Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-01
DISCUSSING COAL -coMsISEs.-



sociation.
SARATOGA, n. Y. Sept. To-day was de-
voted to the department Of Jurisprudence by
the American Social Science Association. which
is drawing near to the close of its annual meet
ing. The morning session was opened by re-
marks by the chairman of the department,
Prof. Francis Wyland of New Haven, Conn.
remarkable and most important paper was
read by C. La Rue Munson Of williamsport,
Pa, upon the Reading leases and the great
coal combine" Speaking of the quick growth
of the Reading railroad he gave these figures:
The Reading system now controls $3.50 miles
OF railroad, traverses q territory containing
nearly 10 000. 600 of population by means Of l7l8
locomotives, and 113 206 cars annually carries
4O,0ooOO0 OF passengers. moves $4,000, 900 Of
tons OF freight and earns about S57 ,000. 0OO
while with its affiliated companies it has CAPT.
tai and indebtedness of s5l1.000. 900 and en-
pioys 81. $50 wage earners. among whom 1t an
nually distributes S37 900 GOO, directly support
ing more than 400, 600 people.
These are days of great aggregations Of cap
ltai and gigantic financial and commercial COM
binations. That which may be ACCOMPLISHED by
consultations and associations of reciprocal in
terests cannot be obtained in n like degree Of
efficiency through individual efforts, however
well they NAV be directed or skilfully con-
Quoted. 81 This is the keynote of our national
our union OF states has advanced to her pres
ent commanding position among the family Of
the nations.
American history can point to no one element
IN the story of her progress more productive
Of NATIONAL benefit than the consolidate of
. her railway interests. There has been no
exception to the inyariable rule that the
combination, or. IN other words. the
strengthening Of her railways has resulted in
a benefit 70 her people. i is absurd to assume
that the effect of the Reading leases will be to
extort unreasonable prices for anthracite coal
tition. for it must not be forgotten that nearly
O.oUO,000 Of tons, or about ore-half
the market, are mined BY interests
far from identical with the Reading. and GER
tainly in no manner within its control, while
yearly hundred millions Of tons of bituminous
coal, raised from mines and areas containing
deposits of incalculable tonnage. stand at the
Goor of the market prepared to meet anthracite
prices raised beyond fair returns to its opera
tors.
Another interesting paper was read by
Edward B. Merrill of New York. who took for
his subject. ''County Jails az Reformatory In
situations" He said tina. it was useless TO
pect that the sher.fs the jaiiers who were
appointed BY political power would aid
In TRYING to reform prisoners. Ho gave a
striking example of the way jails are conducted
In many places by citing a case where mon and
women were allowed to converse in the most
obscene way. If things were changed
tho jniler might lose his place because
OF the improvement Of morals: so he
makes no attempt. In preventing crime. he be-
lieved that all Jail officials should be under the
supervision of a charity board and the state
board of health Congress should forbid immi-
grants landing in whose family there had been
n criminal for the past three generations. He
also believed in a strenuous compulsory cduca-
ton law and an absolute Jail delivery every
thirty days.