Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1899-06-29
THE TRUSTS ARE RUINous.
Havemeyer Says the Republican Tariff is
the Mother of Them All.

The testimony given in Washington
before the Industrial Commission has
been quite unfavorable to trusts, and
Sugar King Hayemeyer, one of the
witnesses, says the Republican Tariff
Laws is the mother of trusts. Other
witnesses were equally severe in their
testimony, but the most damaging
came from P. E. Dove, of New York,
president of the Commercial Trayel-
lers National League. He said that
the opinion of the commercial men at
large was that the trusts w.re men
ace to the country, that there are in
the United States $4,000 travelling
statesmen and the formation of trusts
and combines was throwing a large
number Of these men out of employ
ment. He went into details by saying:
1.-THE National Enameling and
Stamping Company which depends for
its raw material upon the American
Tin plate Company has thrown a great
many out of employment, and those
retained have had their salaries reduc-
ed. The great tobacco combines threw
out about 5000 statesmen; the Conti-
mental Tobacco Company telegraphed
the discharge of $50 in one day; the
Baking Powder trust has dispensed
with all excepting half q dozen men.
Il know of two statesmen discharged
by the trust, who were formerly in the
employ of the Cleveland Baking Pow
der Company, one receiving salary of
$5 900 year, the other $4 800. Their
routes with those of other discharged
statesmen are covered by one man at
SIS per week.
"The bicycle trust will throw out
900 statesmen gradually, and will cut
down the agencies in every city; the
chair trust will affect Immediately
more than 500 statesmen, by cutting
them out of the line.
Zone man writes me the Union Bag
and Paper Company has thrown out
of employment hundreds of sa,esmen.
1.-The number of statesmen out of work |
because of the United States Rubber |
Company is three hundred. The sales
men retained have been reduced to a
salary. averaging, so 1 am informed,
81 300 year.
The American Tin Plate Company
cut Off about SO out OF every 100 sales
men. The American Steel and Rod
Company, haYe been told, discharged
1000 commercial travellers one day. In
giving these estimates l am not con-
ndering the office forces thrown out
through trusts. The sugar and coffee
have thrown out l 900 sales
nen, average reduction in salary of
hose retained ST. 900 a year; 25 per cent
,nly of The old force being retained
n house positions. The Standard !,
)il Company employs fewer sales
men than any other concern in the
nercantile world, of one half its CAPT
al"
Mr.. Dove paralyzed the claims of
ertain trust defenders, who have said
hat trusts sell goods cheaper than
was the case, with these start
ing figures as to the advance made on
ertain articles:
Iron pipe, over 100 per cent; tin
ware and enamelied ware, about 33
'er cent; brass goods, co per cent;
hair trust formed, will advance price
0 per cent; on May 1st American Tin
late Company advanced prices some
hing like 80 per cent. newspaper, to
cent pound, a further advance in
book paper, 5 per cent; and
0per cent. advance is expected in writ
ng paper; in common soap, 25per cent.
o 50 cents box; flint glass bottles
will be advanced 10 per cent. or more;
obbers and manufacturers of clocks
lave advanced the wholesale prices
m account of the advance of metals,
70 per cent. all metal goods have been
ldyanced; brass pins 25 per cent;
pipes and brushes, III per cent; combs,
a per cent; ribbons. Is per cent. and
school furniture has gone up, as well
rs paper bags and wrapping paper."
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