The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-29


ton branch not having advice TO advance the
price of liyers to 8 cents. l received your tee-
graphic instructions the day was in Scranton.
and even before they were received Babbitt had
instructions to put the livcrs up to that price,
and he told me that he was the only man IN
town, excepting Swift, who did have instruc-
tons at that time, but told him that they
would alb have it by that following Monday,
when the instructions would go into effect
The Scranton meat dealer. referred
to above as "Babbitt." got into trouble
with the Cudahys over liver prices, and
Mr.. Hughes wrote his Omaha concern:
That matter has been gone over in Babbitts
correspondence, and in other ways, and you
know now, Of course, why we are not getting
cents for lvers there. When was there last
confirmed his story that Ira Bennett did not ask
more than cents for livcrs. Up TO the Friday
night of the week We put the price up, lie only
sold two lvers out Of ten at cents, and told
him TO sell them at what they were worth,
rather than dump them, since others were not
maintaining the price, which he did
The date of Babbit's instructions TO advance
plaint from Armour reached YOU. Perhaps Bah.
bitt denied that he had received these instruc.
tions, but .trnour's people are continually com.
planning about lis at that point If they would
put in this time toward advancing prices, it
would be more advantageous to themselves and
everybody else. To say the least, they are as
cheap as anything on that market.
TIE BABB1TT MATTER.
Another Hughes letter concerning
Babbitt reads as follows:
Wilhelm Scranton this last time ] wired you,
among other things, that We getting market
prices for our pork cuts. l convinced myself Of
this before there very long. l have had
numerous complaints about Babbtt, and no
doubt you had as we'll, cutting in prices. In
fact, Swft's general men. Patterson. wired Inc
from there some time ago that Babbtt was sell.
ing from quarter to Il half lower than any OF
his competitors
1t is charged that not only are inde-
pendent butchers and meat sellers boy
cotted and blacklisted by the alleged
combine, but that employees are also. on
the ground that If they have the office
secrets of one concern they must never
be permitted to go into the employ of
another.
In support of this charge is the case
of p. j. Coleman. submitted to the gov
ernment. Coleman was at one time an
employe of Armour & Co., and was dis
missed on the ground of economy being
desired. No charges We're made against
his character. He then secured employ
ment in a branch house of Nelson Nor
ris & Co. Arbitrator Colby shortly
learned of his being there, and he was
again dismissed without charges. Next
he secured employment with a branch
house of Cudahy Il Co. at Scranton.
II. j. Connors, New York manager Of
Armour & Co.. discovered this and
complained to Mr.. Hughes of Cudahy
& Co., and Coleman was summarily
discharged. The correspondence in this
matter is covered in the following let
ters. Mr.. Hughes to the Cudahys:
Replying to your favor Of the 3rd inst, with
regard to our having employed p. j. Coleman at
Scranton as our provision salesman, l desire to
say that our manager employed Coleman after he
had lett the service of Nelson Morris. II is truc
tht lie was ut one time in the employ of Armour
Co., and while do not approve of the action
OF our manager there, yet hesitated to discharge
Coleman at the request of Mr.. Connors, but since
they have taken it up at that end and look at
the matter so curiolsly, / think it may bc well
to take him from that territory, which I have
notice next Monday that his services will no
longer he required, but with the suggestion that
! may be able to use him somewhere else.
TO CUDAHY's MANAGER.
The following letter was written by
Mr.. Hughes to the Cudahy local man
ager at Scranton:
On Monday, the 10th inst, you will please give
Mr.. Coleman one weeks notice OF the fact that
his services will 10 longer be required, for rca-
sons which ] will discuss with you personally
cn my next visit, which will be before the ter.
OF his service with us. ] may be able
to employ Mr.. Coleman at some other point in |
this district
Mr.. Coleman lost his job.
The packers say and the retailers !
echo that the increased price of meat is |
due to shortage of stock, and the high |
price of corn. Those who are prosecut-
ing the investigation claim that the |
action of the Interstate commerce conf
mission in annulling the rebates by
railroads to the big meat shippers re-
suited in an annual loss OF from $300O,-
600 TO $5,O00.OO0, and to make up this |
loss the price of meats was boosted.
No one attempts 10 deny that there |
is at least working agreement among
houses. They meet every Friday night |
over the Brunswick cafe on Spruce |
street, and it Is said fix the prices to be |
charged for all kinds of meat during |
the next week. They also hear and |
pass upon complaints regarding price |
cutting, it Is alleged, and impose fines !
on any house found guilty of violating |
the agreement.
Each agent must keep on deposit |
with Arbitrator Il. Il. Jayne, $500 as |
forfeit from which the fines can be
collected The ostensible business of |
these meetings and the arbitrator Mr.. |
Jayne, is to canvass the financial stand !
ing and fix the credit ratings for re-
tailers.
Miss LIE Way at Hotel Jermyn.
BY request, Miss lie Way will make |
an extra visit to Scranton today, with !
u line OF smart tailor-made hats, for |
shirt waist costumes, a display of en- |
elusive dress hats, and dainty line OF |
misses hats. ~
Dr.. Arndt,
Residence and office, 437 Wyoming ave.