Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-05-10
TRADE AGREEMENTS
The right OF DEALERS TO make
UNIFORM PRICES ON GOODS
The Mississippi Valley Lumberman
on the Subject, From the View.
point of the Lumber Trade, But
the Article is Applicable to All
Lines OF Business.

Just at the present time the question
OF combinations in restraints of trade is
receiving its full quota Of attention from
the public, but as is usual in such and
other matters a very large portion OF
those who talk and write their opinions
do not appear capable or willing to
properly discriminate. AS is also usually
the case, the discussion OF this particular
question has led the publ: into directing
its attention to some of the more promi
nent lines of trade, and to entirely ignore
the very plain evidences of what it con.
demns in other lines. A retail dealer in
lumber very pertinently inquiries how
the lumberman is to make fair profit
If he does not enter into some kind of an
agreement with the other dealers IN his
Community, and how, If he does so, he
is to escape being indicted and punished
under the laws that apparently aim at
such methods. If two or more dealers
in the same town enter into any form of
understanding which will result i'm an
ability to obtain unduly large profits it
would appear that they very properly
should be made to feel the heavy hand
Of the law. But if they merely endeavor
to avoid price war that would result in
loss Of money to them, it hardly seems
that such an effort could be cassed as a
combination in restraint Of trade.
Ii it is crime for the retail lumber
dealers in a community to agree that
they have right to make living at
their business, what is the public to do
with dozens of other men WHO are en-.
gagged in selling commodities or service.
Ii your hair has been permitted to grow
until it has become shaggy around the
edges, and you step into your accus-
toned barber shop, and find the chairs
full, and do not care to wait. but 60 to
another shop, you will probably pay the
same price. Of course, if you dig around
in some OF the underground shops off the
main street you can find place where
they will cut your hair for fifteen cents,
or shave you for ten, but when you got
home your wife will tell you to get the
shears go she can make you decently
presentable, or you will 90 around for
several days with evidences OF having
followed the man who dumped into
bramble bush:" If you have paid the
usual price, do you at once set up howl
about a combination of BARRIERS in re-
straint OF trade?
If some emergency arises at home that
makes it necessary for you to call in the
nearest physician instead OF going after
your regular doctor; do you rail against
the unholy doctors trust because the bill
comes in at the end of the month with
the regular charge? If you 90 to an I'm.
familiar grocery store and find that they
give you the came number OF pounds OF
sugar for dollar that your regular grocer
delivers. is it evidence that the grocers
are in league to rob the public? Be.
cause you pay the same five cents to ride
on horse car in the down town district
Of Chicago that YOU pay for a ride on an
electric in some other town, does it prove
that the street car men OF the country
are in a gigantic trust? Two separate
and distinct transfer companies will
charge you the same price for taking
your trunk to the station, but you never
thirk OF an agreement that is contrary
10 the law. Instances might be multi.
piled where the same commodity or the
same service de nands the same COM
pensation, and there is never a thought
II anything unfair or unlawful. Why
hen, should the retail lumber dealers Of
town be censured if they all figure
certain bill at practically the same price,
provided that price is not exorbitant?-
Valley Lumberman.