New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-26
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
WAGES PAID BY THE TRUSTS.
INFLUENCES THAT TEND TO REDUCE i"H''
UNDER ARTIFICIAL CONDITIONS.

I,xnrR ARTIFICIAL CONDITIONS
To the Editor OF The Tribune. 49,.
Sir: Your statement OF facts III '"e '' a.-,a.
nth as to the reduction OF wages IN sugar
since the Sugar Trust was formed IL VI 'u
,r,ror,onco that ask a little space to comment
upon 1t. .,.os md
,,uets invariably work injustice to the small manu-
facturers to the dealer or the laborer' W o'e
or to ALL whenever such corporations an" ' '''
oIIes control the natural resources WIN" ''
the common inheritance OF the people or arc
nee essites In their daily life. and whenever W "a
rers or otherwise they create artifcia. 49,,
conditions or Irregular employment OF LABOR 'n.'
restrict the opportunity Of the great pody Vi ~
noonle 70 engage in lawful and legitimate enter
prise and wrongfully restrict for selhsh ehu' '
production and consumption OF a people.
In spItr of the assertions or John II. oea''e' ~
tho contrary The Tribune's readers know It's State
y,ents are true as TO the bad influence OF the sugar
Trust upon the life OF wage-earners' Anu u .'o
diminishing Of wages must be added the depressihS
/ influence Of periodical shutdowhs' thus h'''
| twofod the discrepancy between wages paiu III
connective and those paid in monopoly yeai''
Nine dollars average weekly wage ''e'e" 49,
work a day with prospect of an early lowering VI
even this rate are bad enough. and IL seems 's''
time for us 10 follow x-Attorney-Gehera' '"
| advice and compel the proper legal P'o'
authorities TO do their duty in the premises eiVins
their full duty will be performed the authority u
retain one half the penalty for the infractioh OIL ~
| law when proved and collected.
Thus It was shown In the matter OF gas mohopoiy
that wages were reduced after consolidation tooN
| effect. and stress must be laid on this matter OF
wages because of the three principal economic
| factors production consumption and Distribution
The last IS of greatest Importance just now tor'
while the other two are being developed 10 al ~"
tent unheard of before. this question OF ihoie
| equitable distribution of the wealth produced by
labor and capital together Is one vital 10 ire WEI
| fare Of every wage-earner.
How much overabundance OF capital shah DC
| produced in any community Is not the mos, I'M
portant question. for the most thrifty community
il generally where the general average OF property
is most evenly distributed. Concentration Oh cap'-
tai and our all-too generous patent system nave IN
creased econo mic utility to an enormous extent
but of this same utility what benefit does the poorly
| paid laborer for the Sugar Trust ever receive
| Space does permit. otherwise coud give ho
! end OF Instances Of this sort Of injustice
Some one said TO me- why labor mas sun iei'
! one weapon Of characterization of contract Alas!
| freedom of contract works justice only between
| equals 1t is beautiful as justice in theory out
| too often ugly famine in practice. AS De-
tween of these giant corporations ana the WORK
ngman 1t Is like the option the lion gave the lamb
! For the State which granted these companies
their franchises allow this fearful pressure upon
the weaker members of the social organism IS, as
Professor Commons puts II, rank SocldI nJuuss
poverty among us is due" If papers Ike The
Tribune Will fully instruct their readers upon these
questions of wealth vs.. commonwealth they VIII
The Commissioner of Labor says The State
owes nan neither living nor an opportunity 10
one. but it does owe protection in the oppor-
tunties offered" Is the State now giving this pro-
lection? hold. for one that IS not so long as 1t
allows these robber barons of industry TO boldly dis
| through facile Legislatures which they denomnate
law. and when. forsooth. the starving Iaoorer re-