The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-02
New York Ice Trust.

The Democratic politicians OF New
York are much agitated over the de-
yelopments In the fight against the
American Ice Company. one of the
meanest and most oppressive trusts, OF
the true monopolistic brand. which ever
held up any community. II controls alb
solutely the price and the market for
what is one OF the necessaries OF life
during the summer months Every OBJ
lection which can be urged against any
trust exists in the strongest form
against this particular private monop-
oily. II is capitalized at $40, 100000
more than the total capitalization Of
the ice companies which went into the
original combination, and this enor
nous sum is pure water. 1t is not at all
likely that the original capitalization
represented an actually pad-in invest
reach an aggregate even greater than
this. 1t Is an absolute monopoly, for
under certain special privileges which II
has. no other company completes with
4, In supplying the wants OF the greatest
city on the continent Moreover. II uses
Its power and privileges In a most OPP
presslve manner and has been charging
exorbitant prices for It's product. par
ticuiariy to the small consumers the
poor of tho great city.
An agitation against its extortlons has
finally brought the company and its af-
fairs into the courts, on both the civil
and the criminal side. The attorney gem
eral OF the state has commenced pro
ceedings to have the certificate by which
this New Jersey corporation is permit
ted 10 do business in New York revoked
and he thinks he has data sufficient 10
prove that the company Is organized and
operated In defiance OF the antitrust
laws OF the state. and can be excluded
from doing business within tts borders
The outcome OF the great legal flgh,
thus inaueurated Is matter Of pro
found Interest 10 people all over the
country, for 1t win probably result In an
authoritative determination Of wha.
powers the states have to regulate or.
n need be. 10 suppress all monopolistic
trusts
The political end OF the proposition
however Is what IL largely agltattng
New York az III" present time From
what Inns already come to usht. Il ar.
pears that Robert Van Wy1k. the Tam
many mayor ~ New York and hts
brother, Augustus. the latest Democrat.
&c nominee Tor governor ~ New York
are the owners ~ AN aggregate ~ 900
shares 81 ioe trust stock tha' Rtrharl
Croker. 'he Tammauy boss. his ch'rf -
atari. John f. Carroll aud two oy three
other tuHaeatal Tammanype4 pat
holding public Office. are large stock
holdtrs. and that two o. the three 3,-k
commissioners N New YORK city. t,ug
tadscs ~ tho higher courts ana two u
ahr former mayors ~ the city are or
have teen also ia the combine.
The connection 20 these leading Tam
many politicians with the h-e trust is
emphasized by the tact that tAreash
she dock commissioners the trust was
able 10 secure control OF the dock priv
ntses ot New York. SO that no campet-
tng con>crn could bring icc into the city.
iiayiag established through the favor
Of Tsmmany an absolute monopoly. It
has proceeded arbitrarily 70 Increase
abe price Of Ice leo per cent
or course Mayor Van wyck and the
others 81 the Tammany politicians who
are heavy stockholders Ia this mean
est and most OPPRESSIVE Of trusts. owing
its monopoly purely 10 the good off,ces
OF the Tammany officials, all claim that
they paid for their holdings Of stock in
cash. This is one Of the matters which
Will be Investigated in the courts. 1t
+ really a minor question, however.