION.
Assistant Attorney General Vaadeyenter
Renders Decision About the Otoe and
Missouri Leases Colored Troops
May BE Sent to the Philippines.

Wholesale GrOcers' aSsOcla -,On, was tbs
only witness before the industrial com
mission yesterday in connec ION with
the trust investigation. Mr.. Smith
proved to be a defender of the trusts
but he refused to speak OF the combi-
nations of capital by this name. He
indeed asserted that there were nc
trusts, and that the combinations were
so referred to unjnstly. He detailed
the particulars Of the organization OF
the grocers' organization, which oc-
cured in 1883. He said previous to
this combination the wholesale gorcers
were selling many articles at cost
price, including sugar, baking powder
and soap and other articles of uni.
form quality. There was especial
reason to complain OF the price
OF sugar. he declared. and the whole
salers had given particular attention
to securing cooperation with the
sugar rehners SO as to insure slight
profit. The American Sugar Refining
company then, he said controlled the
manufacture Of sugar, and the whole
saler, had been able after much con-
sultation to secure u uniform rate OF
5 3-l6 cents per pound, with the under
standing that all who did not sell at
less price than this should have a re-
bate at the end of each three months
of 1874 cents on each 100 pounds of
sugar purchased. This arrangement,
said Mr.. Smith, had continued until
the present day. and would have re-
lieved the grocers of the necessity of
selling sugar at loss If some Of them
had not made cut on the price. As
sorting that there were no trusts,
Mr.. Smith said he had asked
"A lawyers to name one and
they had failed to do SO. As for
combinations Of capital they were
to do the business of the
world and when any of them should
reach point at which 1t was making
excessive profit, competition would
spring up, and thus furnish an antidote
for the only possible evil that might
arise from them. He knew that the
of the sugar refineries
had resulted in reaction Of price and
It was also a fact that he was now able
TO buy three or four gallons of oil with
The profits he formerly made on one
gallon. Hence he argued that such
combinations were in the interest Of
The consumer.
LEASED LAND DECISION.
Washington, June l3.-Assstant At
.orney General Vandeventer, for the
Interior department, yesterday rem
Tered his decision on the case involving
he leases of the Ponca pastures and
If the Otoe and Missouri pastures in
now held by William f.
smith, Frank Witherspoon, Isaac I.
Pryor and Julian II. Morris. The pas
,ures embrace $4,000 acres and the
eases were given March IA, 1898, to
'un for a period of three years from
April 1, that year, at an an
lual cash rental of Sl1, 100 and
'epair of all fences, erection
If new fences and of water tanks. The
,ase grew out of the action of Isaac
Sharp, agent at Ponca agency, in &C.
,epting 81, 500 from the lessees for APP
proving the leases. The attorney gen.
raj goes into the history of the case
md states that after Sharp's approval,
when the leases were sent to Washing
on, the secretary declined TO approve
hem as then drawn and insisted upon
IN increased rental. The lessees were
to increase their annual
entail 50, SS and upon doing this
he leases were approved. The lessees
we're not molested after the discovery
If the method employed in obtaining
'harp's approval of the leases and
we're required to fulfill their agree
nents, the repair and construction Of
ences, etc. In the opinion rendered
yesterday by the assistant attorney
yeneraL which bears the approval Of
he secretary of the interior, the facts
'elating to the bribery of Agent Sharp
IRE all fully set forth, INCLUDING the
affidavit of Henry E. Asp, describing
n detail the circumstances of the brib-
,ry. The opinion holds that as a rule
/ contract or lease thus traudulently |
obtained is for that reason subject to |
'escission and cancellation by the party
upon whom the fraud is practiced and
hat the fraud does not make the con-
tract or lease absolutely void, but only |
voidable,
C0LoRED TROOPS FOR MANILA.
Washington, June Is. The war de-
partment has under consideration an
order sending the Twenty-fourth and |
rwenty-ffth infantry 10 Manila to re-
nforce Gen. Otis. The order has not |
yet been issued but arrangements for |
these regiments are being |
and it is quite probable that |
It will be completed in a few days.
Both are colored regiments and saw
service in Cuba. 1t is believed the men |
will be able to withstand the climate |
Of the Philippines better than the
other troops. Owing to the posi-
BILE troubles with the Indians II
these posts are left entirely |
garrisons, other troops, no |
doubt, will be sent to occupy most of |
Them.
Boom for Thurston for Vice President.
Chicago, June l9.-The movement |
among western congressman, which |
had It's origin in tho con faran,as hoid |