The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-12-13
Argentina is Afflicted with Trusts.

| argentina is Afflicted VltH Trusts.
! Correspondence Of Associated Press
Buenos Aires, Nov. 10.-4A commit
| tee of the Chamber Of Deputies has
discovered after more than Il years
! investigation that Argentina is af
/; llicted with trusts. Wine, -four,
! lime. POTATOES, meat, and Oil and
naptha are described in a recent re-
port of the committee as under the
control Of trusts which have been
able to flourish and maintain high
prices chiefly because of high pro-
tective tariffs or favorable rates, it is
! charged.
! The committee finds that the most
TYPICAL trust = in Argentina Ohe
word trust is put in quotation
marks throughout the reporD is the
wine trust" in the great grape
growing province Of Mendoza on the
slopes of the Andes. II is charged
that this combination Of wine pro-
dulers is an official trust organized
by the law Of the province which is
able to pay the cost OF the greater
part of its administration out Of the
local privilege created by the mo-
nopoly Of wine.
Destruction Of grapes and wine, eX
portation Of wine at a low price and
maintenance of a high price in Ar
gentina are alleged. The trust" is
able to exist, the report says. by viz
tue Of high customs duties which dis
courage the importation Of ordinary
wines and by til" aid Of the national
banks reform IN the administra-
! ton of the banks and in the tariff
i avs is demanded.
The committee names the Stan
dard Oil Company, of the United
states, as the trust which con-
trolls Kerosene and naptha in Ar
|, gcntina. The report sets forth that
| this trust norteam ericano del Pc
troloe' has in Argentina power
| full subsidiary company, divided in
its legal aspect into one section Qf
production, another Of marketing
and transport"
The commercial practices of this
trust .. says the report. are those
Of a monopoly which wishes to ex-
tend even more and consolidate.
There is no proof that the trust has
determined upon increasing the price
of kerosene and naptfla in the coun-
try. but it is certain that its prices
represent q relative increase, that is
TO Say, with relation to The cost OF
production.
Arsentina's defense against This
international and almost world-wid"
monopoly" the committee says. con-
s:sts Of encouraging commerce in and
production of AL other materials
capable Of producing light and heat
and developing the production Of pc
,rolcum as a government enterprise
since every private enterprise VIII
be annihilated or absorbed by the
trust
Dealing With meat. the report says
that the expectation Of this commod-
ity is lin the hands of great compa-
nits which are subsidiary to still
,nore powerful foreign companies
tending toward capitalistic monopoly.
The committee recommends that Az
gentina organize its own meat in
! dustry with municipal and regional
storage plants and enter into direct
relation with the great foreign mar
kets Of consumption. Finding that
q milling trust exists. the committee
declares that the laws against eNtor-
! tomato capitali>,ic combinations are
necessary and that we should cd
ucate ourselves economically and po-
! litically for The specialization OF this
| country.