The promoters of "Trusts" are going on with their work.
It is stated on good authority that the Copper Syndicate hope to fix the price of copper for the next twelve years, and to fix it at the price now beginning to be felt so severely in State dockyards and shipbuilding concerns. A similar syndicate, organised partly in America, is to drive up the price of lead, and make all plumbers' work even more of a terror to householders than it is. The Salt Trust has, it is stated, already doubled the price of ordinary salt at the pit's mouth, and nearly trebled that of block salt for export. The Chicago Wheat Ring is keeping wheat above a dollar a bushel, and the idea of a Coal Trust has not been definitely abandoned. We should not wonder if its promoters struck up an alliance with the work- men, who are much inclined to regulate output ; and we expect every day to hear of a combination among the tea-producers. Part of this movement, as we have explained elsewhere, is self-defensive ; but part arises from the fact that a monopoly is the quickest road to fortune, and that with cheap money lying about in masses, monopolies are easy to control.
Previous page
