New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-20
THE READING DEAL"

Il is not impossible that what is called " the
Reading deal" which has been the topic OF dis
c,rsson in financial circles for tho last week or
two, and has been the occasion Of a considerable
excitement in the stock market, whereby some
persons no doubt have made great deal OF
money and some others, less lucky but not less
eager. have lost some, is iniquitouS scheme for
tho benefit of the already rich at the expense
Of the honest and deserving poor. 1t has been
80 described in porfervid paragraphs IN few
newspapers whose propnetorS are especial
friends Of the poor newspapers whose
owners are quite above mcrccnary con-
siderations who habituay distribute their
profits in charity; whose associations are alto
ccther with the lowly and downtroddcn, and
who would spun with fine scorn any solicitation
TO Join tho somewhat exclusive social circles IN
which the conspicuous figures are persons who
have amasscd wealth by the very rcprhcnsiblo
suncula,iye methods OF "the Street" These
newspapers are saying with great constancy, and
something that seems like iteration, that the
combination OF the coal-caTyng railroads is a
gigantic conspiracy that il will add to tho price
of coal to the consumer, and increase the bur
dons of honest poverty. 1t may be all true.
At any rate it is very narrowing and, viewed
professionally, is in the right line as exciting
a proper indignation in the minds of tho OPP
pressed poor against the low-toncd Self-Seekers
who get rich in some other vocation than the
newspaper business
1t is a fact worthy Of notice, too, that the
Legislature of NcwJerScy has taken the subject
into serious confederation, and appointed a com
mttce Of competent perSOnS-Such aS are only
found in LcgIslaturcs-tO investigate the whole
matter. Also that the Governor Of Pennsylvania
ha, been in consultation with the Mtomcy-Gcn-
ern Of thar State on the subject, and except for
the fact that his name il somewhat prominent
as a candidate for the Democratic nomination
for President would undoubtedly have insti-
tuted proceedings" Also that the Legislature
of our own State is dcyOtng itself TO that sort
Of calm and d,bcratiyc reflection on the sub
jcct with which it is in the habit cf approaching
great and important questions concerning the
disposition OF other peoples money. All these
things are extremely encouraging 10 the strllg
Cling poor Because the struggling POOR when
they pay two cents for a newspaper desire above
all things to be informed in conspicuous tyre
that they are ahou, to be oppressed by rise OF
several cents per ton in the cost OF coal. and to
be assured that the newspaper which furnishes
them this information a. The low price Of two cents
will stand by them and compel The attention
of the general public and various state Legs
laturcs 10 .the outage Then, too, 1t is en-
cOuraging to know that the members of the
Ncw-JeIsoy Legislature, who are well known As
phlanthiCpists, have il on their minds; and that
Governor l'attiSOn than whom there i no con-
filmed dyspcptic in the whole country who SYM
rathzcS more with the downtodden poor, would
have taken it up except for the fact Of an i'm