Omaha daily bee., 1907-03-20
AGREEMENT OF LUMBERNEN
AGkEEMENI Ut LUMBEKMEN
Important Documents in Hearing Of Alleged
Lumber Trust.
MUCH TALKED OF POUND POOL AGREEMENT
Letter which Accompanied Circular
Contained List of Mnnufh cturers
who Were on the
GOOD" List.
MUCH TALKED OF POUND POOL AGREEMENT
CFrom a stan Correspondent

hearing in the alleged lumber trust case
was resumed today before Referee Post
Among the witnesses examined was Charles
Odwarker Of Weeping Water, who intro
duced the following communications re-
ceived from Secretary Critchheld by the
members Of the association. The first
shows what is purported to be the pound
pool" agreement. 1t is as follows;
MEMORANDUM.
For the purpose Of convenience the fol-
lowing memorandum is Sgreed upon:
THE railroad weights OF all material
received by each dealer on and after May
/. 1905. shall be the basis for settlement and
division Of trade. Except coal, brick, sand,
rock, wire fencing and psints)
,2-Freight bills showing the weights OF
all local shipments shall be attached 70
written report, and for carload ship
ments the same shall be verified by giving
the date OF arrival Of the car, contents,
number OF car, weight, etc. and II Tor any
rea son either dealer shall overlook or miss
giving account of a car on cars at any time
for settlement the weight Of such car or
cars shall be doubled at time of next
settlement after the same has been dis
covered.
which shall be equally divided share and
| share alike to each dealer, on the total
amounts Of weights Of material received
| during the previous month or since the last
| settlement, as follows:
| On all lumber, lath and shingles "a cents
per 100 pounds.
| on ali lime cement, plaster and posts
| u cents per 100 pounds.
on all sash, doors holdings, mill work,
etc. 50 per 100 pounds.
! mo deductions to be made by either
party for any reason whatever but each
| bills which come in competition with out
| side pOachers. and which must be cut in
prices in order to protect the trade OF
5-Competitive bills or bills that are fig
/ ured at more than one yard shall be al
vided as nearly equal as possible ana as
ri n IL
| taking all circumstances surrounding each
| case into consideration.
| 6-The intention and spirit OF this ar
! rangement is to keep a friendly and prof
! table business at the place where II mas
been verbally agreed upon, without taxing
any undue advantage Of the customer or
consuming public.
lit is agreed that each dealer will meet
night of each month and make full settle
ment of all business done the previous
month.
List of Favored Manufacturers.
Accompanying the pound pool plan
was the following letter:
LINCOLN, Jan. /, 19O5.-To the Mem
bers: with this issue of the bulletin we
hand you copy Of the arrangement when
ern Lumber Manufacturers association
and the lumber secretaries bureau Oh IN
| foI mation.
handle this plan of reciprocity through
the medium of the National Manufaclur-
ers association as contemplated ana thus
| take in all the manufacturers associations
connected with that great body, II mas
been thought advisable to put the plan
into operation so far the southern
Lumber Manufacturers association is con-
cerned, and thereby give some object les
sons that will sooner or later De the
means Of bringing them all Into line;
AS the whole object Of the action is to
secure harmonious and ethical relations be-
tween manufacturers: wholesalers ana re-
tailers. and the settlement or disputed
questions in n manner equally just to all
parties and as well to insure the con-
Stunning public greater freedom from prac-
tices iniInical to the general well as
private interests, II is manifestly the duty
and to the interest OF all retail dealers
that they should have before them re-
liable list of such manufacturers and whole
salers as from their professed and openly
expressed friendship are entitleu 10 ana q
should receive the faVors OF such retali
lumber dealers who include southern lumber
in their trade. To this end | enclose you
list of the members of the southern Lum-
Der Manufacturers association, urging upon
our membership a carefu consideration OF
the reciprocal duty which each owes TO al
. | such manufacturers and wholesalers who
| exercise due regard to the interests or the
retail branch OF the lumber trade, and es-
pecially to those who by the recently con-
summated arrangements now place them
selves I'm position to avail both you and
themselves OF an ethical, businesslike
method of settling any dispute Which may
| arise in the course OF business.
| While adhesion to- the principles enuu-
ciated nd whrh irc.n Tine to nae may
| means compulsory or In restraint OF the
utmost freedom cf trade 1t Is vet felt
/ that any retailer who cannot and does not
practice the ethical principles involved Is
net a desirable member of this associa-
ton and should not be Acknowledged or
, received as such. On tire other hand. man.
, ufacturers and wholesalers who 10 rot re-
gard the ethical rights of the retailer
Should be esteemed as unworthy OF the
patronage Of those who uphold the ethical
principles of association work.
In order that we as members OF the Ne
braska Lumber Dealers association may
be able TO distinguish between our friends
and those who are inlmical to our inter
ests, we have placed this list in the hands
of every member. and II is strongly urged
that every retailer adopt the motto
''Friendship to the Friendly" in placing
vou~ orders for stock of southern min,
: copy OF our bulletin and membership
[ list will also be mailed to each member
' of the Southern LUMBER Manufacture. :
association, so as to keep them Informed
u as to who are watching their actions and
70 from whom they may expect reciprocal
; of our retail members that the manufac
: turer use his best efforts to see that hi.
u products are sold through the Legitimate
! channels OF trade. BY this agreement h,
= has promised to do this, provided we will
-. reciprocate this courtesy.
Those Who Are Friendly.
The honorary membership of our associa
: ton includes the names of many manu-
facturers who are not members of tn
Southern Lumber Manufacturers associa
o ton, but who are consistent adherents o
the association principles. Many are in
, eligible on account of their location in tn
north and west, The very fact that the
Il appear on our list as honorary members
" an indication that they are friendly to GU
n interests and subject TO our rules Of de
: pertinent.
4, our members should not esteem the wor
n as thus happily inaugurated to have reache
% its highest state OF perfection; II has bu
made a commencement upon lines whic
are believed TO be consistent with tn
D. maintenance OF justice, amity, good wi
IN and the best interests OF all branches @
: the trade. II will take time and experienc
a. I 10 work out all the details and develop Il
"a excellence. The Southern Manufacturer
association is rapidly adding new members
and we have no doubt that its advantage
will soon induce a majority Of the south
ern manufacturers TO join Its membership
The northern manufacturers as individual
= almost unanimously acCede to the priT
ciples asserted by the retail association
and are working in practical harmony wit
us, while from the opposition of a few
declining as yet TO take official action
their associations, we are unable at tn
time to give the matter the full scope
which we aim. The attitude OF individua
as firms in this regard may always [
asceTtained through correspondence wit
your secretary.
1t but remains for the members Of thi
association TO act In such a manner thu
IL will make the principle Of reciprocit
something more than a name in their dea