New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-08

almost every dollar is kept in active use and must
der tho richest the world ever saw. who died in
this city few years ago. II was fomnd that eycenf
the small amount money consumed in SUPPLYING his
daily needs, mere bagatclle every dollar Of his
fortune was invested in constructing and operating
railway system, by which the cost 81 bringing
food from the great CANARY Of the West to the people
at our doors was reduced to less than one half cent
use for The people What the owner received FOR his
wealth was only during his few years upon earth a
giander residence and more sumpuous iIvng
Accumulated wealth, which by a fiction we call the
property Of one IA. become tho slave of all at work
community. Unless it be boarded in the form Of
Jewels, or the precious metals it is impraccablc to
the general good small suns no "' dont; can be
wasted, but great wealth today under our conditions
must inevitably be kept at work chiefly for the ben
eft of tie masses. whether lis nominal desires
i or not. This was exactly the .reversc in ancen:
which aroused Tie hostility Of the early teachers TO its
accumulaton Their opposition has little bearing upon
ions is no longer primarily for the individual but for
the people and cannot lie diverted fiom working in
In new country like ours. and owing to new in
ventions IT has been possible FOR few 70 make cnor
nous fortunes, but every day the opportunities FOR
doing 50 become less and less. The poor not be-
coming poorer. and the rich richer but the rich are
now becoming Fewer ana poorer and the poor rlc"r
testiby. The deposits OF savings banks, the low price
Of commodities the high of labor and the lower
and lower returns made upon capital. which is a
marked feature Of our time leave no room for doubt
that the distribution Of weolth among the many Is
now taking place with great rapiaity The income
tax returns OF Britain the best evidence that can be
had upon this subject conclusive. These show that
during the eleven years from 1876 to 1857 the number
OF men receiving from $3.50 5000 per year in
cevinr from 5000 to Sos 900 actually decreased -
per cent The total number Of estates dealt with for
t9onoand nine hundred and MY OF thSs were r n5e
tax rs the monarchy IS it is certain that similar
OF affairs would be proved u exist here VITA rs
ANOTHER POPULAR MISTAKE.
Another cause prevents the growth Of great indi-
vidual fortunes refer TO corporations. limited iiabii
ity companies We hear much OF few individual
who supposed 70 own the railway system OF
America. This is a great mistake. The New y orK
Central Railway in this State between New YORK anu
Buffalo alone. for instance. is owned by more tran
10000 people. The Pennsylvania Railroad between
Philadelphia and PttsbIrg is owned by greater mum
Der than it employs. 1t is with the entire rail-
way systems of the world. banks owned by
thousands of Shareholders; there is scarcely manu-
featuring or spJIta:ion, commercial ana mining
company in the world which is not the property oil
hundreds or thousands of people Of moderate means
The number Of widows and orphans and OF estates
interested in these IS SURPRISING. IN s'ocnt 80.
which have Investigated these amount 70 oheqaI'cr'
and in some 10 onc-thild OF the totli capital
There is scarcely popular belief whlth mas 80
little real basis Of truth a. that the business o ue
world whether IN transportation MANUFACTURING OF
banking. is in the hands Of the lew oil uldt y j. ho'
continually spreading more and more among thc com
nuiy. ANY man dosIous OF ehlAridhg IN business
can do by purchasing shares o. the icadins con-
panes in every branch Of bushes; lie can DC J"
I,lSlD II
The people are deceived BY estimate, given Of the
fortunes lett by individuals. Men are rated ;tS worm
twenty millions Of dollars who have not tive huhiicp
thousand Many are called milllonar's who can
scarcely pay their debts. ,at next AIr Ey"ri1 not
approval of men administering their snrplu.. MsaH.
during life, bccmse he ia they Soun moS ' St
nv experience ~ lawyer !, that they do sOincho"
or other manage to take three fouiths OF Il.
The returns " several branches Of business Tor h>t
wear have recently been made: seventy eight cotton
manufacturing companies have reported I" 'h"r siHf'
holder, i'm England The total return upon the capital
invested amounted 10 thirty i've on"hundredtS II one
per cent-about onet!l'd Or enc per cei me F".
worse state OF affairs they have not only made nom
Ing but they have lost. The dividends 81 iHr Nc"
England mills last year amount to a small rat" ot
interest Business in most hrancle, has Stacei nn"
interest upon the capital invested Nj "nthoIh,c'
creased in recent years about twenty peg cent
and the price Of commodities hn' fallen, yet the rtr'
,pou capital have been is and less
If there be one thing certain, it !, that he tendency
which existed for some time after me lnrouucti"n o,
.iram and electricity toward the accumulation OF great
fortunes the hands of The few mas iF'el cViPlcH
arrested and that the reverse action MS D'gn; i.c
rapidly distributing wealth more and more among ire
ny This Is most enconra2mG toS,r' d@ avn, e
and will continue 10 he made hereafter
by the 'ob 'c re- al !" oher @ar,es coTGncd H"i
as the owner here gains NOT by his own hnor. or
the growth OF The community which he does little to
promote-thcc fortunes are Justly viewed win d,
fortune, be prevented. and T. it 81 90 20 endciVor 10
restrict the free play Of The natural laws under which
Ne meet with men who advocate different cures Cor
th, evil. would prevent hy law HE 80 ihNt
lion Of wealth in the hands Of any single IN
dividnal beyond a certain others urge that Tire
state should manage all business ana pay ihc various
ngicc~s md ,uIlovcs Of the irdust-ial army, it
yays Inc officers ard men of the Army and Navy.
Others In the Ownership Of the lana lv the Hail"h'
lid rryCItv of the nany and the excessive wealth
of The few. some urge return to communism.
Most thinkers see in these suggestions remedies lar
,Vof Lau IN
icann f. euro Itself at least I'm the world OF Cuisines,
They think that the march Of pro-rr,, j. nor TO be
accGIeraicd panper,r +. not 10 be lc,scuce by going
lack TO the systems which 6orr ,hcd in bartatir ir's
from which The has slowly ioilcd upward ana
freed it-clf.
THE OLD INCENTIVE STILL NEEDED.
50 far rs the human rare has made any progress
It has l.een built upon indvdualism; it has needed
and still needs the incentive Of reward to stimulate
effort There must he prizes in He to call forth thc
les, results our task is 10 change human nature before
dsplace The foundation upon which it rc't ara upon
which some c,rorc,s is steadily making. Men are
slowly improved step by step, and those rioTmers "h'
would substitute revolution for evolution aud would
have the race bound n once over intervening space
where solid steps exist must surely cause IL to iaIl
below the existing level.
We find under present conditions cfeaier ana
greater proportion Of tho earnings Of capital ana labor
rapidly distributed: that pnupcrism grows lc,N aw
les orr school Of thought. therefore tfarh'r ma
f,e s thev are now the laws u distribution - FREE
that individuals should be encouraged 10 e. lorMa.n
developing the resources Of The country ana dccimu
lntinc wealth since wealth In our dav mus promote
tbe general good. We believe that the next sep we
should take is 10 change the practice Of men ~ isine
wealth after n is acquired. not before lis aCpls!ton
20 that the incentive which induces men - ltr1r ana
accumulate may not be sapped We come, tIcrcioie'
IN fhc teaching Of the Gospel Il Wealth: g..
Great wealth has hitherto generally been lcld pv a.
po.,es.ors and distributed after death. IL has 6nrN
zone bv two mod s. First, 10 the family Men nnNc
toiIrd even denied themselves the comforts oi me- th'
| .hoir children might inherit fortunes. lHlS Is INC
worst Use 10 which wealth be put. ouch bcpn't-
are u.nallv made with les Thought OF me foDu H. VI
made from affection. II is an minimizing affection Tor
n Is clear that wealth bestowed upon children i
Generally n curse and not blessing. Bishop IOltcf
H. Lie suggestive speech before ,he Chamber OF Com
| mercc last month, said ,r,.o,
| nv Z. rho effect Il a great inheritance upon Children
whether in prospect In possession. IS seldom heu,h
full 1t is apt TO take away inc stimulus 70 ie'i'a