Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-04-29
CONGRESSMAN -. II. Ronrmrs.
rra.,s. lie says. A.. D.cia..iiy Dssesrsa.
aud should be Directly Tsssd.

Congressman ~. ~. Roberts-'"rhe
recent entrance u the great Eastern
trusts into this State together with
tho remembrance that the press diA.
patches early ~ March reported that
the aggregate capitalization OF Huch
concerns organized within two months,
amounted to the enormous sum OF w..
900, 900. oO0 may well Justify tho effort %
the News" TO ascertain the opinion of
our public mon upon the subject OF the
cause for the existence OF trusts, thelt
effects ON trade, and what remedy, VI
any. can be applied TO check their
'srho cause for their existence IL not
difficult to md, they have their ofifin
ia human greed for money hnd power,
They arc the natural outErowth 81 mat
national legislation which, under the
name OF protective tarln system.
made II possible 60 establish monopo-
lies. The theory " the pro,ectioniHt
WAS, that under the operations OF the
protective tarlffH. American industries
would he fostcrcd. and that the line OF
industries no protected ouerihH lt"ht-
able Investment for capital would re-
suit In such home competition, wa, ~
last the products of such now INDUS
tries would be nearly "a cheap % I'M
portcd products. and We would have
The advantage of having diversified
American Industries and lnofcaHo the
Held OF American labor. The monopo-
~ thus given 10 the American produe.r'
howoVer, WIS Of such value tfht ne
was moi allow 10 take steps that would
perpetuate II and make Il Yield To HIN
ali the possible advantage that could
came ffom the possession OF Huch a
special privilege. Tn. result was tina,
aich combinations, or pools, OF allied
Industries were formed uH would on
sAnlhlI.tlH A
| control production, Htiilc competition
practically eliminate individual pro-
ducerH from the field and thus enable
| The trusts 10 control prices and 10 hlch
The people all that was possible up 10
| the very limits OF the advantage given
under the hlgh tarln laws.
'arhc effects OF the trusts on trnhe
mr.. NOT difficult To ascertain. While
| ID may be true that IN some cases they
/ nav. improved methods and service
| of production, still they have broken
IN small industriea-in which only II
IL possible for the individual citiEen u
engage. and upon which ~ much OF M
| dlvidual American prosperity depends
they have made competition practically
/ Impossible, and are rapidly reducing
| the American population into twe
| nrcgt clnasca-the ponnearoru OF ms
tnensc wealth on the one hand. ana
the common, machine.like laborcfH on
the othss; aud on the whole are q me.
nnco 10 the liberty and prosperity OF
our country.
"Whnt legislation can do 90 check
their operations II perhnpH more am
cult 10 determine, but certainly thli
much can he said; that every powoi
that II granted the government 60 ~,
strain or check these concerns should
he employed for nothing can be -
dangerous 10 the existence or trre IN
! stltutiona na these enormous agHfegn
lions OF wealth. with their ability I,
control stats Legislatures aud the Ma
tionnl Government. The power N
taxation and the power OF reNuiatlni
foreign commerce II granted ~ tn
Federal Congress, and ! would be II
fayor OF imposlng direct taxation up
an the income OF these concerns 10 aH
slst IN raising the necessary revenue
on the government, and ~ modify thl
tariff laws as would tend TO breal
down the monopoly unrighteouAl,
granted 10 such combinations"