The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-08-28
IDEA WAS HARMLESS
SUCH is MIR. LOUIS MARR'S OPIN-
ION OF MIR. BREWSTER'S
CHICAGO TRUST
WAS MERELY a COMBINATION
Attended the Last Convention of the
PhOtO-Engravers in Chicago and
Presented His Plans TO Maintain
Prices, Which, According to MT.
Mari, Are Now at a Level That Is
Not Justified by the Times.


The reported arrest at Chicago of w.
B. Brewster, the st. Paul attorney, on
charge of violating the state law against
trusts by attempting to organize COM
bination of photographers. was received
with surprise by the local photo-engrav-
ers. Tho general belief is that there
must have been a misconception on the
part Of the Illinois authorities as to what
the combination proposed really meant.
Referring to the matter, Louis Mari, of
the Art Engraving company, said yester-
day:
"Of course I am unfamiliar with the
circumstances that led to the arrest Of
Mr.. Brewster at Chicago. I believe, how
ever that his intention was harmless,
although he never explained his plan in
detail to the local firms. Mr. Brewster
went down to the last convention of en-
gravers and there presented a plan for a
combination to maintain prices. Not to
raise charges materially, but to prevent
any further undermining of the possibili-
ties of the business. Prices are now at
a level that is not justified The matter
has been considerably talked over by the
St. Paul firms, and we have felt that
there exists a necessity for us to unite
for self-protection. 1t is not a trust, in
any sense of the word, that is proposed,
as I understand it.
Mr. Brewster went to Chicago several
days ago and submitted plans to the
local firms for an organization. He OBJ
tanned many signatures but one of those
who refused to join swore out COM
plant for his arrest on a charge Of vio-
lating the antitrust law.
According to the articles of agreement
! submitted to those asked to join the
combination the members are divided
into three classes, as folrows; Glass A,
! those who employ twelve men or less;
! Glass f, those who employ between tkir-
| teen and twenty-five men; Class G, those
| who employ over twenty-five men. Each
! of these classes selects three trustees,
! all to appoint general manager, who
| shall receive a salary Of $3.50 or $1,000.
| The capitalization of the classes for the
| purpose of assessment for a general ex-
| pense fund is given as follows: a, $500,
| emitting the members to five votes; B,
$1,000. ten votes; c, $4,000, twenty votes.
According to the agreement, when two
or more firms compete for a large con-
tract the firm securing 1t is to pay 2
per cent of the contract price to the gen.
eral fund. In addition to this the classes
contribute to this fund as follows: Each
member of Glass A, SIS annually; B, $3.50,
| and c, $500. All of the classes give guar
antees to carry out the terms of the
| agreement.
Members Of Class A give what are
termed bonds, or notes, for $500, on which
a 20 per cent payment is made to the pro-
moter, Brewster. Members of Glass 3
give notes for $500, with a payment of $25
to Brewster, and Glass C, notes are for
| 81 1000, the promoters share being $50 for
| each member IL any member is detected
cutting prices the penalty is the for
| fixture Of the unpaid balance of the notes.
! 1t is said the new organization is to be
! known as the Photo ngravers' Asso-
| citation Of Chicago. Directors were de-
cided upon, but officers have not been
selected. The opening sentence Of the
articles of agreement is, 1--WE, the I'M
dersigned, agree to combine to protect
prices of the photo-engravers' business,
etc, and it is largely on this the prose-
| cution bases its claim that an effort has
been made to form a trust. Th3 matter
was brought up at the convention held
at Put-in-Bay last July, but was not dis
! cuSsed at any length.