Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-07-20
TRUSTS CATECHIzED.
Civic Federation Of Chicago Mails
Letters to Interested Parties.
SECRETARY WILSON At SEATTLE.
The Secretary Of Agriculture Thinks Ex-
psnslon Ia Going to Be Great Thing
for the Pacific Coast--The Phil
ipplne War Touched Upon.

Chicago, July 1.-THE general COM
mittee on arrangements for the confer
ence on combinations and trusts, called
by the Civic federation Of Chicago, has
mailed circular letters to $50 trusts and
combinations throughout the country
asking 20 questions, such as the num-
Der Of organizations included in the
consolidation, the number yet outside;
the original capital of the various con-
Germs now merged and the present cap
ital employed by the combination and
the effect on prices Of products the eff
feet on labor as to displacement and
rate Of wages.
OF the labor unions in the various
crafts employed in these combinations,
questions are asked to the effect on
wages, hours Of work and the number
thrown out Of employment by the
organization of the trusts. The ques-
tions addressed to the 800 national and
local travelling mems organizations
throughout the country are as follows:
Frst-How many commercial travellers In
your immediate vicinity have lost their posi-
tons wing to trust consultations!
Second-How many Of those discharged be-
long to your local organization'
Third-What effect have these combinations
had regarding the salaries Of commercial
travellers retained In their employ
lFOurth-Estimate the number Of commercial
travellers residing In your locality.
Fifth-What Is your opinion OF trusts and
Industrial combinations and what is the gen.
eral sentiment expressed regarding them'
The committee hopes the employment
Of this system will be that each set of
replies may operate as a check upon
the others, so that the final result will
be an unquestionably accurate lot of
data Oh the essential points at issue in
the trust problem-material which will
provide basis for argument in the con
ference.
The six questions addressed to the
wholesale dealers are as follows:
First-Are any or oil Of the articles in which
you deal manufactured by trust" or combi-
natiOnY
Second--If any, please state what.
Third-To what extent are you able to buy
these goods from sources outside Of the combi-
natlon'
Fourth-What has been the course Of prices
since the combination on the goods you SELF
Please give as full statistics OF prices before
and after combination as you can, to support
your statement.
Fifth-To what extent do you ascribe the
changes which have occurred to the fact Of COM
bination and to what eS IRE they due to
other causesY Give any figures that you can Of
Increase and decrease in supply and demand in
support Of your views.
Sixth-what Is your opinion of the general eff
feet Of the combination in your line on (a) the
trade-the distributor-and (b) the public-the
consumer
SECRETARY WILSON AT SEATTLE.
Seattle, Wash. July II. Secretary of
Agriculture James Wilson will remain
in this city several days, or until he
has seen every farmer from whom 1t is
.,a.;,1a A.. ..,f.; n
Po'aioie W oo'aii any ihioi i'o'ioh' ho
said:
The time has come when the coast Is in a posi-
ton to command the trade of the Orient and
Pacific. Manila alone will take all the butter
Washington can manufacture and put up in tin
cans. The Pacific coast Is destined to yet be
the great market Of the world, and it is the