New-York tribune., 1873-01-22

he second class
dephia and Reading Railroad Company has been be-
slowed the miners and laborers whose oi produces
the coal the best judge OF what protection they
TO the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad Company, and
will doubt express in unmistakable terms how they
appreciate it, As TO the third class the public" they
already know what being protected by chartered
nopohes means. In our daily intercourse with the
tail dealers of the City OF Philadelphia (our customers
for many years pas, heard of any "combina-
ton ring syndicate, association" To raise prices
sting among them. The dealers themselves deny that
such thing has existed exists Indeed constant
advertisements in the daily papers of thus city, in which
riety of prices but even which same Goals are
quoted by different dealers at different prices would
satisfy any OF the absence OF any combination OF
the kind. The aDsurdity Of finding 1t impossible to
break up combination which does not exist and pub
and trying TO drive the retail dealers out OF business,
gives fair sample OF the sincerity of the latter which
form that the very DAY you published the letter OF
the President of the philadelphia and Reading Railroad
resentatives of various coal companies urging the
cessty of prompt action In consprng against the pub
lie by raising prices. and was engaged, therefore, in
forming monster combination while he pretencs 10 be
trying break combination which has no existence
The coal dealers OF Philadelphia number 400 Tho
producers Of coal sell ther own coal
or through commission merchants e. middle men - as
they may think proper There is no liked rate OF COM
mission no combination, even understanding what
ever. among the " middle men about 1t. Any one who
commands trade aud capital enter the BUSINESS and
his acquiring any coal for sale simply matter OF pr
vate bargain between himself and the producer who
chooses to have coal disposed OF that way. Tho
idea OF exorOns which clearly implied in the
munication of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
Company under such state Of things is simply pre-
pOsterous. To discuss this matter In detail would
ieel be out place. and indeed, until the people decide
that all the business OF the country " be done by
poratons aud their officers become the Of the
people instead OF thor servants 1t is idle 10 do III
the public will tolerate this abnse, which the
life of every business and negeets tue warnings coming
from so many quarters the citizens Of this great free
country doomed TO become the mere slaves Of few
ambitious leaders. Il. BoRDA.
President Philadelphia Coal Exchange.
JOHN ROMMBI. Jr, Secretary.
PhiiadetDhta, Jan. 20, 1879
The nature OF Mr. Gowen's proposition on Dec. 81 is
thus given In the communication OF Dec. a. alluded TO
above addressed to him by the coal dealers:
"YoH (r. Gowenl suggested the expediency ana pro.
priey of each OF abandoning the business which
we have striven so many years TO establish and which
we nave 80 successfully ana laboriousy established
ionipg you IN having all the coal from coIieries
reaching Port Richmond and going through the Della
ware and Raritan Canal under the control Of one CEN
tral head appointed BY you, by which would
he enabled successfully TO negotiate with the coal
producing and carrying companies oentered In New
Work with regard to prices OF SALE limit OF production
when necessary and which, successfully carried out
NVoud YOU Increased revenue 10 tho
pbIIade phia aud Reading Railroad Company and also
a more remuneratiye price for the miners"