New-York tribune., 1900-12-15
TRUSTS IN EUROPE.


Some interesting facts concerning trusts in
European countries are presented in recent con-
suar reports to the United States Government.
The name trust appears to be little used, if
not unknown, but the thing itself fourishes.
In Germany a trust is known a cartel"
There is one in the sugar trade. comprising 9S
per cent of the whole. There are others in the
coal, iron, tinplate, oil, soap, brick, potassium
and many other trades. Indeed they seem TO
dominate practically all branches of industry.
Their objects are TO suppress competition, main
tain prices and, if necessary, restrict production
by the partial or entire closing of works. Prob
ably the total number of such combinations in
Germany, in both the wholesale and the retail
trade is not less than three hundred. Some of
these existed before the adoption of protective
tariff in 1879 but most of them have arisen
since that date. German economists attribute
their multiplication, however not to protection,
but 10 the general Industrial and commercial
tendencies of the age. Had Germany" says
Lehman, mot adopted a protective policy
there would now be in existence a greater
number of powerful International trusts, and
"it is very questionable whether consumers
would be better off than they are to-day"
In Austria Industries are newer than in Ger
many aud trusts are fewer, but the latter are
fully influential over conditions of produc-
tiOn and consumption. Indeed they are prob
ably more offensive there than in Germany
for they have long since ceased to be a means
OF defence, and in most cases are nothing but a
speculation for an increase of prices The iron
coal, oil and sugar trades are among those
dominated by trusts. and the effect of such con-
troll has been seen in a 30 per cent increase In
the price Of coal \ bill for the regulation of
trusts-Or cartels-has been drafted but not
yet enacted. In Belgium there are trusts I'm the
coal, sugar. plate glass and other trades Hol-
land is not manufacturing. but an agricuIt-
ural. fishing and commercial country Never
theless the coal trade and other Industries. so
far as they exist, are in the hands of mo-
nOpOlies. Outside of the iron trade Italy an
pears to have few trusts Competition among
manufacturers is intense. and consequently
wages are extremely low Recently trusts or
'syndicates' have been formed in the SULPHUR
and sumac trades, with the result of a general
increase of wages Spain, too, has few trusts.
excepting the monOpolies granted by the Gov.
ernment in tobacco, matches. etc
France seems to he. of all great industrial
countries, most free from trusts Theoretically
there are none, such combinations being pro-
hiblted by law. As a matter of fact however,
the iron, petroleum, sugar borax and other
trades are controlled by "syndicates." and tho
tendency OF the country is unmistakabIv toward
the multiplication of such organizations In
Doth sweden and Norway avowed trusts arc
uhkhoWh out understandings and agreements
exist among manufacturers which amoun+ nroo
ucally 10 the same thing Organizations oF
capltai are still, however far behind thoso 90
iaOOr' Much the same may be said of Switzer
iahu' there are no trusts in the American sansa
put almost every trade Is controlled nv n con,
OihauOh or agreement for the regulation 90
production and prices Finally. in the Irni+od
hIhgdom trusts flourish as nowhere alsa rrbora
mas Deen no opposition to them I'm eitbar Loci,
lauoh or public opinion. However" wr,tas The
united States Consul at Glasgow "ona bas b,,+
10 go through the country and nota the +oI,
chimney stacks standing here and there id1a
ana alone, from which the rest of tho 49,
nave been moved or razed, to understand thot
the combination has reduced outnut o. -,
hhed operations TO a narrower limit. and +hoa.
smokeless chimneys are mute witnesses 90 81
iact That a once hourishng enterprisa hos
'been throttled." haS
ouch Is tue situation In Europe. There is inst
one radieal difference between European ana
Ainefican Frusts. That is found in the can,toii
Nhuoh. which IN Europe is kept at the lowest
nsure Whhe here IL is too often swelled
"" 10 the highest possible figure
in"., e'iuen'iy' Is an important difference Rrt
~ o'iier respects the same law OF combination
Peies ~ All parts OF the industrial world To
seeIs 10 DC as general as the DEVELOPMENT or
"s oiD'"auons OF labor generation ago or less
and as logical and II NAV. Derhans r.. ,,l' less'
garded as an inevitable n,ocess a., ,,s,s Oe re
evolution INDUSTRIAL