The morning call., 1892-03-05
THE COAL CONTROVERSY.

Tie coal situation in Great Britain pre-
sents curious analoges with the coal situa-
ton in the anthracite region OF Pennsyl-
vania. though the events which led up to it
were very different In Pennsylvania, the
recent lease of the Jersey Central by the
Reading practically converts the anthracite
coal combination of 1856 into a cast-iron
compact. The only interests which are not
included in the combine are a few indivd-
ual producers, who are now coming in under
a covenant by the combine to guarantee
them minimum price of 81 per ton free on
board for their stone coal. This of course
involves two things: first, reduction of
production when the demand falls off from
accidental causes. and secondly. an advance
in the price of coal TO consumers On these
two grounds an application has been made
to Governor Pattison of Pennsylvania to
interfere, aud the subject is now under con-
sideration by his Attorney General.
In England the owners IF coal mines have
notified their hands that in few days they
will make reduction OF wages, which are
said 10 be 30 per cent higher than they we're
In 1888. though they only average s. week
for all workers, including women and boys.
To meet this the men give notice that they
will strike. Some 100000 men have agreed
to strike next week aud 5000 more are
expected to follow the example in the
northern counties. Consumers have taken
the alarm and coal has risen to SO ton in
London, While in other towns an actual coal
famine has already broken out. 1t looks
as though considerable inconvenience-and
some suffering if the cold weather lasts
would occur before the difficulty is adjusted
The labor unions representing the coal
yorl-a oF Ital yir bav m
coal shipments to England SO far as they
can.
The aim of the colliery-owners in Penn
sylvania is precisely identical with that of
the labOring eoa-miners in England. Both
seek to keep UP the price of coal BIZ dimin-
ishing production, in order TO prevent re-
duction in wages. In 1856 the coal-miners'
unions in this country protested against a
reduction of output on the ground that
three quarter time meant three quarter
wages. In England at the present time
corresponding bodies are willing to knack
off work altogether 10 order % reduce the
output and prevent the reduction Of wages
threatened by the mine-0Wners.
Sound thinkers in this country have
always taken the ground that it was con-
trary TO public policy 10 restrict the produe-
ton of coal by putting men on half or three
quarters time, for the sake of maintaining
the price of the article and the dividends of
the companies. 1t has been held 10y per-
sons of authority that where mine-ownef
shuts down his mine or cuts down its out
put. thus throwing his hands out of work,
il was competent for the State to step in
and on grounds of public policy TO work the
mine for all it was worth-just as the State
may operate a railroad whose owners leu il
lie Idle. The time is fast approaching when
the soundness or unsoundneSs OF these
opinions will be tested in courts of law.
1t is stated that the charges for moving
coal fir m the mine 10 tidewater in Penn
sylyania are higher than they were thirty
years ago. though improvements in railroad
transportation have reduced the cost Of the
service TO the companies by oDe-half. If
this is so there is certainly authority some
where TO inquire into the lawfulness OF i'm
posing fresh taxes on coalc0nsumeIs, and
al the same time controlling the output of
the mines at the cost of the working hands,
for the mere purpose of enhancing the value
and swelling the income Of coal stocks.
The power assumed by the companies
which entered into the recent combination
Is part Of the taxing power, and is really an
attribute If sovereignty. Coal is so univer-
sal necessary of lie that a combination
which can raise its cost at will is invested
with the right of taxing the people as the
| Legislature itself. a Congress or a de5pOt
or a Parliament can do no more. Whether
the people of the East will submit TO such
| a usurpation of power by Boards of
Directors of private corporations remains
to be seen. The conflict between popular
rights and corporate eXaction5 has got TO
come and that speedily. Perhaps it might
as well come On this coal controversy as on
any other.