The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-17

themselves etect tnS ueieSutcS eiAoe oAS
70 represent them in the state conven-
ton. Keep your eye ON Susquehanna
and you will see some fun there In the
early August days.
We do not believe that the Republi-
cans of the First legislative district
are for Cameron for president. Hence
they will not vote to sustain Camerons
chief backer. Senator Quay, at a time
whom the latter Is clearly in the wrong.
A straightforward Plea for Justice.
II Is no exaggeration to say that the
anthracite coal trade Is today face to
face with the most momentous crisis
its history. At q time when other In
dustries are experiencing widespread
and decided revival. and when general
commerce. after a season of depression.
is rapidly regaining lost ground, the
producers Of this limited commodity.
for reasons beyond their own control.
are compelled to see their Investments
fail to return profit and to sell their
coal at an actual loss or else. In simple
self-defense, to deprive of remunerative
employment thousands OF men who can
Ill afford to lose a days wages. This
Is the exact situation al this time in a
section OF Pennsylvania comprising
more than one-tenth Of the states total
population and representing one of the
most valuable of the states natural re-
sources.
How has this corli,ion OF affairs been
brought about? Not to so back into
the discussion of remote causes. which
could no. now be changed because they
form ancien, trade history, 1t is. in our
Judgment. strictly within the limits Of
truth 20 say that the responsibility for
this tremendous menace to the welfare
os the 6OO, 900 or 700 900 persons resident
in tn, anthracite coal fields now rests
directly upon the shoulders of the we'll
paid receivers Of the bankrupt Reading
railroad company, who are permitted
by the courts to persist in an attitude
toward the coal trade which effectually
blocks the way to a fair and whole
some understanding among the produc-
ing companies. The receivers can do
this, first because the debt-burdened
and misunderstanding property In
their charge is clearly beyond the reach
Of further loss: and second. because for
some inexplicable reason they appear
to hold that their duty as officers of the
public through judicial appointment re-
quires them to be the means of inflict-
ing upon that public losses incalculably
more damaging than could be any losses
possible to q property so hoplessly in
solvent as is the company they nomi-
nally represent.
What would be the benefit, even to
the bankrupt Reading property, were
the three-scora or more individual or
small company coal operators. who have
no railroad and no friendly court to
fall back upon. to be crowded to the
wall, their many collteries closed and
the thousands Of men and boys who
now derive a scant livelihood in those
collieries deprived of even this slight
means Of support? Though such ca
lamitous result as this might not, 1T is
true, sensibly reduce the $50, OOO-per-an-
mum salary which each Of these for
tunate receivers obtains by the grace
Of Philadelphia court. We are quite GER
tain that 1t would in no wise rebound
to the profit Of the Reading railroad s
abundant creditors, but would in real
ity add simply another to the many fac
tors now threatening the realization of
their hopes. The spoliation Of the ter
ritory tributary to a railroads main or
Of possible patrons are usually regarded
as very undesirable methods Of nour-
ishing a railway property's revenues.
We desire to put this important sub
ject before the people Of Northeastern
Pennsylvania and of the state at large
in its true light. The dilemma which
now confronts the honest, fair-dealina
and debt-paying small producers of an
thracite fuel, by reason of the legally
protected obstinacy OF the fat-salaried
receivers Of the moribund railroad Is
one which may, IL the present injustice
shall much longer receive the tolerance
of the courts. befall any honest indus
try in any part of the commonwealth
There Is principle back OF 1t which, n
judicially ratified, will mean nothing
less than that bankrupt incompetence
and insolvent incapacity may, with the
sanction Of the law, at any time work
the ruin Of honest citizens who pay their
debts. contribute honorably to the com.
mercial stability Of the community ir
which they Live, and have, 1t would
seem, the moral right to be protected
against wantonly inflicted loss.
The trouble with most offers to com.
promise Is that they give Quay the oys.
ter and leave Hastings the shell.
Better Dump the Drift Wood.
The Pittsburg Commercial-Gaze