The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-15
INTERESTING TESTIMONY
 HAS BEEN ADDUCED
The Members Believe That a Very Good Case of Combination of Some Kind Will Be
 Made Out.

some interesting testimony, has adjourn ed to the first week in June, when the lnquisition will be resumed From re- ports it seems that Chairman Leith and his associates are pretty well pleased with the accomplishments of the commit tee so far.
 While President Lee Ashcrafe of the Tennessee Valley Fertilizer company, at Florence, has denied the testimony of T. L. Long, of Walker county, so far as it referred to him, 1t seems that the com mittee has dug up a pretty good case of combination of some kind. even though it may not be able to prove a forfeit which Mr. Long said he was told was up. Several other witnesses have testi- fled that they were told by salesmen that a combination exists and that vio- lation of the agreement meant a heavy forfeit
 There were a number also who testified that they had been offered rebates. some one way and some another, indicating that there was an understanding that could not be directly broken. though it might be gotten around. It was also shown that the same class of goods sold for the same price in Alabama, though some may have come from a point in the state and some from as far away as Baltimore.
 !, R. Tabor of Virginia Carolina Chem ical company, was the first witness.
 He said his price list was the same as Georgia, South Carolina Florida and Ala bama. He didn't know the price in Ten nessee, that was not in his territory but he thought they were higher.
 He was questioned closely by Repre- sentative Powers as to the prices in the other states.
 Senator Leith questioned him as to the association of fertilizer manufacturers. He wanted to know what was done with the funds Mir. Tabor stated it was to pay the president. secretary and for men to gather information about fertilizers. He said his company as a corporation, paid about $600O or $7OOO to join the as- socation, as the corporation was com posed of many members. He knew of the independent organization but that was for the purpose of buying potash.
 He stated that the American Agricul- tural association of New York had no connection with the Virginia company.
 Judge Cabott Lutt.
 Judge Cabott Lull, a merchant of We tumpka, was called. He testified that he purchased his fertilizers from the Vir- gnia- Carolina people. He did not buy any goods from Royster company. The Virginia Carolina people declined to give him a rebate. The representative of the Virginia Carolina people told him that tl,a .f oil fhA afaa f ha same and he could not get it any cheaper. The agent agreed to protect in case of any decline in prices. He led him to be- lieve that all the companies had agreed upon the price His firm was granted a rebate by the Virginia Carolina company about dollar, but has not been promised d rebate this year. The Royster company offered a rebate last year, but declined this year He said every travelling man was anxious to know if there were any rebates given. The agent of the Jefferson company told him that the other company would not sell any cheaper than his com pany.
 T. j. Britt.
 T. J. Britt a merchant of Wetump pka, was called He said he had purchased his fertilizer from the Virginia Carolina Chemical company He didn't get a re- bate, as the agent said he just couldn't get it. He was offered a rebate by the Birmingham company but it was yer bal agreement w. M. Tucker was the agent Provided he purchased 100 tons he was to get a rebate. The contract prices of the Jefferson company are the same as the Virginia Carolina company The agent of Virginia-Carolina company said his price was as low as the other companies and said he guaranteed this. This agent had told him there was a a meeting in Savannah or somewhere and they had discovered the advance of raw material He understood the agent to say that there were five or six companies who had met in Georgia and took up the advance prices.
 He said the Armour company's man called on him and said that the prices were the same These agents had never requested him not to say anything about these conversations.
 w. A. Austin.
 w. A. Austin, another merchant of We tumpka testified next. He purchased fer tllizers from the Alabama Chemical com pany and another company in Savannah The prices were the same in contract but the Alabama company gave him a re- bate of 50 cents per ton. He said the agent for the other company said the prices were the same.
 | C. R. Maxwell, a fertilizer mixer of Northport, testified. He was merchant up to March. He had bought fertilizer from the Virginia Carolina people, the Alabama company and Mississippi con cern. He got 1t about $1.0O less from Mis- sissippi than in Alabama He had no con tracts with Alabama concerns. as his contracts were made over the telephone and were not signed.
 On Way to Convention.
 large number of Baptist minister! and laymen are in Montgomery today CT route to Richmond to attend the South ern Baptist convention, which meets II that city in a few days. Among those in the city today are Major and Mrs. J s. McMullen of Greenville. the Rev. Johr W. Stewart and the Rev. Richard Hall o Evergreen, G. R. Farnham. MISS Whi' Cunningham, w. c. Crumpston, all also o Evergreen, Dr. w. D. Hubbard, Maj J P Wood and Josiah Jernigan of Troy the Rev. J. l.. Thompson of Ozark, the Rev. and Mrs R. A. J. Cumbie of Brun didge, and the Rev. J. J. Hapgood o Andalusia.
 The foregoing visitors will take in the Jamestown exposition during their ap sence, and return by various routes as n0I