The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-09-15
SATURDAY., SEPTEMBER Is, 1900.
A STUDY IN TRUSTS.

The Department of Labor in Washington
has recently published some statistics on
trusts and Industrial combinations which,
though meaEre and necessarily incomplete.
make an Interesting study The facts and
figures are based upon reports made by
forty-one combinations. The two most
Important questions considered are the eff
feet OF these combinations on wages and
prices On the question of wages reports
ara furnished from thirteen establish
ments popularity known as trusts. The re-
ports show that among skilled laborers
saaere has been decided increase in
wages while among the unskilled laborers
both the number and the extent of those
receiving less than S a week were in
creased There was then a decided de-
crease until the class receiving from SIS TO
50 was reached There was noteworthy
increase in both the number and extent of
employees receiving from So to $40 a week.
and in the still higher one receiving from
$40 TO SIS a week Among the clerks the
rates OF wages were more stable than in
Z the case of the two preceding classes.
The conclusion of the statistcian is that,
on the whole, taking the summary of all
the employees, but excluding superinten-
dents, foremen and travelling statesmen,
there was under combination slight in
crease Of wage earners Of the lowest class.
and thereafter in the classes whose wages
ran from IS to SIS per week a decided in
crease in both the number of per cent of
men employed, although there was also
considerable increase in some Of the classes
receiving the higher wages.
This does not prove that combination has
increased wages. because 1t is also shown
by the statistics that there has been an In
crease In the wages of those employed
by other concerns, notably by the railroads
of the country The figures do indicate,
however, that combinations have not de-
creased the number OF employees or their
wages.
And now as TO price. Out Of twenty
eight combinations answering the ques-
: 1ion as to whether the organization fixed
the price at which dealers shall sell to the
consumers, two only answered IN the af
fr1native These said that the penalty
fixed was the cutting off of the supply.
Twenty-four OF the combinations answered
the question directly In the negative. TWO
reported that they did not sell 10 dealers,
while thirteen made no answer. To the
question as TO whether they required that
persons. firms or corporations dealing with
them shall agree not to buy from or sell
to other than the combination itself. Two
replied in the Affirmative, iwenty-seven
replied in the negative and twelve made
no answer.
AS to export prices sixteen concerns
stated that their prices abroad were the
same as the prices within Ihe boundaries
of the United States allowance being made
for transportation: three more SAID that
they We're approximately so. while ten
stated that the prices differed. eight of
the ten giving lower prices to foreign
purchasers in order to secure their mar
kets.
SIS AS TO prices Of trust products as COM
pared with prices before combination was
effected. the reports give no definite con-
illusions. Two Of the largest trusts in
this country and two which are. more than
others in the public eye. are the Sugar
Trns; and the OH Trust The Sugar Trust
began operations in November. 1881. Be-
fore the formation of this trust compet-
lion WAS severe. and the margin between
& the price OF raw sugar and refined sugar
M'ass very small Immediately after The
1oFrnaiaon of the Trust this margin increased
from 6 little oyer half cent = pound to
- mnch as cent and quarter. and the
mar remained the same for nearly two
& yeass AZ that time n Tea back 10 what It
40 hssn before the orsan.zation Of the
srast. Al .ha time Of the lessensng of the
snars4n aetive compe.ition had begun
& s. ainst me- trusts on The part q, the
& = leekles ssl1neries md otsens. and this
4 = = iped 5oU natil the beginning