The Winslow mail., 1901-02-21
NO RELIEF FROM TRUSTS.
Combines and Monopolies Waxing
Fat Under the Protection of
Republicans.

The republican national platform
contained plank asserting that "we
condemn all conspiracies and combi-
nations intended to restrict business,
to create monopolies, to limit produc-
ton, or to control prices; and favor
such legislation as will effectively re-
strain and prevent all such abuses,
protect and promote competition and
secure the rights of producers, labor
ers, and all who are engaged in in
dustry and commerce." Upon the
platform containing the plank the re-
publican party was continued in full
control of the government in all it's
departments.
The plate glass trust, under the
protection of the Dingley tariff, arbi-
trarily raised prices to a point far
above the rates existing before it
went into effect; to so high a point,
it seems, that some dealers found it
profitable to import certain grades of
foreign glass, even with the heavy
duty of the present tariff. The trust
promptly took steps to stop this. An
order was recently issued to all deal
ers IN window glass that they must
cease importing on their own account,
or buying any imported glass unless
from agents belonging to the trust.
Any customer of the trust violating
this order is to be boycotted. and the
rebate of five per cent. paid to the
customers of the trust on their pur-
chases for a year is to be cut off.
Here would seem to be clear case
of combination to restrict business"
create monopolies'' and control
prices" calling for such Legislation
as will effectively restrain and pre-
vent all such abuses" That is the
way the Philadelphia members of the
paints, oils, and window glass trade,
regarded it, and when the federal in
dustrial commission began it's sit
tings in Philadelphia some days ago
they went before it with their griev-
ances and asked relief.
They told the commission among
other things, that whereas a 12X6O-
inch light formerly cost rs cents, it
now costs $1.SS; the 24x6O size was
| $2.40 light, and now it is Sc; the 24x
S4 size, which cost $4.55 about three
| years ago, now costs $11 a light.
| These are the prices charged by the
trust, and enforced by a complete
boycott on any purchaser who buys
outside of the trust. The paint men
thought this legitimate case for in
reference by legislation, and what
they asked was that the tariff on for
eign glass be so reduced as to make
open competition on all grades possi-
| BILE. They claimed that duties under
the Dingley tariff enabled the trust
to fleece the domestic trade, and that
the only way to correct the injustice
is by modifying the tariff. The indus
trial commission was asked to recon-
mend this action to congress.
The chairman of the commission
promptly dissipated any hopes of re-
| lief from that source. He told the
paint men they Cannot go into con-
gress and ask for a revision of this
particular tariff without entailing
grave danger of causing a general at
tack on the existing tariff, and of in
juring the prevailing prosperity of
the country" The Philadelphia Pub
lie Ledger, republican as it is, feels
compelled to comment that eff this
be sample of the character of the in
quiry the industrial commission is
pursuing, it might as well suspend its
hearings, since it is plainly commit
ted to the preservation of all the trust
promoting and sustaining provisions
of the existing tariff, no matter how
glaring may be the abuses perpe-
trated under cover of it's schedules. =
C1ova1opd DIo;r Dao1ar