Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1893-11-24
s1R GEORGE ELLIOT, BART.

such s%tupendous amounts of money as to
be absolutely startling. Nor is it startling
only in its magnificence or any more star
thing for that than for tho fact that it in.
wolves the practical application of several
principles that have been much discussed
in politics, economics and social science
and the correlation of propositions that
have been supposed to be antagonistic.
In brief, Sir Georges scheme proposes to
effect the naturalization of the coal lands
of England, Scotland and Wales by the
formation of a gigantic trust to control
them all. The trust is to be governed, if
Sir Georges scheme is carried out, by Il
central representative council elected by
the different coal districts on Il basis of
the number of tons of coal produced, and
the districts to be managed by local COM
mittees Of a cooperative nature, elected
in a fixed proportion by the shareholders
and the miners. The price of coal is to be
regulated by the government-that is to
say, IL maximum will be set beyond which
it must not be advanced without the COLI
sent of the government board of trade,
and hen this consent has been obtained
and the maximum raised the purchaser is
to share equally with the mine owners and
the miners in any increase of profits thus
secured.
The question of wages under the new
arrangement would be determined by the
district committees, on which the miners
are to be represented by their elected direct
ors, and it is laid dow as an axiom that
the scale should be calculated on Il liberal
basis as compared with other Glasses of la
Dor and be as nearly uniform throughout
the country as is consistent with the char
acteristics of the different mines. 1t IS
also proposed to establish Il general insnr-
ance fund for the benefit of aged and dis
ablcd workmen and their families, the
amount of which may be fixed in the fu-
ture, though it is suggested that a penny
per ton on the present output would pro-
vide s75S, 1888 q year for such Il fund.
a majority of two-thirds of the coai
owners and ~lessees would be required to
insure h Inauguration of the scheme,
which, it has been estimated, would re-
quire Il capital OF $3.50, 600, 600, IL tremen-
dous sum of money, but comparatively
small when the immensely of the interests
it represents is taken into consideration.
There are several separate railways capl'
talized pretty nearly up to these figures,
and the amalgamated values of all the
railroads in Great Britain is close Oh H.
500, 1000, 900, SO that the value of the coai
interests seems relatively insignificant.
There seems little doubt that the requisite
number of owners will be found willing to
join the enterprise, for it has been figured
that the additional security afforded would
increase the value of their holdings nearly
go per cent.
The scheme appears to have been rea-
soned out on a strictly utilitarian basis.
Its effect, If carried III on the lines pro
posed, would be the ~amalgalnation OF inc
interests of the owners, the laborers Ill"
the purchasers, no one interest being al
lowed to dominate the others. Economy
OF administration would be promoted, INC
cOllleries would be more effectively worn,
ed, cutthroat competition between r1Vil
fields and owners would be averted anu
slender employment provided for the min
ers.
Sir George Elliot, the father of the prov
cct, is we'll known in England us IL man
who has made his way from being ap''
laddie to II position of wealth and lnil".
ence, md his scheme is not advanced 40
that of II speculative theorist, but us 1he
result of much delibcration by II man o,
great experience. He claims that ii wou'e
be a benefit not only to coal owners irs.
sees, workmen and consumers, but TO 'no
nation Mt large. He has had the bel'e.'
Of consultation with other eminent a",
thoritics and experts on the subject anu
his plan has received tho approval o."
number of the practical men directly ]"
terested.
Whether Sir Georges scheme be ndol'ea"
or not, it looks to IL man up II tree ISL
some palliative measure were necess',.
to ward or the evil effects of such con'cs''
NJ the coal interests have suffered IRON.
for they concern the nation to Il m"',1
greater extent than the mere statement"
The financial loss and economic "''''
would indicate.