New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-16
TRUSTS AND SPOTLS.

By far the finest illustration Of the real
character Of much Of the discussion about in
dustrial combinations is found In the address
Of prominent speaker Mt the Chicago Confer
encc He solemnly declared that the concerns
ought 10 he punished as criminal for driving
ont mlddlemen and small dealers bur if they
would divide profits with the workingmen he
would declare himself in their favor. and they
would he placed on al honest and popular and
reasonable foundation. and no one could com
plain or Justly oppose IT," Thus il would bo
a crime for them TO drive out middlemen and
small dealers unless they would divide the
spoil but in that case It would be highly praise
worthy.
Another orator declared that mo republic had
ever survived the mercenary despotsm Of
merchants and money changers" but as he
has held for years that this same despotsm
was tho thing in force. it may be said that this
republic has survived 50 far Another asserted
that the thing first to he done was to stop rail
road discrimination in favor OF combinations.
and then that every artificial advantage given
by the tariff should he removed II has not
been explained by anybody how railroad rates
or tariff rates could possibly bo framed so az
not to give any advantage to anybody but II ii
could be done would the country gain by pay
Ing money 10 Europe for certain work instead
Of paying 1t n American workingmen:
It does not seem TO be In the least degree
more moral or vrtuous 70 commit crime for
the benefit Of certain corporations and their
workingmen than 10 commit it for the benefit OF
the corporations only Nor Is It perceptibly
easier 10 stop railway discrimination in favor
~ company than to stop exactly the same
kind of discrimination in favor Of the largest in
divilual shippers Of any particular kind Of
pr<luct This latter sort Of discrimination has
been going on ever since railway transportation
began and nobody has yet found ont how to
prevent 1t. and It does not distinctly appear
that it Is in any respect a greater injury or
wrong to the public If the benefit goes to
corporation than if it goes to an individual.
Also II the courts should be asked to decide
whether a duty gave artificial advantage 10
a combination corporation. as against any
individual or company competing. would 1t not
be we'll to secure Democratic or free trade
judges before beginning the trial?
An Attorney General Of a Western state
proposes constitutional amendment auhoriz-
ing a graduated income tax Of all corporations
having n monopoly in any business. 1t would
amuse his legal mind during his summer vaca-
ton. II It is not ended to find n corporation
which has n monopoly OF anything legal
definition does not permit the taxation OF
concern because somebody thinks IT has "a
practical control of the market Some proof
OF that control would at least he needed.
tax on industrial corporations In proportion to
their income would not be half as popular as
n fax directly levied. with hostile intent at the
diahoIcal holders Of so-called monOpOlles. but
It might be great deal more effective In de-
tcrmining whether concern did in fact secure
cxtravagant profits from the public or not