The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-05-12
BARE
 THE TRUST Jasper Merchant Tells of
 Combine. EVIDENCE ON FERTILIZERS Factories Each Have S1,0O0 Forfeit z Up to Maintain Prices. T. L. Long Relates to Legislative Com- mittee How He Secured Rebate From Member of Combine
 Denial by Manager.

Thomas L. Long merchant of Jas per has testified before the legislative l fertilizer committee that fertilizer manufacturer made the statement to l him that a combination exists among the factories making this product, that a forfeit of s1,000 was laid upon any one violating 1t and that his inform 1 ant sold him goods at the generally quoted price. relating later to the ex- tent of about $1.50 per ton Mfr Long swore that the company | thus selling him is the Tennessee val l ley Fertilizer Company of Florence, and that the rebate agreement was made with the President. Lee Ashcraft, who told him that 1t would cost him | q. 900 if he failed to keep the under standing thus existing. l It was the purpose Of the committee | to keep this testimony secret, but Tn | some way 1t became known, which re- suited in the determination on the part of Chairman NJ. l.. Leith and ASSES tant Attorney General T. w. Martin to make public the nature of the eVi- dence in order that there will be no misunderstanding of what was brought out.
 MT. Long was before the committee Friday, having been summoned at the instance of Chairman Leith, but ms testimony was not given out at the time. Mir Ashcraft has been summon ed and will appear before the co'nmi, tee Monday or Tuesday to make answer into regard to the allegations set forth.
 Within an hour after the statementts of MT. Long had been made, knowledge of it was secured by outsiders, among them being F. R. Taber of this city' District Manager for the Vlrglhia-
 
 after MT. Ashcraft Is said to have been notified, These facts being mace known to Chairman Leith and As sistant Attorney General Martin. it. was thought best to make 1t all known,lsec- recy having been kept to allow MT Ashcraft time to answer the statements made.
 Long on stand.
 Mir Iong who is one of the well known men of the State, having serV- ed in the Legislature and sought con eressional honors, was placed on the stand shortly after reaching the elty; He was questioned closely with fesaro to reports that a combination 10 con trol prices exists among the makers or commercial fertilizers in the South in- cIuding mills located in Alabama. From the tone of his replies II was discovered that he did know somethlhs l to this effect and he was urged 10 teil 1 it. However, the witness denlurrep i,. sistiug that the matter was or a natuie | that prohibited discussion. he ques | toned the right of the committee 'o | tbus nry into his business affairs.
 Chairman Leith assured Mir. Long | that the committee had power 10 IorCe | him to testify; that if he refused 10 oo so he would be in contempt, an ol1ehse for which the Chairman could impose a jail sentence. . Dria I'd | Sncb heinz the case, MT Long agreed to nroceed. which he did. At the De- ginning of the season, he asserted fre' l 7dap+ Lee Ashcraft of 1.-the Tennessee Valley Company, came sto him to sell | A bill, as he had done in the past. MT Long complained at the price, When' be said. MT. Ashcraft told him that ne , ,.'os tied m in an agreement not to cut the price, and if he did reduce It, he would lose $1,000, up as forfeit | The witness then stated that ne l discussed with MT. Ashcraft some way | to get the goods cheaper Ine repiy was that the only thing possible would 1 be an agreement on a rebate, such p"- derstanding to be kept quiet | Mr Long swore that such agreement was made, and that he did secure re- 1 hates amounting to about $l.bO per | ion He was very, sorry to nave to l make the disclosures he said
 Mr, Long further testified that rep resentative of the Jefferson Feruiizer | Company Of Birmingham, whose name he does not recall, but whose race ne e ,,'o,'id recoenize. quoted him the same line of prices as MT. Ashcraft, also taiIing him that they must be main | tained on penalty of a forfeit of sl,OOO for each offense.
 Taber 6n stand.
 The fact that Mir Taber took so much | interest in the testimony or MT. Long l led inc committee to summon him. He onneared and was examined yesterday. 1 ua admitted that he Is member of the Executive Committee of the Southern | Association of Fertilizer Manufactur- | CTS. being the sole member rom Ala | hama representing the manufacturers | of this State in the organization.
 He said the organization was per | fected at Lithia Springs Ga, last sep l tenber and that since that time meet | inos of the Executive Committee had | heon held every two weeks in Atlanta. | Mr Ashcraft's company is member of | the body as are all the acid factories of the State. save the Alabama Chemi- | cal Company at Montgomery.
 MT Taber denied knowledge of any forfeit. and did not admit that there wac any agreement as to prices He | said there was always talk about nricess but knew of no iron-elad un-  derstanding to keep any set sched- | ule.
 Would Not Reveal "Leak.' He said that he heard of the testi- monv of Mir. Long Friday and 'phoned MT. Ashcraft shortly after what he had heard it consisted of. He would not disclose the source of his information with regard to the statements of the 1 Jasper merchant.
 chairman Leith said yesterday that the testimony of MT. Ashcraft would | possibly be the last from the fertilizer 1 men. EVidence is desired on the other side of tho question, and number of disinterested witnesses will be sum- moned
 He and Mir. Martin are very anxious that any who know of such testimony as was given by Mir. Long come before the committee Monday or Tuesday. The committee will be in session sev- eral days yet.
 When you want