Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-06-21

SATURDAY EVENING. JUNE al. 1894
Coal Freight Discrimination.

Coal Freight Discrimination.
The committee OF the Philadelphia
councils that is inquiring into the coal
freight discrimination against Philadel.
phia Ia not getting much assistance from
the officials of the railroad companies.
President Roberts writes them a letter,
in which he says nothing, save that he
considers that his company is doing just
what 1t ought to do whatever that is.
The Reading sends Mr.. James +. Gowen,
one of Its legal advisers, who addressed
the committee at length upon the general
subject of railroad freights, without any
particular reference to the matter IN
hand, about which he seemed to know
little or nothing. He thought 1t likely
that his company allowed drawbacks on
coal shipped away from Philadelphia,
but be had no idea that there was a dill
ference of $1.O5 a ton in the price
charged for carrying coal to Philadelphia,
when 1t was to stop there and when 1t
was to 20 further. Mr.. Gowen being
assured that this was fact, promised to
inquire into 1t, and there is some hope
that the committee may some day get
some satisfaction in the way Of informa-
tion from the Reading though, as Mr..
Gowen intimated, that company being
at present in the cold embrace Of re
ceivers, and In state of suspended
animation, it may be that it will be a
long time in coming to the scratch.
But, in truth, the committee has
found out all that it needs to know. 1t
is certain, beyond peradventure, that
more toll is charged by both the
Reading and Pennsylvania companies
for conveying coal to Philadelphia con
sumers than they charge for carrying
it to Philadelphia when it Is to go to
outside consumers. II is also certain
that the companies will continue this
practice until they are forcibly stopped.
President Roberts says it is right, and
Mr.. James Gowen thought that
If it was not right, his companies
could not help il, because of the com
petition they had to meet in the Eas.-
ern market. The truth brought down
to a nutshell is that these companies
propose to carry all the coal they can at
the best price they can get. And the
question for Philadelphia and Pennsyl
vania is whether they shall be permitted
to do it, Certainly not If it is contrary
to the interest Of our people and that
1t is so would seem to be clear enough.
Pennsylvania ought at least to exercise
sufficient control over her peculiar pro-
ducts of petroleum and coal, to sc.
cure to its own citizens as low prices for
the products and the transportation as are
given to citizens of other states, which
produce no coal or petroleum. If that
is not a clear proposition we do not
think one that is self evident can be
stated. Pennsylvania is bound under the
national constitution not to discriminate
against the citizens OF other states, and
50 may not charge greater rate for
carrying her products across her borders
than to them, even though she has a
monopoly of these products. And Ger.
tainly il this is the duty to her sister
states, enjoined on her by the federal
compact, the duty put upon her by
natural laws is at least as binding, not to
permit less rates to be charged for coal
and petroleum carried across her borders
than may be charged for carrying to
them.
If railroads officers were not in such
fearful straits for money, owing to their
reckless extension Of their properties,
they would not attempt to do what they
know ard privately confess to be 80 un-
fair TO the people of the state which has
chartered and nourished them. But
they are so "hard up" now that they
would steal to live. But Pennsylvania
has them in her power, as they will find.
And so has Philadelphia, if her authori-
ties will act boldly and decidedly.