Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1891 — A Hinge Trust. [ARTICLE]

A Hinge Trust.

The Iron Age , a high tariff trade paper, prints the following piece of news: “The negotiations which have bsen in progress for some time between the manufacturers of strap and T hinges have resulted in the formation of a strap and T hinge association, which consists of the following concerns: Stanley works, McKinley Manufacturing Company, E. W. Gilmore & Co., Lindsay & McCutcheon, C. Hager & Sons Hinge Company. A new list has been adopted. The new prices represent an advance on the goods generally ranging from 5 to 10 per cent, on strap hinges and something like 20 per cent on T hinges.” Thus the industries of this country are gradually being consolidated into trusts. It is said by a competent authority that nine-tenths of our industries are already controlled by trusts and combinations to control prices and output. '

The old duty on these hinges was 2>s cents a pound, and was practically prohibitory, only $2,377 worth of bolts, rivets, hinges, and hinge blanks having

been imported last year. McKinley made the trifling reduction of & quarter of » cent per pound, leaving the rate still substantially prohibitory, as may be seen from the fact that this hinge trust is able to raise prices from 5 to 20 per cent There may be some dispute a 9 to whether or not our manufacturers have the right to form trusts. However that may be, our peoplo are great fools to continue to vqte for the high protective duties which give these trusts a defense against outside competition. When industries combine and put up prices, it is time to cut off their protection at a singlo stroke.