The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-15
CITY INTELLIGENCE.
THE COAL TRADE.

The writs Of Quo Warranto Against the
Railroad Companies The Attorney
General and the Governor on the Coal
Dimculty-An Effect of the Late RtOtOus
Proceedings I'm the Scranton Region
The Progress of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
of the Trade for the Week.
The Attorney. General OF the state, who on last
SATURDAY., by the oroer of his Exceency Governor
Geary, made application in the Supreme Court for
wTis Of quo porrdno agaiust all the large coal rail-
corporations Of the State, has by so doing nau-
gurated a long term Of judicial proceedings which
Will give something to do to the courts che compa-
nes, and, last but not least 60 the Attorney
raj, for-lt might almost be said-ages 10 come.
What the value of this move may be cannot yes
be seen, but It is very easy to for it on
the ground of expediency. But this expedlency has
however pothing whatever to do with the question
OF q settlement OF the coal difficulties.
The fact of the matter was, as it Is generally un-
deTstood, though not expressed, tha the outrageous
state of affairs in the upper coal regon-wnlch 'oere
outrageous, Notwithstanding all the smoothing over
and snothering up OF the facts by the miners and
those who favor them-compelled the Governor to
take some active measures for the mantenanc of
order. neglect of this upon his part would imme-
dately set against him large number OF his remain
ing friends who in favor OF the side of la and
order But any such active measures against the
awess miners could be construed on the part OF the
miners as a crusade against the whole class which
the Governor, with great sacrifices to himself had
been endeavoring to cOncillate at Harrisburg A
sacrifice of their good will and esteem even
with the gain Of the good opinion OF
the wortnier and more numerous class could not be
thought Of, for miners have votes Votes, according
10 bN6 ANOYCTnOr pdnS Will soon O6 very uSSlTdOb
to that parsonage, and every vote upon waning
size is precious. To obtain advice as to how to
goes TO the Attorney General, and the Attorney
General, like good physician, recommends a
method OF treatment which would act as soporidc
upon the miners, whose troublesome and much
feared powers the alert, and at the same
time, without his knowledge, would work tonic
upon the Governors weak nerves. 1t is recon-
nended that show OF impartial judicial chas-
tsement be made right and left; thai the
military and the terrors OF the law be
to down disorder the hand
on the other wr OF quo tOdrTdno with the terrors
which should accompany x be shaken in the face OF
panies fear the writ at ALL" the Attorney General
might remark, 'nor yet that it Will do the least
particle of good, but then you know. the miners
don't know what writ OF quo lCdrrdnto is and will
suppose that IS al right and That we are giving the
filed in with the only expressive style Of language in
use at harrisburg
The act OF haunting the writs before the railroad
companies is about equivalent to the threat OF the
small hoy whO when his adversary has reached the
paternal mansen, from the safely distant windows
Of which he pOkes his head with fingers at nose
i'll defiance, tells the fortified party come out and
get clicking which cannot be administered on
account OF The existing circumstances preventing
To al such challenges the candidate for the hOnors
OF defeat replies only with the uplited finger, and
declines to come ont 9he railroad companies
safely in position behind bulwark Of law and
right which, by the decision both Of legislative
committee and Supreme Court they have not trans-
ITessed. The Attorney. General and the Governor,
small boys though in great mems clothing, are
chsliergipg the companies to transgress, or to
companies not desiring to be licked, de cline to do
The move is In accordance with the regular politi-
cal principle OF concillation on both sides when ar
Office is desired, and it will take but very short
sighted person to see the motive that actuated it.
But that 1t VIII do no good IN the present difficulty
Is conceded on all sides The railroad companies
and legal authorities say and believe that no deci
sion OF any kind on the question can be reached by
the courts under eighteen months, and even the
miners express their belief that it is not
expected much sooner. But It must be remembered
that decision rendered at that early day will be in
fayn nj fhp N hQ riiast
time that it can get through the machinery uf the
court. II the suit leans uufavoraby to the compa-
MES 1t Will be fought by the companies to the DEATH
and unnumEered years will be consumed in its solu
ton. The best thing thai could be done would be
when the Governor sapposes that his mining friends
are sufficiently conciated to withdraw the suit and
let the whole matter drop. BY this means much
expense would be saved to the Commonwealth ana
the companies, the money heing OF vastly more
value in other ways, and the AttorneyGenera and
Governor would be free to engage In causes more
needful OF their attention.
noticeable effect of the late riotous demonstra-
tOns III the Scranton region has been to change con-
siderably the tone of the New York press towar Is
the miners Heretofore friend of the operators or
railroad panes could not be fonDd among those
who have charge OF, and express their opinions
had been the sufferers by their great railroad corpo-
rations, and when the tolls we're raised and prices
went up the cry great against them. The miner
was everywhere held up as the victim, not the ag-
kressor, through the ignorance OF those who made
The OutcTy But the recent proceedings have
opened their eyes to see what kind OF men they have
TO deal with IN the mining regions, and now tue
current OF opinion is the other way. They now say
that the miners have been in the wrong, but even
this expression Of opinion shows that they have not
the feeling against the miners that is justly felt
here. They have not yet been as long tried by the
tricks or the miners as we have, and, besides, they
have had all along to deal with the Luzerne regtOn
which is as different from our SchuylHil region in
its Inhabitants and their manner or doing things as
The arbitration movement, or the English system
of boards OF arbitration and an umpire Is now going
brayely on among tle miners, but with what result
remains to De seen. The General Council OF the
w b. A. have, after much deliberatlon ana discus
sion, agreed in recommending IL, but the miners
themselves, or rather the leaders of the branch
unions, may vet reject 1t before it is fully matured
But should 1t be really tried, the ultimate success
will depend upon the spirit in which the rival
interests meet. IL they meet together mutually dt-
string true arbitration, and willing to give up any
little Gobts that may De IN tne way goo9 may re-
ton desires to make everything possible out OF the
other, the trouble viii be as great as ever and forty
thousand boards OF arbitration and as many UNI
pires would have the smallest particle OF power
towards adjusting matters.
The following is a summary of the trade for the
week, from the PottsVlle Miners Journal OF TO-
'iThe quantity sent by rail for the last week was
I6 SCI tons: by canal 5475 tOns for the week 90 1886
TONS against 81 1902 for the corresponding week last
year The supply OF anthracite for the Week was
10 657 tons, against 22S,370 tons last year. TOta
supply SO far this year 497 543 tons against 324S
tons last year. making the decrease SO far this yea
1,75ob79 tons The total supply OF al klnqs Tor the
week was 1875 66S tons against z59 S9 tons last year
Tota supply lS49sll tons against 49, 81 tons last
yea, making the decrease of all kinds this year, sc
FAR l6lq, $50 tons. The loss in round numbers IL
loss. Gain.
Schuylkill. .........................320 20OO0
IehRh. h....................,....... ....6OO OOO
Wyoming g............................ 9So,0OO
LykeD's Valley. .'''.'.'''''''''' 1000 a. oo
Bituminous regions ns...............,.. 14l,O0
100000 1890
$4,000
-