n8 MAURICE H. ROBINSON 



cent or less of the production. The facts showing the devel- 

 opment of new competition side by side with the great con- 

 solidations, are perhaps the most important ones that the 

 report of the industrial commission has given the world. 

 These facts ought to be recognized both by the consolidations 

 and by the legislators ; by the consolidations, since their exist- 

 ence depends upon observing the course of events in this par- 

 ticular; by the legislators, since laws are unnecessary to pro- 

 tect the public so long as the competitive forces are able to 

 work. 



Upon the subject of wages, there is a large amount of 

 testimony, the most of which is of small value. It is generally 

 shown that the consolidations have not reduced the wages of 

 labor. It is not shown, however, what is the effect of consoli- 

 dations on the growth of labor unions and the consequent 

 ability of labor unions to protect themselves. There is a cer- 

 tain amount of evidence at least to show that so far the ten- 

 dency has been to unite the forces of the consolidations with 

 those of the labor unions to secure higher wages for the mem- 

 bers of the union and somewhat higher prices for the products. 

 This simply means that the added profits have been main- 

 tained with the aid of the laborers employed, at the expense 

 of the public and the outside laborers. If this be the fact, it 

 is evident that the union of the trusts with the labor unions 

 constitutes one of the most dangerous features in connection 

 with the consolidation of industry. 



V. The Public Control of Consolidations. This sub- 

 ject, which ought to be considered only after a full investiga- 

 tion of the four preceding ones, is treated by the commission 

 with considerable fullness. John R. Dos Passos and Charles 

 C. Allen testified at length on this subject. Professor Huffcut 

 treats the subject in its legal aspects, and it is considered in 

 the final report by both Professor Jenks and Mr. Stimson, 

 the legal representative of the commission. Much attention 

 is also given this subject in the examination of witnesses. 

 The general source of information upon this topic is furnished 

 by volumes two and eighteen. Volume two gives the anti- 

 trust legislation both of the United States and of the states 

 and the decisions of the courts, together with a summary of 



