The evening times., 1900-03-01

NEW YORK. March Under the fos-
tering wing OF the Republican Administra-
tion the trust system Of the United
States has grown to appalling proportions.
Its wealth and its consequent power are
absolutely terrifying. While trusts may
be organized under the laws OF nearly ev--
cry State, there is one which goes into the
market with outstretched hands; it not
merely allows trusts. it actually invites
and welcomes them. This is clearly dem
Onstrated by statistics compiled from Of
fetal records. and this includes only those
possessing a capital OF S3 O0O, 600 OF more.
The State OF New Jersey. which has in
one year licensed trusts 10 the extent OF
nearly S2.5OO, eco GOO. is the home OF Mr..
Griggs, the Attorney General Of the Uni
ted States. He was chosen because he was
A friend and defender OF the trust system
and refuses 10 enforce the Antitrust law
which the Supreme Court only two years
ago declared 10 be constitutional and nee
essary for the interests OF the nation
Until the figures we're copied from the
State records there was no suspicion in the
public mind that the trust system had
grown in one place TO such astounding pro-
portions. This swift concentration OF the
powers Of monopoly represents a stTans-
ling process that is crushing thousands OF
small but independent business men and
manufacturers out Of trade.
The most important point to understand
is that this overwhelming concentration is
q new thing; that this swift, noiseless
change has been made chiefly since Presi-
dent McKinley's election, and that il is
doubling and tripling every few months.
The great railway systems are being
bought up and consolidated, and an at
tempt is being made 10 make a single
system from the Atlantic to the Pacific
which will destroy ali hope OF competition.
The whole anthracite coal supply of the
United States is controlled arbitrarily by
four railroads. dominated by four men.
who in turn are dominated by one man.
Thus the price OF coal and the amount
TO be mined each year are fixed. and the
public must submit. Competition is out
Of the question.
The factories OF al the large Industries
are being RAPIDLY bought up or forced out
OF business. And as these gigantic. all
corrupting systems gain in power they alb
solutely kill competition. No man may
hope to engage in the business they CON
troll.
In the entire forty-nIne years preceding
1885 New Jersey Incorporated S73 compa-
nies, whose capital amounted TO or ex-
ceeded 81, ,0O0, ,0oo. These were nearly all
strictly legitimate business enterprises.
In 1895. 46 trusts with a capitalization
Of s69. $50 600 we're granted charters; in
1896, so trusts. with $119, 800 600; in 1897,
Sc with 1915. .557 goo; in 1898. and in this
and the following year only those having
in excess Of So, ,O00, 900 are included 90 with
S69S CSC. 900; in 1S99 lie with 81 446. 500 GOO
Since January /, 1900. charters have been
issued TO trusts representing SIS. .00.600.
This. taken with the capitalization OF the
trusts legaiized since the beginning OF
1898. makes a grand total OF S3131 100. 0OC.
In West Virginia. q State which would
rival New Jersey in breeding trusts. the
following charters have been issued dur
ing the past week by the Secretary Of
State: The Southern Paving Company. OF
Chattanooga, Tenn, capital authorized
SlOO. 600; International Pneumatic Railway
Company, Of Rochester, n. Y. capital,
S625. coo; La Parle Obesity Soap Company
Of New York. capital. $4,000: SteaIey- -Os-
born Undertaking Company, Of ClaTksbuTg
w Va. capital $50, 600: North American
Graphite Company, Chicago, Ill. capital.
$500. COO: Murcatta Company. OF New York
n. Y. capital $4,000; Weston Petroleum
Company. of Parkersburg, w Va. capital
500, 600; Hope Manufacturing Company. Of
Pittsburg, Pa. capital, 500. GOO: Enter
prise Industrial Company, Of Flushing, y.
Y. capital 500, 600.