The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-07-25
'STEEL TRUST
AGREEMENT IS
PUT IN RECORD.
Chairman Stanley Produces
Admittedly Illegal Docu-
ment Showing Pooling
Arrangement Existed.
ONLY COPY OF PACT
NOW IN EXISTENCE
Pooling Agreement Between
Carnegie Company and
Ten Other Concerns,
Is Effective.

Wv tween the Carnegie Steel com
pany and ten other kindred
concerns for n percentage apporhon-
ment of the steel output of the coun-
try, an admittedly Illegal document
supposedly long since destroyed-stlrred
today's meeting of the house "steel
trust investigating committee.
Chairman Stanley produced copy
of the agreement, which was admitted
in evidence against the protest Of coun-
sci for the corporation that il was un.
authenticated, 1t was admitted that
business operations Of these companies
continued under an understanding SIM
liar to the agreement.
The original agreement provided for
the formation OF the Steel Plate asso-
citation of the United States. and, not
withstanding that the agreement was
burned and only came to hight because
q Pennsylvania printer had saved
copy from the flames. the committee
sought corroborative evidence that the
Steel Plate association did exist after
the incineration of the tell-tale docu
ment.
J, R. Van Ormer of the Lukens Iron
g. Steel company, one of the parties to
the original pool, testified that all
copies Of the agreement had been
visions were illegal
The agreement itself he testified,
never was signed by his company, and
all sent to other companies were re-
turned for destruction.
Guarantee Fund Put Up.
He admitted that operation of the
business of his company proceeded
along lines of an understanding SIM
liar to the provisions of the burned
document, Business was apportioned On
H. e..
years up to 1906. His firm, he said,
contributed to guarantee fund to in
sure carrying out of the terms of oper
attion, and reports OF business were
made TO w. c. Temple, who acted as
commissioner for the combination.
". S. Mitchell, president of the
Mellon National bank of Pittsburg. tes-
titled that the Steel Plate association
had an account with his bank February
Q. 1901, TO January 30, 1902. The total
credit account of the plate association
was about $250.G00 and all the checks
and vouchers were made out in the
name of w. S. King, treasurer of the
association.
Tomorrow the committee will hear
more concerning the actual operation of
an agreement between the steel plate
manufacturers from A. F. Huston, pres
ident of the Lukens Iron g. Steel com.
pany.
Solicitor General Lehman testified
that the steel plate agreement much re-
ssmhled that of the American wire
manufacturers agreement on which
were based indictments recently re.
turned in New York.
Saved by Printer.
When F. B. Kaufman was called as a
witness Representative Gardner of Mas
sachusstts asked n. when Kaufman
p5inteS TS6n d. The he copy OF the agreement in
was criminal Kaufman replied affrma-
lively.
''Did you take any steps to bring it TO
the attention OF the authorites?''
NO What good would IT do? I was
not much impressed with 1t until about
came to my office and asked me for all
the copies CT the agreement. ] never
knew that even one was saved until a
long time asterward. when my brother
said he had saved one"
HE said an official Of the illinois Steel
Illinois were such that II the agreement
got out he would be sent to jail"
wR r. .,Sm-, G; R1Tslhmond: yTlln manager OF the
which belonged TO the wire association
In 1905, also was witness today He
including the American Steel & wire
AN the members of that pool we're
the chairman knows that the American
steel Wire company was not a party
to that agreement"
II have tried to get a copy of the
agreement from the attorney general 80
said Mr. Stanley. "and he has always
replied that 1t was not consistent with
public. policy TO give me the Information.
Now l propose 10 investigate myself"
Price Lists Sprung.
Chairman Stanley produced from his
pocket booklet and asked the witness
II he recognized il. Richmond looked sur
prlsed and snd he did and that either IL
disappeared from his desk or some agen,
abused his rights
This Is a schedule OF price lists and
u na GaIe inag No TO ss s,s through the mails" ex.
don't know myself"
This was a list made up when tho
wire rope association existed
Counsel Lindabury: for the steel cor.
pools existed until 1908. but that nj.
corporation had nothing TO do with them
He promised to furnish copies OF agree
York.
When Mr. Van ormer general sale.
pany, took the stand he said that tn.
Steel Plate association of the Unite,
states never operated under the 1900 400
agreement He admitted that the agree
ment was drafted and sent out but as
serted that the copies were all calIet
back and burned when the contract wa
found to be illegal. The witness con
eeded. however. that in part the Luken
Iron company operated under terms sim
liar to the original agreement
Mr. van Ormer said statements O
shipments OF the concerns were sun
mitted monthly to W. C. Temple. a com
missioner, but that his firm was aIwaY
credits. ~
Was guaranty deposit made by you
That's my impression. but I'm no
sure" -