The Labor enquirer., 1885-02-07
The Weekly Report Of fthe Secretary.
Coal MINERS HEADQUARTERS OF J
COLORADO, New MfsxIco, WYo-
MING AND UTAH.

seriously disturbed through the action
of the Union Pacific Coal Company's
agents refusing to honor the schedule ol
coal prices agreed upon In last December
by all the local operators and agents con
trolling this market. Although the Gales
of this company for the past week has
been very small, and must continue to
be so until the Welch mine at Louis
vile resumes OF eratien; nevertheless
the simple announcement of those war
rates has had very denoralizing effect.
Consumers have held hack their orders
under promises from Union Pacific
agents that they will fill their orders
early at reduced schedule prices, but this
they cannot do. Theil, supply is too
limited for the demand, but it is large
enough to introduce the elements of war
like competition. In many instances
competition may have beneficial effect
upon the community at large, but when
it is introduced with design to foster
monopoly and crush small einterprising
concerns IT MUST BE DElsoUNcED In the
present case it aims a; creating dissen-
sion and breaking down every arrange
ment Of the Cancellation Board.
Having satisfied myself BY this time
that this is the object IN view, the at
tempt MUST BE CRUSHED We cannot
afford, nor do we propose to gaze on this
war as disInterested observers. The
welfare of nv constituents is involved in
this affair. and should we remain silent
our good faith could be questioned. We
have subscribed to principle. and we
are in honor bound to sustain it,
The principle referred to has been in
troduced into the constitution as one of
the "obieets" of the board, and it pro-
yides for the devising and putting into
operation of the plans for the MUTUAL
protection of the interests of both parties
to the end that market prices and wages
be kept up to. the highest possible stand
arm. and at the same time not be burden
some or unjust to the consumer" Being
a party to this "object"-and indeed the
very party that inaugurated the prin-
ciple-we are duty bound to see the
same honored Unpleasant conse-
quences may result in forcing this issue,
but the parties responsible are the Union
Pacific agents 4 am free to say that
every effort has been put forth to avoid
unpleasant measures being taken, and
now that we have exhausted every effort.
we are driven to say, 'THEs WAR SHALL
AND MUST CEASE RIGHT HERElt We cannot
risk our interests under tho operation of
this cut.throat and selfish policy. We
can only be interested in the operation
of principles that will result in making
our wages secure, and that will enable
every operator to get the means to meet
our "Due bills" prompt and sure The
discrimination in freight rates materially
assists the Union Pacific i'll carrying out
this warlike policy And it is some
thing that we are interested in seeing our
legislators putting an end 70. There can
be but little <justice III transporting
the commodity for one company at
an actual cost of only 2s3c. per ton,
and charging other parties for the same
commodity and distance 81 and $1.25
per ton Yet this is how the Union Pa
ciic Railway Company does business,
and it is this discrimination in freight
rates that provides the Union Coal Com
pany with ammunition TO carry on this
war. The effect is to break down legiti-
mate trade and foster monopoly and cor
porate power. To this we are decidedly
opposed, but it is not on Mis- score that
our grounds of interference comes in.
But it is because the principle We have
subscribed to, and have pledged our
honor to sustain is abused. In our deal
ings with all parties to the board we
propose to maintain good faith, and we
sincerely trust that the officials of the
Union Coal Company will Immediately
open their eyes to the ,advisability OF
doing likewise. No evasion on technical
grounds can be tolerated.
A communication just received from
Mr.. D. o, Clark, general superintendent
for this company, has the following
"We should not allow the arbitration
board to say at what price we shall sell
our coal" Mr.. Clark has been told by
myself over and over again that the
board JOINTLY do not propose to decide
selling prices. All that the board does
IN the matter, and propose to do, is to
sustain the principle that shall deter
mine market prices and wages; and In
asmuch as the Union Coal Company hs,
loined the board, and by that act hst
subscribed to the principle, we respect
fully request that they honor the same
and show good faith. This would pu1
an end to the present trouble. But Il
anything less than this we cannot agree
have seen circulars within the pas
week from points In Kansas and Wyom
ing that shows the evil and injustice o
discrimination in FREIGHT rates. From
the former l learn that coal is shipped
from Wyoming and sqld in Kansas 10
$5 ton, and those other operators ar
asked 10 pay $3.50 freight before the!
can enter that country from Colorado