Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-11-13

when this great evil was just starting,
we ought TO realize that there Is some
thing 70 reach of us to do, and 10 do
now.
II don't mean to say that there have
not been instances of corruption be-
fore, and In other countries but this
writer has spoken of organized COR
ruption, and Of legislators who have
been unfaithful to their trust.
AS TO THE TRUSTS.
There has been n change in busi-
ness conditions that has had ma
terial effect on the government. Up
to the last century the business Of the
country was conducted by individuals
and partners, but as the country was
developed, there came change when
large companies were formed ON this
plan, directors were put in charge and
tho business was controlled by few
men who acted the same as individuals
or partners. Following this there
came a time for the formation Of the
trusts, when these companies united
end voted their stocks as individuals,
and the management Of the business
interests OF the country was conferred
In the hands OF a few men.
This brought about condition
which has set aside the laws of supply
and demand and has sttied all COM
petition. The same plan was tried IN
England years ago, but 1t was stiiled
by criminal statutes, Here in the
United States, however, II has run
riot until there is not a necessity OF
life that is not absolutely controlled
by the gigantic corporations
They saw they could reach back
...l, .,.l-. &c.
terial. Take meat, for instance. Six
men make the market Of the country.
True, they loosened their grip recently
on account OF Investigations. hut their
power Is as great as 1t ever was. In
recent years there has been forced
a shrinkage Of s16S000,000 In the
value of the beef Of the country on
tho hoof, and they have steadily adj
vanced the price Of meats. Three
times a day these six men come 10
every table in the United States and
claim their tribute.
GRAIN MARKET CONTROL,
''Turn to other products. You can't
find a market for a bushel Of grain
that is not controlled by the grain
trust l don't mean to say that there
are not few independent elevators
still struggling for existence, but they
have been gradually forced out OF
business by the Armours, who are part
owners and directors in the railroads
on whom the elevators depend for ex-
istence.
There are less than 100 men who
control all OF the Industrial life Of the
country. Tho boards OF directors OF
1900 trusts and combinations are
made up of rs men and the railroad
interests make up the greater part Of
this number. A very few years ago
there were some 5000 railroads Now
there are six systems controlled By
eight men, aud all of these are not IN
real competition, but are controlled by
gigantic trust"
RATE LEGISLATION.
Railroad rate legislation, which Is the
theme on which senator LaF'ollette be-
camo a national character, was taken
up at length. The railroads he said
were capitalized at $4,000. 100000, while
So, 900, 600 would pay the entire cost
OF their construction with terminals,
while tho people were paying interest
on over capitalization In the shape OF
exhorbi,ant rates.
1--WE pay the railroads ever year" he
said. more than X costs 10 maintain
all OF the government Of the country
from township 10 national and yet We
can not have representatives, who VIII
vote for statutes TO enforce the de-
crees of the supreme court"
1T is a long time since We have had