Evening star., 1901-08-08
TRUSTS IN EUROPE
Combinations Control of Branches of
Production.
PROPOSED ABOLITION OF DOR DUTIES
Would Not Break the Power ot
the Syndicates
REPORTS FROM CON SULS

Those who believe that the way to hurt
the trusts in this country is to abolish the
tariff on goods similar in class to those
made by the trusts will find some interest
ing information in the special consular re-
ports on trusts in foreign countries.
Some months ago the State Department
collected, through Its agents in Great
Britain and on the continent OF Europe.
voluminous statistics of the extent and
character ofindustrial combinations abroad.
The information was published in due
time and is now being referred to in the
discussions arising over proposed tariff
changes.
From the reports of the State Depart
ment 1t appears that if any commodity Of
production and commerce In Europe has
escaped the grasp of trust it was an over
sight and doubtless has been corrected ere
now. Every article of Importation, trust
made in this country, upon which 1t Is
proposed to abolish the tariff, is controlled
by trust in England, Germany, France,
Austria or Belgium. In a great many cases
the different combinations are welded to-
gether with international agreements, max
ing situation wherein. 1t would be very
easy to get in touch with the American
trust and form world-combination.
Combinations I'm Belgium.
According to the consular reports Bel
gium Is one Of the most fertile fields for
commercial combinations, although they
are not operated actually as the American
trusts are conducted. Manufacturers, pro-
ducers and dealers competing in the same
line of goods form a Syndicate and agree
upon given selling price, but continue to
operate their enterprises independently.
In Brussels an international glass trust
was formed, Incorporating the glass in
dustry in France, Germany, Belgium Italy,
Austria and Bohemia, with the ultimate
object of taking in England and the United
States. All orders for glass would go to
the headquarters Of the trust and then be
distributed among the different factories
trust were capitalized at about 5000, 900,
to handle only the one article Of plate
glass.
The trade combinations in the territory
surrounding Brussels included nearly $50
trusts, with a total capitalization Of many
hundreds Of millions Of dollars. They took
in nearly every article Of manufacture.
Trusts I'm Austria.
Austria is designated as the birthplace of
trusts in central Europe, and the year
1873 is given the day of birth. Austrian
trade combinations for the purpose of
keeping prices high and limiting produc-
ton. The iron trust, petroleum trust and
sugar trust are described the principal
combinations in Austria but 1t Is said that
there is not really any important industry
in the empire that has not resorted to
combination. They control completely the
prices Of their products. and in recent
years have made alarming increases in
price to the consumer, amounting In some
instances to 80 per cent. 1t is claimed by
the representatives of labor that wages
have not kept pace with the general ad-
vance.
known as Syndicates I'm France.
In France the organization Of trusts Is
forhid6ap 1897 however fhara
were $3.50 Industrial, commercial and agri-
cultural "syndicates." The public knows
little Of the inner workings OF the syndi-
Gates, but results evident In uniformity
of prices among manufacturers handling
the same lines Of goods Silk spinning and
sugar refining are two OF the largest trusts.
The pig iron industry of France Is con-
trolled by one stock company, which orig
inally consisted Of four establishments, and
now includes all the firms in that business
The central company fixes prices, contracts
for the delivery and names INES the tn conditions
lied syndicateS take In the manufacture of
steel, Of beams, Of sheet iron and other
products Of iron and steel.
Germany Overrun With Trusts.
Germany Is thoroughly in the grasp Of
combines. They are called "cartels,' or
trade syndicates, and their objects usually
are three-fold, as follows: To obtain uni
form maximum selling price for products,
to maintain and create normal and ra-
tional demand for material and labor, to
create a monopoly for every member Of
every group OF members In each branch OF
production.
In 1898 1t was estimated that there were
234 kinds of raw materials and manufac-
tured articles, the production. purchase,
manufacture and sale Of which in Germany
were controlled by syndicates, and the
number has steadily increased since that
date. Some of the leading industries were
controlled by trusts as follows: Chemical
industry. 81 syndicates; iron, so; ores and |
stone, SO; textile industry, 3S; paper man
ufactures, 10: metallurgy. exclusive of
iron and steel, 10; food products, u; leather
products, g. etc.
The Great Coal Trusts.
The great Rhenish- Westphalia coal trust |
controls the mining and prices Of coal in |
western Germany, estimates in advance the
coal requirements Of each year, apportions
the amount among the different mines, |
fixes the price and gets it under all cir
cumstances. The iron syndicates in Ger
many not only fix prices and limit produc-
ton, but adopt labor regulations. They
will take in the strikers from another fac
tory.
All the concerns manufacturing railroad
the bids for railway contracts uniform and |
a good deal higher than bids submitted to
foreign railroads.
Trusts Common in Great Britain.
In Great Britain trusts are so common as |
to excite but little attention. Every i'm |
portant industry Is under q combination,
and the total capitalization Is enormous. |
The textile industry is thoroughly organ |
lied. In the city of Bradford five little |
trusts of dyers capitalized at over |
$4,000 600. In Birmingham the wall paper |
trust is capitalized at $3O,0000 eco; the |
bleaching industry at $50,O0O,O0O; the ce- |
ment trust at $4O,OOO,0O0, which are only q |
few of the trusts OF that vicinity. 1t would |
take pages of The Star to describe the |
number and extent of the trusts in Eng |
land, Ireland and Scotland. and the total |
values of their shares would reach as |
founding figures. A mere Outline of the |
trusts OF Europe occupies 1877 printed pages |
Of the consular report
Western Sentiment Regarding the
Tariff.
It appears from Representative Bah |
cocks recent letter either that he was |
misunderstood when his position was as
oaI 20 ho hot 80 oIxy