History of the Great American Fortunes, Vol. I: Conditions in Settlement and Colonial TimesMyers, Gustavus
History
History of the Great American Fortunes, Vol. I: Conditions in Settlement and Colonial Times
Myers, Gustavus
United States -- Economic conditions; Wealth -- United States
[181] Parsons, "The Railways, the Trusts and the People":196. Also,
Report of Chicago Chief of Police for 1894. This was a customary
practice of railroad, industrial and mining capitalists. Further facts
are brought out in other parts of this work.
[182] "Report on the Chicago Strike of June and July, 1894," by the
United States Strike Commissioners, 1895.--Throughout all subsequent
years, and at present, the Pullman Company has continued charging the
public exorbitant rates for the use of its cars. Numerous bills have
been introduced in various legislatures to compel the company to reduce
its rates. The company has squelched these measures. Its consistent
policy is well known of paying its porters and conductors such poor
wages that the 15,000,000 passengers who ride in Pullman cars every year
are virtually obliged to make up the deficiency by tips.
[183] Sweeping as this statement may impress the uninitiated, it is
entirely within the facts. As one of many indisputable confirmations it
is only necessary to refer to the extended debate over child labor in
the United States Senate on January 23, 28, and 29, 1907, in which it
was conclusively shown that more than half a million children under
fifteen years of age were employed in factories, mines and sweatshops.
It was also brought out how the owners of these properties bitterly
resisted the passage or enforcement of restrictive laws.
[184] Eighth Biennial Report of the Illinois Bureau of Labor Statistics,
1894. The report, made public in August, 1909, of the Illinois Tax
Reform League's investigation of the Chicago Board of Review's
assessments, showed that these frauds in evading taxation not only
continue, but on a much greater scale than ever before. The Illinois Tax
Reform League asserted, among other statements, that Edward Morris, head
of a large packing company, was not assessed on personal property,
whereas he owned $43,000,000 worth of securities, which the League
specified. The League called upon the Board of Review to assess J. Ogden
Armour, one of the chiefs of the Beef Trust, on $30,840,000 of personal
property. Armour was being yearly assessed on only $200,000 of personal
property. These are two of the many instances given in the report in
question. It is estimated (in 1909), that back taxes on at least a
billion dollars of assessable corporate capital stock, are due the city
from a multitude of individuals and corporations.
[185] "The Present Distribution of Wealth in the United States":143.
[186] "Hundreds of millions of people." Not only are the 85,000,000
people of the United States compelled to render tribute, but the peoples
of other countries all over the globe.
[187] "Marshall Field's Will" by Joseph Medill Patterson. Reprinted in
pamphlet form from "Collier's Weekly."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account