Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-03
WAR ON THE COAL POOL.
GOV. PATTIsON BENT ON
BREAKING 1T UP.

The Attorney General of Pennsylvanis
Instructed to Take Immediate Action
in the Matter-The Railroads of the
state Prohibited by the Constitution
from Owning or Operating Mines.
HARRISBURG, PA, Oct. Gov. Patti
son has taken the important step OF d.
rectiug the Attorney General to begin
legal proceedings against the anthracite
coal pool. consisting of number of lead
lug railroads and coal companies which
have entered into q combination to re-
strict and regulate the production OF coal
and maintain and advance its price. The
Governor SAYS: Recently, through the
offices of syndicate of capitalists, there
has been a strengthening OF the anthra-
cite coal combination, and the claim
is now made by some of its members that
they can mark Up coal prices to any tig-
'ure they please, thereby subjecting the
public TO their mercy, injuriously and
iunwarrantably taxing every tireslde and
imposing upon coal consumers hnanc1al
burdens which the speculations of some
OF these companies have engendered.
NO RIGHT TO MINE.
"Although the State constitution de-
clares that no Incorporated company
doing the business OF common carrier
shall directly or Indirectly prosecute or
engage In mining or manufacturing arti-
cles for transportation over its tracks,
vet all, or nearly all, of the common car
Eiers represented in the anthracite coal
combination are engaged directly or in
directly in the mining of coal. The
anthracite regions OF the State are prac-
sically under control of this combination.
For long periods it has kept the mines
running on three-quarter time, thus put
Ting nearly 100000 workers on what
amounted to three quarter pay.
SOME OF ITS WORK.
'sBy hlnderiug competition it has re-
&Sricted the development of our mineral
wealth. 1t has advanced or depressed
the price of coal as best suited it's purpose.
1T has maintained the prices Of coal sup
piled to the mine and TO the city trade at
figures ranging more than 81 per ton over
| and above the price at which it sold the
same article to consumers located further
IRON the mines, but In a territory that did
mot come within the terms of the agree
0ent,
LARGE NET EARNINGS.
SIT has advanced the charges for trans
.portation in the face Of the tact that the
met earnings of the carrying companies
belonging TO the combination amounted
TO about 10 per cent. per annum of the
cost of the roads and their equipment.
and of the further fact that the char es
are higher than they were
twenty-six years ago, though the
cost Of Transporting ton OF freight does
not TO-DAY amount to more than one-thIrd
of its cost at that time, BY restricting
production and by advancing prices it has
crippled vast iron interests, decreasing
the demand for anthracite coal In re-
ductiOn OF iron ores, forcing iron furnaces
out OF blast, and placing nearly all the
industries of Eastern Pennsylvania at the
mercy Of the managers OF these compa-
MICS
THE TRUNK LINE POOL.
The Governor also called attention to
the Trunk Line pool which, he says, by its
0rbitrary power holds perpetual menace
over the material interests of the coun-
Nry. In closing the Governor. says:
"A Against such combinations the indlyid-
Oa is helpless. The commonwealth OF
Pennsylvania in creating tie corpora
lions that are members of the anthracite
goal combination and Of the Trunk
Line pool, vested them with
Ihe right of eminent domain
and other franchises OF a public nature.
They feel certain duties to their creator.
and one OF these is to avoid infringement
upon the rights Of individuals or the gen.
era we'll being of the state. Their inter-
ference with the natural current and
condition of trade has beeu in violation
bi what is believed to be sound public
policy aud against the best interests oil the
State.
ONEROU5 on THE PUBLIC.
1T preiudices the public and Expresses
individuals. 1t is Il perverslOn OF toe pur-
rose for which they were credited, These
facts which have been reported to mo,
aud measurably authenticated, deem of
sufficient importance to refer to YOU Tor
your consideration and for such action as
the circumstances may warrant"
II is understood that Attorney General
Cassidy viii at once proceed against the
Boal pool, but in what manner he has not
vet decided. This is considered one of
the most important steps taken by the
State administration, and was not decided
ppOu until after very careful considera-
ltIOn.