New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-06
HOV 10 DEFEAT TRUSTS.

"The New-York Times" calls attention TO the
fact that this paper when the tariff was under
discussion. doubted the expediency OF raising the
duty on linsecd oil, but now attributes the col
lapse in price to theprotectlye tariff. The crlu-
ciSm may be proftably treated as a fair one'
since it invites comparison of two modes OF deal
ing with combinations against consumers by pro-
tected manufacturers TO intelligent readers it
will probably appear sufficiently, from comments
on this subject of especial public interest that
The TRIBUNE needs no defence as to Its sup
posed inconsistency.
When Congress was framing the tariff the
price of linseed oil was and for months had been
held at 62 cents per gallon for city, and had
been raised to 60 cents as early as June, 1889,
and there maintained. The trust controlled
large part. but not the whole OF the producing
works. and though the building OF other works
had been retarded to some extent by tariff aglta-
ton until Protection had prevailed in the cleo
tons, it now appears that the producing capacity
has been largely increased. The combination
was one of those about which public oplmon
had been strongly expressed. With the sugar
trnst. the new steel rail combination then IN pro-
cess of formation, the steel beam combination
and few others, it had caused the legislation IN
several States and in Congress against trusts
The TRIBUNE urged that every such combina-
ton of protected manufacturers to control pro-
duction and prices against the pubic interests
was essentially hostile to the protective policy
and deserved at the hands of Congress no con-
sheraton or defence.
Congress saw fit to reduce the duty on re-
fined sugar from 3 and 3 II cents per pound
TO half cent, the duty on raw sugar taken OIL
beino but cents. 1t reduced the duty Oil steel
rails from SIT to S13 A per ton, on steel beams
from 20 cents to 8 of cent per pound, ana
ON some other articles the duties were for similar
reasons reduced But as to llnseed OIL 1t chose
q different course, possibly because committees
had better information regarding the growth OF
home competition than the public then possessed
1t raised the duty, thus offering increased in
ducements to American producers to engage IN
competition with the trust.
THE TRIBUNE doubted whether it was not
wiser. in view of public antagoniSm to trust or
canizatiOnS to manifest the opposition OF COn-
cress by a removal or reduction OF duty IN every
case where protected manufacturers were con-
spiring against consumers. 1t reasoned then
that the protective duties OF themselves would
develop home competition, and thus Kill such
combinations in the long run, but that the public
Judgment regarding the new tariff as whole
voud be more favorable at the outset II 1t
visited every such combination with direct re-
duction of duties. This was question OF po-
ltical eXpediency 1t was held that the sureSt
defence consumers could have in the end Is the
development of home competition. AS events
have proved, Congress selected as to linSeed oil
the nrecise course which would secure cheapnesS
most speedily for consumers, as we'll as most
surely though it was for the time so represented
as to create prejudice against the new tarif
Steel rails are now 81 so per ton, or per cent,
lower than they were a year ago Steel beams
command exactly the price they did year ago.
But home competition has reduced the price OF
| inseed oil from 60 cents last June ana o.
| cents last October to AZ cents.
1t does not follow that in all cases the same
mode of dealing with combination Is the best
Much depends upon the cost of competing
pant. and the time required to get it into opera
ton with competent hands. The one fact which
it is important to have understood is that In
crease of duties, when home competition can be
ouickIy stimulated, is sometimes the most speedy
mode of defeating a mischievOus combination
as il is generally in the end the srest In
common with all true ProtectioniSts, The 1RIB-
1JNE reioices heartily that cheaper linseed oil
for consumers has been secured quickly, and
with it a larger employment Of American labor
| in the new works which Protection has brought
into existence.
|