Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1900-06-22
THE POWER or TRUSTS


The Democratic Congressional Commit
Tee, as an Offset 10 the cry Of prosperity
which 10 ringing out from the headquarters
OF the Republican National and Congress.
sional Committees, is preparing for wide
circulation Of literature ln support of the
contention that q generally higher level Of
prices to consumers Of all kinds Of products
has been brought about through the opera
ton Of trusts. There has been prepared the
following statement of fluctuations Of lead
ing products controlled BY trusts during
1899;
The linseed oil trust raised the price from
Al cents on January TO 80 cents on Decem.
Der 80.
The menhAden trust raised the price on
menhaden oil from % cents on January z TO
27i cents on December 80.
The Standard OIL Company raised the
price on petroleum from 81 so on January
Ito 80 90 on December 80.
The sugar trust raised the price ON granu.
lated sugar from 494 cents on January z 70
81 cents on December 80
The chemical trust raised the price Of
ipecac from - 80 per pound on January 2
TO % So per pound on December 80. The
same trust raised the price Of camphor from
881 cents on January z TO 6li cents on De-
cember 30. The same trust raised the price
of quinine from 81 cents on January to 80
cents on December 80. The same trust
raised the price OF sal soda from 62f cents on
January z TO 70 cents on December 80.
The leather trust raised the price Of leather
from 20 cents on January 10 25i cents
on December 80.
The calico trust raised the price Of calico
from "a cents on January 2 TO 3t cents on
December 30 for print cloths, and 4 cents TO
Al cents on indigo prints.
The jeans trust raised the price on jean
cashmere from 27i cents on January to 40
cents on December 80.
The jute trust raised the price on jute
hemp from 2t cents on January to 81 cents
on December 80.
The copper trust raised the price Of copper
from 1884, cents on January 10 1871 cents on
December 80.
The lead trust raised the price Of pig lead
from % 90 on January TO "a 65 on Decem'
Der 30.
The tin. plate trust raised the price on tin
plate from % box on January z TO IS %
on December 30.
The cement trust raised the price Of Ro-
sendale from 70 cents on January 10 90
cents on December 30. They raised the
price during the same period on Portland
cement from 81 95 to o. 25.
The nail trust increased the price Of nails
from 81 10 on January 4, 1899, TO % 80 on
January 8, 1900. The same trust increased
price Of wire nails from 81 SO to $8 20 dur
ing the same period.
The Structural Iron Company increased
the price OF structural angles from 81 10 on
January 4, 1899, to % % on January 8, 1900.
The coal trust increased the price Of an
thracite coal from IS 70 on January 4, 1899,
TO a 30 on January 8, 1900.
The glass trust increased the price of glass
from o. 81 on January 4, 1899, 10 50 SO on
January 8, 1900.
The rubber trust increased the price Of
rubber from "a cents on January 4, 1899, to
q 45 on January 8, 1900.
The price Of boots and shoes, controlled
by the leather trust, shows an increase dur
ing the year 1899 on mems grain shoes from
% cents to 81 -; on Creedmore splits, from
90 cents 70 81 10, and like increase on all
grades Of boots aud shoes.
The prices Of cotton goods increased 80
per cent White sheeting on January II
sold ct els 90, aud on December 30 at $23.
All lines Of building material, iron. steel,
wooden goods, cotton goods, leather, and
other lines controlled by industrial trusts,
although showing great increase In price
during the years 1897 and 1893, showed even
greater increase during the year 1899.
The only prices to fall were those Of farm
products. The Year Book OF the Depart
ment of Agriculture for 1899, which has re-
Gently been issued, shows that the farm pro-
ducts and farm animals in 1899, although
vastly increased 10 quantity since 1890, had
fallen off In value TO the extent oil $7O0,969,
OIL. This only counts as farm products
corn, wheat, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat,
potatoes, hay. and cotton. II the farm pro.
ducts Of 1899 had brought the same prices
Us did the same products In 1890, they would
have brought more than they did by the
!. sum OF &2.609, 437 .684.
The farmers raised 1,013,O00O00 more
bushels of produce In 1899 than they did in
1890, and yet this produce was worth s9O6,
100000 less than was the smaller crop Of
1890. This only calculates the cereals.
The farmers OF the United States are pay.
Ing S3i per cent more for all they consume
than they were when the present Admins
tration went into power on March 4, 1897
and have lost during the present Admins
tration nearly $9,o0OO00.O0O by the decline
in prices OF farm products. In this calcula
ton the statistics Of 1897, the first year O.
the present Administration. are used.
The wheat In the farmers hands 10 1885,
was valued at $49S,547, l2l. The wheat IL
the farmers hands In 1899 was valasd a
S8l9,645,2 59. The farmers lost 500 900 .O0(
In the value of wheat alone, and yet thu
Weld Of wheat was increased.
The value of the cotton crop 10 1897 wa
ssi9, 100000, and had fallen OF $i4.000.OO'
the next year. while the crop Of 1899 Is no
calculated.
The average price Of wheat In 1897 wa
sos cents q bushel, while In 1899 II was onl,
6S4 cents q bushel.
J, 10 set forth that the aggregate capital o
eli trusts in this country today lie not ia
below Ave billion dollars, which lie equal Il
one.Lah Of the assessed valuation Of oil tag
able property in the United States at tn
time Of the last census. 1t Is charged tina
by the support of Hobbies they have don
more 70 lower the standard Of political mo
rallty than all other agencies combined.