The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-09
THE TIN PLATE TRUST.

Even the New York Tribune. the most
stalwart republican journal of the coun-
try. has opened its eyes enough to sec
Just little too much fimsy stock and
too great profit In trust products. Tn.
Tribune has the temerity to say
| Tho tin plate company has $40. 900 Of
per cent cumulative preferred stock and
$50 600 900 of common stock OF which about
half was sold In this city In single week
when the price was near It's highest. 1t has
paid a quarterly dividend on the preferred,
and the claim is that II can produce S.oooooo
boxes yearly. Before the COMPANY was formed
| the current price here was 2.S2e box. full
weight. and is now quoted at "a. 02h box Tor
future sbpment from mill. an advance OF
81. 20 a box. This rise was effected last April.
and there has been no further advance since.
The exploiters of the stock have argued that
IN only half the advance in price were proht
the company could pay the preferred dlvidend
aud per cent on common stock and still
have per cent more to hold or divide. Such
things can not be whispered In any mark ~
anywhere the hands employed In the mills
ere sure to hear OF the them. Then the lues-
ton arises whether the companv. which is said
TO be getting 50. GOO, 900 a year for Its OUTPUT
r.orc than the makers formerly obtained.
should not divide the enormous profits with
the workers by Increase of wages
The Chattanooga Times, in commenting
on the above clipping from the Tribune,
states four facts that are of interest as
connected with the tin plate trust. They
are:
duct sold at So 82h a box. or the trust could
not have been financed.
9. The advance OF sl.2o Der box Ia equal
to 43 per cent on the price of last April.
8. The advance in cost OF material and labor
has been 20 per cent, and the entire increase
In cost of production has been less than 30
per cent
4. The duty of 81. 90 per box 10 os per cent
of the April price.
Following the four statements set forth,
the Times asks the Tribune two very
pointed and direct questions:
VIII the Tribune point out the trust in
Great Britain that answers as parallel for
the tin plate trust of the United States!
VIII the Tribune saw candldiy whether this
trust with $50 600 900 Of stjo6. could earn q
penny on the $50 0o0. 900 Of water In the stock
If 1t were not protected from foreign compe-
tition?
The Times then proceeds to say that
no more patent or gigantic scheme was
ever concocted to plumber the consumer,
and that such scheme could not exist
but for the protecting and motherly care
OF the UNANIMOUSLY cxorbtant tariff of the
republican party.
II the people OF the country at large
will arouse themselves to a proper sense
of their duty in the premises-a sacred
duty they owe the present and all coming
generations-and place a party in power
that will reduce this onerous and gigantic
iniqulty to a strictly revenue basis, they
will rid the country of monster incubus
that has for years dlsgraced and dishon-
ored the body polite, and brought untold
and uncounted calamitles upon the masses
of the American people.
What is true of the tin plate trust
above referred to Is true OF all these
tariff mothered combines. They are able.
through the fostering care of their greedy
mother to realize immense profits c,n OF
watered stock at the expense OF a help
less people-helpless because they do not
direct their constitutional right of fran
chise in the proper direction.