Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-14
FORCED TO ASSIGN BRANDS
Jobber Gives Experiences With
American Tin Plate Company.
TELLS OF MAKING PRICES
Howard N. Davis, Formerly Sales
Manager, Gives Account of
Understandings Reached.

ND" 1Ohh. May 14.-W hen the hear
ings in the government suit to dissolve
the United States Steel Corporation were
resumed today, James T.. Mcfarland, a
tin plate iobber Of North Philadelphia.
was called to give evidence in support OF
the contention of the government that
the American Tin Plate Company sup
pressed competition. mcfarland said he
had been in the tin plate business since
1879 and had handled many special pri-
vate brands. which Independent compa-
MES manufactured for him.
These brands he was forced to assign
to the American Tin Plate Company in
1899, with stipulation that he would not
buy his tin plate elsewhere. According to
a letter from the tin plate company to his
firm, which the witness identified. 1t was
1.-The trusts purpose ITO protect this
company in the exclusive manufacture
Of plate"
Later, he said, the American Tin Plate
Company made an arrangement with job
bers whereby the company offered re-
bates on condition that the jobbers pur'
chase their tin plate entirely from 1t. The
rebate was from l. to 3 per cent, he said
and was subsequently based on 30 and
then IS per cent of the total amount the
jObber bought.
More Than Competitors Could DO.
Competitors Of the tin plate company
were not willing to make this discount
testified Mcfarland. and he added that
the company was mot willing to manu-
facture brands for us in our name with
out being protected by this contract"
And il we forfeited our brands" he
continued. I'VE lost our business reputa-
ton
Howard NJ. Davis OF Philadelphia, for
merly a sales manager OF the American
Tin Plate Company. and previously with
the American Tin Plate Company OF
Ellwood, Ind, D. G. Reds first company,
was the next witness.
He testified as an expert on condi-
lions in the tin plate industry at the
time Mr.. Reid and Judge William H.
solidation under the control of the
American Tin Plate Company Of New
Jersey.
What per cent of the industry was
controlled by this combination" Davis
was asked.
my recollection is about 95 per cent
Understandings on Prices.
Davis said he represented the American
Tin Plate Company and the American
Sheet Steel Company at meetings of tin
Pittsburgh in 1907 and later. and gave
an interesting account of how the man
ufacturers came to understandings or
prices.
I'VE would discuss whether prices
should be advanced or lowered he said
Somebody would say L think I'll adj
vance mine So a ton and others would
say I don't think I'll change mine a
all +"
oxHo. <haro a uoueral vndorSfa ndin q
when the meeting adjourned as to wheth-
er you'd all quote the same price?" in
terrupted Judge Dickinson.
Eyes. there was AS for us. we usually
expected to stick to that price and ex
pected the other to, but they frequent,
didn't
"Then what would happen?'
well, the offender would be investigat
ed by the chairman of the meeting anG
another meeting would be called
Would Reach Another Understanding
"The offender would be asked about II
and he'd usually say made a mistake
| or IT was an error of my salesman Then
he'd promise that it wouldn't happen
again. and we'd all go away with an
other understanding"
Davis said that James Campbell. presi-
dent Of the oungstown Sheet and Tube
Company. was chairman Of the meetings
WAS the chairman appointed by Judge
QRry?" asked the government attorney
mo. Campbell simply called us to-
gether."
The meetings. Davis thought, took place
shortly after the Gary dinners.
When r. V. L. Lindabury, attorney
for the steel corporation, objected to
Davies answer as "hearsay evidence,
on the ground that the witness had
never attended the Gary dinners
Judge Dickinson retorted:
Well establish the dates of those
dinners later. We are going into that
subject quite thoroughly"