Evening journal., 1916-07-25
continued prom Page Eleven.

tanks During the year from March 1915 10 March
1916, in order to present demands we spent
for this same item, 1926 252.59 During the year
from March 1914 to March 1915, we spent Tor pipes
fittings valves and similar articles, S3O'l1o92 Dur
ing the year from March 1915 March 1916, for this
same item of expense we spent $685. O532. During
the year from March 1914 to March 1915, we spent
for miscellaneous small supplies, largely used in
maintaining the upkeep of our plants, $l2l,3l406.
During the period from March 1915 to March 1916,
we spent for these items, $395,2447l. gen.
era increase of all supplies is in the neighborhood of
9O09o and all Of this 5000 increase in purchases,
has been spent with American producers and has
been amongst the pertinent for the increased
prosperity which has been evident in this country
during the past year.
When we come TO the materials that enter
into the finished product, most of these have been
purchased at greatly enhanced prices.
The tremendous increase in the number of
poyes engaged in our line Of business is the only
Gesture to be considered. These have been
steadily employed on eight hour shifts at higher
rate of wages in comparison to what they paid
prior 10 the war times The earnings of these
hsve been spent in the communities IN which they
live and have brought general prosperity to the
small. merchants m those communities. The increases
In the rate Of wages were voluntarily given in an
eudesvor to share in just with our en-
pacyees the prosperity that had to us through
our connection with the line Of explosives we were
IN AS you know, our forces largely recruited
from two classes one of the unskIed labor class the
other trained, technical college We have as
you know always taken tremendous interest in the
success Of our employees It has been the policy of
our Company and its officers to bring into partner
ship with the Company stockholders those
ployees who will make themselves worth while. You
win recall that, prior to the war, number of the
most important employees given opportunity
10 buy considerable, for them, block of stock, be-
low the then market price, the Company providing
the money an interest charge of SO per year, and
the condition of purchase being that this stock should
be paid for in four years time. Practically every
man having the opportunity availed himself Of the
offer Let cite two typical instances;
l. One of the unskiled labor class who by dint
Of years experience every day of which time he
was exposed to the hazardous dangers of explosive
manufacture, bought on these terms several shares
of stock These shares of stock to him represented
more money than he had ever saved during the
course of his previous life. With the extension Of
our business came this man S opportunity. With
the additional earnings due to the efforts of the
Company's officers and its faithful employees who
experienced in the business opportunities for
tremendous gain grasped These additional
earnings on this man stock should pay for it and
but the present tax if carried proposed will
this man upwards of 1000 as his share of this ,un-
just levy a tax in single year. One thousand
dollars he had saved prior to this time not
withstanding his life has been we'll ordered, his eff
forts had been spent in a most hazardous business
where the end of his existence is liable be at any
moment and what will this type of citizen, if the
facts known to him, think of a Government that
viii impose unjust levy the fruits of his labor
and knowledge, whilst Others whose profits on their
endeavors and investments have been equally as
large, escape without any vestige of tax being i'm
posed upon themi
2. One of the skilled technical college class
This gentleman after years of study in the Institute
Of Technology, Boston, Mass, took up the manufac-
ture of explosives his life's work After following
from one position to another devoting his whole
time to training and knowledge of the business ar
rived at a point where he was earning $4,000 per
year. To him also was offered the opportunity to
buy what to him was a considerable block of stock,
on the same terms as the unskied workman had
bought IT, He took advantage of this offer and when
the opportunity Of the extension of our business
came, this trained, technical mans previous ex-
perience entitled him to take leading part in the
the extension. Today within two years this mans
salary is $4,000 per year, and if the tax is imposed
as passed by the House of Representatives the
amount of this mans share of the tax as represented
by his stockholdngs will be $500 to be paid out as
tax IN one year, and is more than man earning
salary OF $4,000 per year should be expected to
pay to any Government in times of peace
Beng the head of the Manufacturing Department.
ana knowing intimately the life history of a number
OF our young men, feel strongly that we should
if possible throw such light on this subject as shall
save these young from this unjust lew
Yours VERY trul,