The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-19
WEDNESDAY. july 10. 1893.
TARIFF AND TRUSTS.

Under the Mckinley tariff high pro
tective tax was put upon tin plate. As a
consequence. the price Of tin plate in
America was greatly increased. This tax
was levied not for the purpose OF raising
revenue. but for the purpose. as alleged,
Of building mp the tn-plate industry in
the United States. 1t was contended that
TINS was an "nfant industry unable to
stand alone without the aid OF the gov
eminent. and that therefore, the people
OF the United States should De made TO
pay double price for their tin I'm order
that the manufactures Of tin might pros
per II was alleged, also. that this tax
was levied not simply to protect the man
ufacturers Of tin. but those American la
borers who were employed in this indus
Try
Now. for the sequel: A tin-plate trust
was formed and some time ago the lac
borers in that industry who were pro
tected" against "pauper labor of Europe
complained that their wages were too low
and demanded an advance. There was
a bitter contest. but the laborers won.
The advance was given and almost inn
mediately thereafter the price of tim plate
was advanced by the American Tin-Plate
Company from S3S7 10 Si37 per box Of one
hundred pounds A correspondent writing
from Pittsburg concerning This says that
rr
connected with the un-piate market and
that cit is reported that the trust is get
ting even for the enforced 10 per cent adj
vance Of wages 10 tie workers"
II Is contended be- adds that while the
advance in wages was 70 per cent the in-
crease in labor cost on each box of stan
dard plate IS only a few cents although
the price Of tin plate is advanced TO cents
a box. In the past six months the price
or tin plate has advanced more than G5
per cent.
The Times has no sympathy with that
sort Of a trust The Times has mo sym
pathy whatever with system of laws
that builds mp that sort Of a trust The
Times holds that tits a wicked pcrversion
Of the taxing power Cor the government
70 employ that power in the interest Of
any mans business The Times holds
mat the government has no right TO em-
ploy the taxing power save and alone Tor
the purpose Of raising revenue. when
The people Of this country are made TO
pay tax for the purpose Of enabling
some manufacturing concern 10 increase
its profits great public outrage SIS COM
mtted. and If the people understood it
thoroughly they would resist such a tax
even At the point of the bayonet i the
government should send 20 each taxpayer
In this country a bin charging him "a GER
tain amount 10 be applied 90 the interest
Of this or that industry. the taxpayers
would rise up IN open rebellion. and yet
that very thing IS done whenever tax
payer is made to pay protective tariff
tax. He pays tribute 20 the manufac-
turer I'm whose interest The tax IS levied,
and although the tribute IS paid Ia an I'M
direct way the payment IS none the less
sure.
me Times does not believe in anti
trust laws. as that term Is generally APP
Piled To say nothing OF me injustice OF
such legislation 10 say nothing OF the
question OF States rights. 20 say nothing
or the rights Of Individuals 10 conduct
their business affairs in their own way.
70 say nothing Of the rights OF a dozen
citizcus 70 combine their several interests
and DO business together. we hold that 50
u utterly impfacticabie 90 enforce so-
called antitrust laws. unless we shan
pass a national law prohibiting an sorts
OF corporations.
But on the other hand The Times 81
utterly opposed TO and The Times resents
with Indignation any legislation which
snail be especially enacted IN the In
terests Of trusts and combinations We
believe IN the ol0time doctrine OF letting
the government attend 10 IS business and
letting the people attend 10 their business.
The government has no right 20 interfere
with the private affairs OF men-either 10
hinder or 20 help them. The iln-plate
trust was made possible under the tariff
which protects It. and 1t is fostsred to-