Norwich bulletin., 1912-05-17
Purpose of the
 Gary Dinners
GENERAL EFFECT WAS TO MAIN
 TAIN STEEL PRICES.
TOPPING's TESTIMONY
Head of Independent Concern Admits
 Organization of Independents, But
 They Continued to Be Competitors.

New York, May Awhile no agree ments or understandings to maintain prices were ever reached at the now famous Gary dinners of steel manufac- turers, the general effect of them was to maintain prices, according to the testimony of John A. Topping, chair man of the Republic Iron & Steel Co. today, at the hearing of the federal suit to dissolve the United States Steel corporation. Practically the whole days session was devoted to the sub- ject of price understandingsf and in this connection the Steel trust coun- sel brought out from one of the gov- ernment witnesses that there had been formed an organization of independent bridge and structural steel manufac- turers with objects which appeared to be in some respects similar to those which the trust claims for the Gary dinner gatherings and other meetings in which representatives of it's subsid- iary concerns participated.
 Bridge Builders Society.
 It was made known that this organ tzation, known as the Bridge Build ers' society, was investigated by the government recently at the societys invitation and given, 1t was intimated, clean bill of health.
 John Sterling Deans, head of the Phoenixyille Bridge company, an inde- pendent concern, testified that the so- ciety was formed about a year ago by 25 independent manufacturers and that one of the articles of it's constitution was "to establish perfect frankness as to furnishing such information as to bids, tefms, prices and tonnage as may be reasonably required"
 Held Monthly Meetings. The secretary, the witness said, re- ported at monthly meetings the amount of tonnage sold byNeach mem Der during the month and received from the members their bids submit 1 ted on competitive combination. And you are all competitors? ask 1 ed the attorney for the defense. We are,'' replied the witness.
 And while you are exchanging this 1 information, telling each other your ] prices, bids and tonnage, your compe- l tition still goes on?"
 Tt does.' replied MT Deans. No Understandings Reached.
 "But when you left your meetings i you had no understanding that you were to sell at common prices and l that you were to give notification if you intended to change them, did you7' put in Judge Dickinson, for the l government.
 There was no such understanding" said the witness.
 State whether the chairman .ad- monished you that you were under moral obligations not to get the bus mess of your competitors" pressed the l federal attorney.
 He did not" said Deans.
 Purpose of Gary Dinners.
 MT. Topping, who preceded Mir | Deans on the stand, was questioned al length of the purpose of the Gary din ners, particularly as to a dinner held in New York in January of last year four months before MT. Topping or behalf of his company gave Judge Ga. ry, chairman of the steel corporation notification that he intended to GU the price of bars. As far as he wa, himself concerned, MT. Topping said he had never felt fin honor bound" tC maintain prices, but did so as a mat. ter of good business judgment. H, said that he gave Judge Gary notifca. ton of his intention to cut "as z matter of business courtesy" and tha he always expected similar notification from the corporation and other manu, facturers.