The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1907-05-15

posed, the testimonies of the witnesses
who were called after Mr.. Taber were
the most thrilling. Two members of
the firm of l.. b. Burch and Son. of
Cullman, testified that a representative
of the Continental Oil and Fertilizer
Company of Birmingham told them in
dividually that II he found company
selling at lower prices than his own
company he would put that company
out of business. transaction which. he
picturesqueiy paralleled as making
their shirt tails fly"
Nearly every witness testified that
he had asked and had seeeived re-
bates; several said that they had been
requested to keep the rebates secret;
heard, 1t was testified, to speak OF. an
agreement that prevented them from
undertaking competitors
Judge Cabot Lull of wetumpka, for
merly Probate Judge of Elmore coun-
ty; II. J, Britt, merchant of We
tumpka; w. A. Austin, Jr., mer-
chant of wetumpka; c. r. Maxwell,
a mixer of Northport; J. l.. Burch, l..
B. Burch, and N. A. Burch Of the
firm of l.. B. Burch and Son, of Gull
man; and r.. o. Crawford. General
Manager of the Crawford Mercantile
Company of Jasper. were the witnesses
examined after Mr.. Taber had left the
stand.
When the Committee convened yes
terday morning there were present
Chairman Leith. Senator Overton.
Representative Pitts. Representative
Power, Assistant Attorney General
Martin and E. F. Baber, of Montgom-
cry, was stenographer for the Com
mittee.
Mr.. Taber's Examination.
When the Committee made ready to
examine Mr.. Taber, Chairman Leith
proclaimed executive session and rep
resentatives of the press were Eek
cused." The executive session lasted
but a short time, and it is supposed
that 1t was then that Mr.. Tabor was
examined about the conversation with
Mr.. Ashcraft.
Mr. Taber was being questioned
about the price lists of the Virginia.
Carolina Company when representa-
tives of the press were again admit
ted to the room. He said the name
of the company did not appear on the
price lists because 1t was not neccs-
sary, seeing the lists, any one familiar
with the fertilizer business, would
know whose lists they were. The f.
o. b. factory prices in South Carolina,
Georgia Florida and Alabama were
the same, Mr.. Taber stated in reply
to a question by Representative Pow
ell, who asked further about prices in
the Southern States.
Any fertilizer company in good
standing, Mr.. Taber said in answer to
Mr.. Leith, could be a member of the
Association.
The funds of the Association were
not to insure business to any COM
pany but for advertising. for the sal
aries of President and Secretly and
general expenses, The Association
made no price list, Mr.. Taber said. and
then, Mr.. Leith still questioning, he
explained further the collection and
disbursement of funds. Mr.. Taber
did not know how much his company
had paid to the Association but he
thought it was $4,000 or $1,000, his
company paying more than most 9TH
ers because 1t was large company
with many factories. He didn't know
what the fees were but the matter
had never actually come up to him.
In the Northwest was an association
of manufacturers of fertilizers. The
Southern Association was the only one
In the South. the Independent Associa-
ton, of which the "V. &C" was not a
member, being a potash concern. -
The American Agricultural Chemical
Company bought up many plants In
Eastern cities and in the West, but
owns now plants in the South. 1t had