Daily Republican., 1883-09-07
Cosl and Coal MOnOpOlies.

The sentiment of the coal dealer, with
the thermometer at zero, when he said
to his assistant: John, God help the
poor, put on another half dollar ton"
is being fully illustrated by President
Gowen of the Reading Railroad. He is
already in the field with his fall coal
circular announcing rise in the price
Of coal of from ten to twenty five cents
per ton on the eastern shipments, with
out giving any reason whatever for
such rise. 1t looks to the common
place observer like the very height of
7nockery to every year lower the price
OF coal In summer when the lesser por-
tion is needed and to raise it in winter
when we cannot do without it. II the
practice was reversed, it would indicate
shat there is at least a semblanee of
heart of humanity in the great monopo-
ly that sits enthroned king Of coal. In
this advance in coal there has been a
general participation of all the other
railroads between which the profits are
shared except the Lehigh Valley road,
which refuses to cooperate in the pro-
posed increase. The Pennsylvania coal
company made an advance in its prices
of from ten to fifteen cents ton back
about the middle of August. If there
were any good reasons given why the
prices of coal were advanced every fall,
consumers might bear the strain com.
PLEASANTLY and without objection, but
when they are just simply advanced
without giving any reason the public
will not be slow in substituting rea-
son, and that reason can be no other
than that the railroad companies are
taking advantage of the people who
cannot help themselves. When it is
taken into conside alton that the lead
ing coal carrying companies have been
making money on liberal scale, the
unnecessary advance in price on one of
the leading necessaries Of life is apt to
call out just and merited Indignation
on the part OF the consumers who have
a vital interest in this question. The
times are sufficiently hard already with
out compelling the laboring classes to
bear this additional strain.
The Reading Railroads. advance In
line and city prices of coal without the
cooperation of the Lehigh coal COM
psnies has formed the leading topics on
the st rect in Philadelphia for the las.
few days, and upon that subject the
North American, always reliable au-
thority upon snch subjects, has the fol
lowing to say in its money column:
"The fact is," said gentleman not
wholly uninterested in the Lehigh
properties, and therefore hardly likely
to be prejudiced in favor Of the Read
ing beyond what the facts warrant,
"the Reading people prepare their coal
even better, Oh an average, than the
Lehigh people, and rs they supply at
least two thirds of the entire line and
city trade row, they think it Is about
time to stop letting the Lehlgl people,
WHO supply the other third, fix the
prices. The Reading people say they
can sell their coal, and they ought tc
know at what price. Their stock on
hand is undoubtedly light.
1.-THE bears tried to use the incident tI
depress prices, but were met with j
theory that the Lehgh people secret )
consented to the Readings advance
knowing that they themselves wou'C
get some additional line and city trade
thereby, which the Reading was con.
tent to lose, first, because they woul,
make it up on the increased price r.
ceived for what they would sell, an,
second because they would have tina
much more coal to send west Thu
both Reading and Lehigh people got in
creased profits"
We agree with our able contemrora
ny, the Reading Times, al ardent frien,
of the Reading Company, that it is IN
fortunate in view Of the present de
pressed condition of trade that the prize
OF coal should be raised, particular,
at a time when, by the natural cours
OF events every article that enters Inu
consumption in the ordinary houoehol'
ares.
Just such arbitrary actions as this J.
what educates hostility to mouopolc
and that breed and foster unpleasant re
ia:ions between labor and capital whIGI
are periodically cropping out in strike
all over the country The price Of Goa
is already high enough and vine
wages are low as they are now with bl
little prospect Of improvement, the III
necessary rise in the price Is an add
tioual burden. Plainly speaking, III
rise in coal at this time when the price
Of labor are going down, isa direct il
suit to the people who create, foster an
give life to these monopoIies that al
crushing them to the earth in return fl
their Kindness. 1t is time the Peep
were taking this matter in band,
they can build up they can pull dow
also, and if these little impositiOns al
still pracriced little pulling dow
will do no harm.
AFTER ALL, Bentholf, the Annapol
cadet hazer, was not 50 cruel to his sui
.jetts AZ the Democratic leaders are
theirs. Bentholf it va testified, new
made his victims stand on their head
but the Democratic leaders are teac
ing their party subjects to do that vel
thing all the time,