The
COLUMBIAN, BLOOMSBURG, PA.
LIVE QUESTIONS.
A Series of Article Contributed ty
Advanced Thinkers.
TRUSTS AND MONOPOLIES.
IL
We have seentlir.t trusts and mnnopo
lies we rapidly increasing in number m
wll ns ia power; thiit they are good
potentially, but bad practically; that,
esclnding ngrfrnlturo, they control
about throe-fourths of all capital on
gaged in productive industry; thnt they
extort, yearly about 1 1,000, 000, 000
from our people, and that they nro large
ly responsible f:ir our 5,000 million
aires and our 600,000 tramps, the ma
jority of whom wo willing to do honest
work.
Higher prices, restricted production,
loss work and lower wnges nro groat
evils, but perhaps tho worst evils of
trusts nro public corrupt ion and unequal
and unjust distribution of products. To
obtain, maintain mid strengthen mo
nopolies bribes nre given directly or in
directly by the oiHcers of trusts and are
taken by senators, congressmen and
state and municipal legislators. Shrewd
and unsornpnlocs men gravitato to tho
head of corporations and trusts because
they are willing to lobby to obtain ad
vantage of their honest competitors.
Men buy votes that they may have a
vote to sell. Political speculators abound
wherever valuable franchises and spc-
BYRON W. HOLT.
ciftl privileges are "given away" to tho
corporation that knows best how to
grease legislative machinery. While
monopoly profits and prices we possible
politicians will be corrupt.
Neither the Australian ballot system,
proportional representation, the initia
tive and referendum nor any other meth
od of voting or legislating will make
politics pure while present monopoly
conditions exist. Even when we succeed
in making laws that pinch or threaten
to pinch trusts they are defied and bro
ken. Our last census is grossly defective
because many trusts ruade f also returns
or, like the Sugar trust, openly defied
all census laws and made no returns
whatever. Our most dangerous anar
chists are our monopolists.
Because of monopoly profits and low
wages our laborers aro unable to buy
back as consumers anything liko tho
whole of what they produce, thereforo
both the labor market and the goods
market aro constantly congested. When
this congestion is at its worst, we have
panics. You caut havo exorbitant mo
nopoly prices and profits without pau
pers and p'unies. Wo can get rid of one
only by getting rid of the other.
Bcforo discussing tho remedies for
trusts we will notico that tho evils of
trusts grow out if monopolies and that
monopolies rest upon threo kinds of
laws :
1. Patents, copyrights, franchise
grants, etc.
2. Tariff tuid other trade restricting
legislation.
8. Legislation permitting private
ownership of the opportunities to pro
duction. Most of the present tried or proposed
romedies for trusts consist of federal
and state antitrust laws and interstate
commerce acts. In spite of the fact that
hundreds of trusts we openly and con
stantly defying these laws mid that no
trust of importance has lost its grip or
changed anything except its location or
form because of any decision of any
court, tho people still seem to think
that a government fiat, if made strong
enough, could kill all trusts. It would
bo a pity to destroy them outright and
to lose their power for good, and it is
well that we cannot do so. They are a
development of modem industry and
they are here to stay.
Many of our eminent lawyers and
judges expect no beneficial results from
antitrust legislation. Some think it both
unconstitutional and hwmful because
it is governmental interference with the
right of private contract and business.
It is favored by politicians because it
serves to still for a time the clamor of
tho plundered people.
, We cannot hope to get rid of the evils
of trusts until we somehow change rad
ically that legislation which makes such
a fertile soil for the roots of monopoly.
Savages have no troublo with trusts;
neither would anarchists if they could
realize their ideal and abolish all law.
But the most of us are unwilling to be
come either savages or anarchists to got
rid of the evils of trusts, great as they'
are. Socialists offer us a heroio remedy.
They propose to gobble up all trusts,
present and prospective, into one grand
governmental trust or monopoly. As we
would all be stockholders in this great
trust, as well as consumers of its prod
ucts, we would not mind being robbed,
for we would then get our share of the
plunder. Socialists and nationalists
, therefore hail with delight the forma
tion of every great trust. They think it
hastens the day of governmental owuer
hjp of all capital and land. Socialism
is a possible remedy, for it proposes to
go to the root of the evil It sees uo oth
er way of securing eveu an approxima-
I tiou to a Just distribution of products,
' and it believes that human nature
, would stand tho strain of "from inch
i according to his ability, to each accord-
ing to bis needs. " More of us might be
socialists if we did not beli vo that the
I most of us would bo shirks, mult r fa
vorable circumstances, and if vo did
not soo a better sohitii ii cf tho problem.
Our patent law system should bo re
vised or abolished. But tho worst evils
of trusts nro not occasioned by patents.
Our tariff legislation, as well as our
system of internal taxation, fosters
trusts and adds greatly to their evils.
They, with all kinds of iudrect taxes,
must bo abolished before we can step
plundering on a magnificent scale. Oul
Sugar, Steel Rail, Steel Billot, Nail
and Window Olass trusts aro saiupln
of those that are almost, entirely tariff
trusts. They might exist were there no
tariff, but it would be onlybecnnso they
can produce moro economically than can
small producers. They could no longei
make exorbitant monopoly profits.
What are termed "natural monopo
lies" can best be dealt with either by
government ownership or control or by
taxing them to death. Municipal own
ership of gas, water and electric light
plants has everywhere demonstrated it(
superiority to private ownership. It
should bo greatly extended and should
iuclndo docks and perhaps also grain
elevators and telephones. Railroads,
like rivers, canals and public highways,
wo natural monopolies and should be
owned and operatetl or owned and leased
for short periods by federal, state and
mnniripnl governments. There is no
other way of keeping monopoly profits
from going into private pockets or of
giving the public the full bent fit, of oui
iron and steel highways. Discriminat
ing rates to prefcrrt d or favored ship
pers will ceaso only when private own
ership ceases.
Discriminating rates, it should bo
noted, nro responsible for some of our
greatest trusts. But for them tho .Stand
ard Oil and Beef and Coal trusts might
never have been born. Under govern
mental ownership all shippers would
bo treated alike, and the millions of dol
lars that have been returned as draw
backs to favored shippers anil aro today,
in violation of federal laws, being re
turned to tho Sugar, Beef, Oil and Iron
Oro trusts, would bo saved to nontrust
shippers. Practically all of the unearned
and undeserved profits of tho Bet f and
Standard Oil trusts havo eomo from al
liances with transportation companies.
Tho fear of a governmental or ofllro
holdiug oligarchy is a bugaboo kept be
fore tho people by those who aro giving
1,000 bribes to legislators with one
hand and nro pocketing 1,000,000 mo
nopoly profits (largely stock jobbing
ones) with the other hand. There is
more political corruption where such
natural monopolies as gas and watei
works, steam and street railways, are in
privato hands than where they aro un
der public control. Tho armies of post
masters and publio school touchers are
not as great a menace to good govern
ment as are tho officers of railroads who
deal in public grants and municipal
franchises and who aro constantly mak
ing and unmaking officeholders, mak
ing favorable and disregarding unfavor
able legislation.
Telegraphs and telephones are more
or less natural monopolies and should
perhaps bo entirely or partly owned and
operated by government. There is more
justification for a public telegraph and
telephone system today than thero was
for a publio postal system 100 years ago
or than thero is now.
Then; remains but ono great class ot
trusts those owning mines of coal, oil,
oro, borax, etc. Undoubtedly the best
way to loosen tho grip of these trusts is
by taxation, either in the form of roy
alties or in tho form of land value tax
es. If Pennsylvania would increase tax
es on her coal and oil lands until the
full rental value of every aero of these
valuable lauds was taken in taxation,
what would happen? No corporation oi
league of corporations could afford to
pay theso taxes and hold mines idle to
restrict production. Tho Reading rail
road combine, which now owns prac
tically all of tho ajithracito coal lands
of this country and has them mort
gaged for several hundred millions ot
dollars, would bo compelled at once to
sell or give away all of tho mines tlmt
it could not work at a profit. Hundreds
of small corporations and mining com
panies would at onco form ; competi
tion, stopped in tho early sevenths,
would again appear; twice as much coal
would be mined; thero would bo a
great demand for miners; wages would
rise as high or higher than they were
in 1870; miners would ceaso to bo
slaves; corporation stores would disap
pear ; the price of hard coal would be
only one-half or two-thirds of present
prices in eastern states ; both producers
and consumers would, iu fact, be im
mensely benefited by such taxation.
Not only could Pennsylvania meet all
cf her e xpenditures frorn the taxation
of her miiTes (and thereby lighten the
burden of taxation on her citizens), but
he politics would be much less corrupt
than now. ,,
The same cause applied iu other states
would produce the same effect upon
mines of iron, copper, lead, silver and
gold ores, upon veins or elepesits of salt,
oil, gas, phosphate, borax and, in fact,
upon all things produced from mines,
forest or strewn. Wherever it is possible
to tax natural monopolies they should
bo taxed until the speculative profits of
holding them idle disappear. This tax
on the opportunities to production is
about the only tax that cannot be
chwged over to and collected from the
consumer. It would benefit all and in
jure none. It is the arch enemy of mo
nopolies and tho possible savior of man
kind. It would, aided by tho other rem
edies mentioned, stop the unjust and
harmful distribution of production
which has within 40 years put 68.3 per
cent of our wealth into tho hands of 8
per cent of our population and has left
only 8. 1 per cent in the hands of 08 per
cent of our people.
Bybon W. Holt.
New York, April, 1800.
Million .,f Mn-.1-r....tin.
There Is a French story cf snme tra
vellers la Africa who. v.hlH on on ex
plying txpoilltlon. inn o;it of ca;;
pi :;?. By einiuo t:iey came upon a
i:;i:tve hut. but It was empty, anil the
ti.ly visible tdlblca la It wore several
f.:ii!ii;s of in u all rooms auFpettited from
tlio raters lo dry. Vor hick cf any
t!!:n,T belter or rimrs-fiiib.etantr.il, tiey
filev.sJ these and made a meal of
til 'HI.
Alter a vhllo thp owner of the hut,
v.!i,) vu3 a powerful native chief nnd
w.trrlor. riurned from a hunting ex
pa'.U'pri, and, having; greeted the ex-lilc.i-ei?
In a friendly r.ianner, Bet up
n w;M howl f deppnlrl
"What is the matter?" naked the
explorers.
"They r.re jtone. My evil spirits
hav? stolen them." walled the chief.
"What nre pone?"
"Those, those!" shrieked the chief,
pn'ntlr.g to the cut corda on the raft
ers. "Why. no evil spirits took them,"
Ettii the rxplc.rera. "We nte them."
The chief seized his stomnch In both
hfnrts and rattled tho hones Inside his
Ek!n. "Ate what?" he Rasped.
"Tln'se dried mushrooms."
"Oil! ruffe riiii? Moses!" roared the
vniTlor. cr wortls to thnt rffect, "why,
you foils! you've entea th ears of all
the enemies I killed In battle.' '
The Itr.t t'nrrnt Tbiii Yet.
A man whose niece had coaxed him
to buy her a parrot succeeded In get-tin-;
a bird thnt was warranted a gcod
talker. He brought It home, and, af
ter niutlni; It In a cape, stood before
it nnd pal.i: "Say uncle. Polly!" The
bird t'ld n.n respond, and after repeat
In..; the nrr.tT.cp p. t'oen .lnu-s or
morn with no better puocofs, the uncle
put r.ls. lir.nd into the cape nnd, grub,
h'n?! the bird by the neck, shook him
t:n; l W.x V :i,l wabbled (.round, all the
t'TO :.'.!::: :, him: "Fay uncle, goll
tii'-n yr.u. n'.y incle!" Tile bird looked
i''?p a "id lifcles. r.P !. ("dsgusted with
h ptireiiiis". thp old fellow took tho
p -riot out tr.to tho y:ir 1 where he had
r o,' ih rty e',i!cker.3. Thrusting
' -"if dee a blr.l In w'th the chick---
v? exclal.url: "TVre. by gosh!
Yrr'l! :p y I'liole before you'll get out!"
No::t rcoinlna; the ur.cle went out to
r.'e hr.v the parrot wrji petting on,
l.'rti'.nn Into the coop he counted
i.-.v,'::tv-Ti'no rteoil chickens, nnd in the
crritre of t!i- corp rtootl the parrot on
i:;r fo I. hobiins the th'rtleth chicken
by I'.ie nctk and shaking It till its head
wobbled, and screamlnsr: "Sny uncle,
poll dnrn yer. say uncle!" New Bed
ford Standard.
Biliousness
Is caused by torpid liver, which prevents diges
tion and permits food to ferment and putrlfy In
the stomach. Then follow dizziness, headache,
Lnlood's
liisomlnu, nervousness, nnd,
If not relieved, bilious fever
or blood poisoning. Hood's
Tills stimulate the stomach,
rouse the liver, cure headache, dlzzlnpss. con
stipation, etc. 25 cents. Hold by all druggists.
The only Pills to take with Hood's Barsnparilla.
Backache cured
Spot
with
ivimoviwi
Bjdladcnna
ft-t
If we can only sell
you one package
of Scellg's we
better stop busi
ness. But we're in
business because
those who try it
keep on buying.
KM W ' enp
ofcoffre
enriched by
SEELIC'S.Good
k isn't it. This ad.
'mixture ivesor-
dinarycoueeade.
kdclicious flavor,
c.
package.
fens
iiF1 i
3 i
EXCHANGK HOTEL,
G. Snvdkr, Proprietor,
(Opposite the Court House
BLOOMSBURS PA
Large and convenient sample roomt. Bath
rooms, hot nnd cold waur, and all modem
convenience
touching AlVeP
V9VN
. f A
Planter ?
1
5a I I
ooinq to school
j Do the children go to school ? And .arc they joyons
' and happy ? Is school-life a pleasure ? And is progress
being made ? Or is the opposite true ? Does the close of
each day bring a headache ? There is no appetite and sleep
I is imperfect. The color gradually leaves the cheeks and
' only a little effort is followed by exhaustion. To continue
i school means to come to the end of the year with broken
health. What is the best thing to do ? Take
of Cod-liver Oil. with hvpophosphites. The cod-liver oil
nourishes the body and makes red corpuscles for the blood.
The hypophosphites are tonics to the nervous system, giving
mental activity during the day and refreshing sleep at night.
Don't let you child get thin and worry along. Give ScoU's
Emulsion; insist on a generous amount of out-door exercise;
and the vigor of youth will return.
go cts. and ft bottle. SCOTT & BOWNE, Chemists, New York.
ALEXANDER HKOTIIEllS & CO.
DEALEKS IX
Cigars, Tobacco, Candies, Fruits and Ms
SOLE ACKN'I'S FOR
Henry Maillard's Fine Candies. Fresh Every Week.
aOOr3 .A. SPECIALTY,
SOLE AGENTS FOR
F. F. Adams & Co's Fine Cut Chewing Tobacco
Sole agents tor the following brands ot Cigars-
Haary Clay, Loadros, Normal, Iaiiaa rrinccss, Samson, Silvor A3
Bloomsburg Pa.
SHOES I
Our Spring Styles cf Slices
are Dearly all in.
25 years experience in shoe buying puts us in the iront
rank of shoe dealers.
Comfort, style and durability are combined in our shoes.
Co?.:rrn Ihdn and Main Sts.
fl6e$ Iovv a-nd Good Woifk.
For the finest and best stoves, tinware, roofing, spouting
and general job work, go to W. W. Watts, on Iron street.
Buildings heated by steam, hot air or hot water in a satisfac
tory manner. Sanitary Plumbing a specialty.
I have the exclusive control of the Thatcher steam, hot
water and hot air heaters lor this territory, which is acknowl
edged to be the best heater on the market. All work fruaran
teed. to
IRON STREET.
CITY HOTEL,
W. A. Hartzel, Prop. Peter F. ltrlely. Manager
No. 121 West Main Street,
I1LOOMS11URG, PA.
C-irLnrge and convenient sample rooms
Iiath rooms, hot and cold water, and al
modern conveniences, liar stocked with bes
wines and liquors. First-class livery attached
Greatest Clothing Event
ever occurred
The oldest established woolen milK i
j .f.i. . t, . , Cfives un business
anil maimers oi
goods in the U
Genuine Edward
We bought entire stock of cloth
Made it in Clothing
Will sell at fifty cents on the dollar.
50 cents on the $1.00
Suits $7.75 to $20.00
Last opportunity to get this reliable make of cloth.
q a MP a c pvro Notwithstanding the prices, we're paying
SAME AS EVER Raiiroad Fare bn purchases of
amount, as usual.
WANAMAKER & BROWN.
Sixth and Market Sts.
WM. H. WANAMAKER,
Twelfth and Market Sts.
PHILADELPHIA
W. H. Hoore.
W. W. WATTS,
Bloouisburgj Pn.
The Leading Conservator; of America
I.ARL t aultbn, Director.
Found.d 1 n 1043 1
Send for Proipectns
iN5o-"iv: fi
giving full information.
' Frank W.IIai., Of neral Manager.
tne Dest woolen
S
Harris
iFeet
wet again?
.to
5
You'll die Home tiny. Iicft;rc jgj
lung, too, if you don't take care
of those feet. Some of the pit
newest, most dcsiiuMe t'dngs
in wet weather shoes arc here.
SB
1: Bloomsburg
Store Co., Ltd.
THE MARKETS.
BLOOMSBURG MARKETS.
CORBKCTID WIIILT. BITAIL PRI0B8.
Butter per lb $ ,ai
Eggs per dozen , ,12
Lard per lb , .10
Hani per pound 12
Tork, whole, per pound ,06
Beef, quarter, per pound , . . , .07
Wheat per bushel .80
Oats " " 28
Rye " " 50
Wheat flour per bbl 4 00
Hay per ton... 13 to $14
Potatoes per bushel .35
Turnips " " 25
Onions " " .40
Sweet potatoes per peck 25 to .30
Tallow per lb a I
Shoulder " " u
Side meat " " C7
Vinegar, per qt ,07
Dried apples per lb. .05
Dried cherries, pitted .10
Raspberries ,ia
Cow Hides per lb .3 J
aieer
Calf Skin
ri . 1.
.80
oneep pens ,yj
Shelled corn per bus .50
Corn meal, cwt. .. .' a. 00
Bran, I00
Chop roo
Middlings " j.oo
Chickens per lb new ....... .12
" " " old 12
lurkeys " " Tai
Geese
.10
Ducks
.08
COAL,
No. 6, delivered a 40
" 4 and s " 3.50
" 6 at yard 2.25
" 4 and 5 at yard 3.25
There is fun in the
foam, and health in
the cup of HIRES
Rootbeer the great
temperance drink. i
'" ""'J, Tl" "llMlM R. nil! CO., PhllKlc lnhU. 1
Bring the Babies.
INSTANTANEOUS PROCESS USED.
Strictly first-class guaranteed photographs,
crayons and copvs at reasonable prices. We
use exclusively the Collolion Aristotype pa
pets, thus
. . , h b,v"lu i iuv oi nnisn
and permanency of results. CAr'WKLI
MARKET SQUARE GALLERY.
II-22-ly.
Over Hart man's Store.
A ,
suups manufacturing
) for good.