The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-17
Senate Adopts Motion to Con-
troll TWine Plant Product.
Action Follows Long Probe of
Alleged SisaI Trust.
COSTS FARMERS $4,000, 900
Move VIII Not Reduce Cost,
Declares Expert.
Saws Uncle Sam Now "JOins
Military Monopoly"

Washington, April 17.-Without dis
cussion, the senate today adopted SEN
ator Ransdell's resolution directing the
federal trade commission to supervise
distribution of the available sisal in
Yucatan The commission is ready to
undertake the work. The actions is of
much importance to the states which
use binder twine.
The commission representing Yucca
tan farmers asked the senate commit
tee to oversee the sale of the crop but
it does not come within the province
of a legislative body. Chairman
Davies of the federal commission has
informed Senator Ransdel that 1t has
the machinery to proceed with the
distribution and will send two men to
Senator Ransdell will introduce a
resolution to put the trade commission
in charge.
w. b. Spencer, counsel for the Yu-
catan commission announced that the
plan would be satisfactory to him, In
sisting only on the entire domestic de-
mand be supplied before any sisal was
sold for export.
Place Orders for Sisal.
Representative of several twine
companies appeared at the hearing to-
day to enter their orders for sisal
Alexander Legg, general manager, OF
the International Harvester company
introduced a statement denying that
his company had any interest in tWlne
except to supply it to the farmer at the
lowest cost, with reasonable manu-
facturer's profit in order to increase
the advantages and economies of the
companys machinery. He denied that
the company has sought to profit
financially from the cultivation of the
Sisal and charged that if the Yucatan
commission were approved by the in
vestigation committee it would be able
it wished. tilf
The increased price of sisaI aIready
made will compel the American far
mer to pay over $5,0O0,000 more for
binder twine this year." said he. MIR.
Legge declared his firms only rela-
tions with the Plymouth -CordaSe
company, were those of a competitor.
THE open market in sisal,'' said Mr.
Legge, has been destroyed through
the influence and finally through the
direct coercion of the military govern
ment of Yucatan.
Military Controls Crop.
Every pIanuer must uellNer n1s sisal
to the conlnllsslOn wiIcn is appointed
and controlled by the military gov
ernmenI.
BY reason of financial assistance
given by Sol Wexler and his asso-
ciated American bankers, the commits
sion now has absolute control OF the
supply ana is in a position to withhold
it from the market until it secures the
price demanded. 1t has already raised
the price two cents a pound.
IF the government of the United
States permits tnis monopoly,the twine
manufacturers can continue to do
business but the increased cost will
come out OF the consumer. He will
be able to buy sisal and sell twine at
prices based on the cost of the raw
material as we have done in the past
But as the price of binder twine goes
up the America manufacturers must
be able to show they are not respon-
sible for the increase.
THE real question is what is to be
done with monopolistic combination
which claims exemption from our
antitrust laws on the ground the mon
opoly is created in Yucatan and is only
carried into effect in the United
States although the American bankers
furnish the money which they them
selves claim is essential to the eff
cient operation of the monopoly?''