The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-07-26

One of the greatest dangers to the country
at the present day is the tendency to concen
trato capital and business in the hands of q
few, and to combine for the parpose of crush
ing labor and monopoizing business. The
result is that the consumer has to pay increa-
sed prices for articles Of consumption. while
the employees of these combinations are
ground down to starvation prices for their la
Dor. While leading coal companies are
charging nearly as much as during the war
for their coal, their hands are very seriously
reduced in wages, and in addition, have to
submit to the constant q shut downs " which
these companies end necessary in order to
keep up prices. 0f course, these things could
not be done were it not for the concentration
Of capital Ia q few companies, which has re-
suited from the crowding out of small eoal
companies by the concerted efforts of the
larger, aided by the railroad companies n
tercsted in their carrying trade, and by the
combination of these powerful companies in
q purpose to bleed the public by monopoly
prices. This tendency of capital to cencen-
trate and become tyrapnical is not only OBJ
served in the coal business, bit in many others.
The largo railroad companies are swallowing
up the smaller and while employees are con
stantly reduced upon the plea of hard times,
tho fares and freights are kept up to the high
est war rates. The telegraph business has
become huge monopoly and there appears
to DO no way of obtaining rea sonable rates
for messages, but by government telegraph
iines, for as soon as an opposition telegraph
line is built, the Western Union" manages
to swallow it up by well-known methods.
Even in the school-book business there is a
combination of publishers who fight all who
will not enter their ring, and thus the price of
school books Is kept up to high figue-a
severe tax on those who have children to edu-
cate. Then the express companies are
another monopoly charging whatever they
please, and the people are compelled to submit
or go without the conveniences which such
organizations afford. The various combna-
tious and monopolies even enter the halls of
Congress and dictate our laws. AT the bid
ding Tor bait) of leading express company
the postage rate on packages and printed
matter was doubled last year, at loss to the
people and government of thousands of dol
lars, but to the great benefit of the express
company which carried the packages at a less
price than the post office rate allowed Now,
when in the present Congress the rates are
lowered on some kinds of mail matter, the
rates for packages, owing to the power of this
express company, are kept at The old figures.
Railroad com anies also obtain the most valua
bic subsidies without corresponding benefit,
TO the people, and thus the power of these
corporations becomes greater and so likewise
their insolence. There lisa point beyond which
the people will not submit to these tyrauncal
and corrupt practices, and when they are once
aroused, let monopolies tremble. II is charged
that in England the rich are becoming
richer and the poor poorer. This is beginning
to be true here, and it can only be prevented
by prohibiting the Capitalization of capital in
some way.