The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-02

National guard were called out by the
disposition shown to destroy property by
incendiarlsm. AS usually happens III
these cases, the mere demonstration or
the purpose of the state authorities 10
tain order without the firing of gun or
the loss of q life. OF the twenty-seven
strikes which occurred during the year
1884 up to Dec. II, all save three failed TO
effect the purposes at which they were
aimed.
Protection to Miners.
The coal production Of Pennsylvania is
one of the great material interests OF the
state. In carrying 1t on enormous ven
lures of capital are required ana large
greater concern, in both the anthracite
and bituminous regions, are the dan
gers of human life. These have been the
subject of frequent legislation, and the
enactment of 1893, relating to the bitum-
nous coal mines. went further toward
their regulation by the state than any pre-
vious legislation. Experience has dem
onstrated the wisdom and efficacy of the
law. Its operation Is not only conducive
to the protection and health Of the under
ground employees, but 1t meets the ap-
proval of humane employers who are con-
cerned for the well being OF their oper-
taken on this subject.
Some complaint continues that miners
are defrauded by the use OF false weights.
If IL should be found upon due and i'm
partial Investigation that there, exists
substance for such a complaint the gen
eral assembly might .fitly consider the
propriety of establishing state a$ice,
the incumbent of which would have power
at any time, when called upon or of his
own Volition, to test mine scales or TO
measure and brand mine cars.
The frequent occurrence OF mine disas-
ters in the slate region of the state, ac-
companied in some cases by the loss OF a
half dozen human lives, suggests the
necessity of extending state protection
and regulation to other underground oper-
atives than those OF colliereS.
Frequent complaints are heard, ana
some have been made to the law depart
ment from centers of mining or manufac-
| turing industries that the act of June y,
1891, forbiddng mining or manufacturing
corporations from carrying on stores IS
violated. Investigations have, lin most
cases, disclosed the fact that grounds. OF
| complaint We're oifenses against the spirit
and not against the letter of the act. Be
ing highly penal in its character and car
rying with it the penalty OF forfeiture
of corporation franchises, cases under II
are bound to be jealousy scrutinized and
| its effect and operation to be strictly
| construed as at present enacted the
same persons may be stockholders and
managers of a supply store and of a
mining or manufacturing corporation q,
the same place, if conducted entirely
| apart and without any prevailing rule,
regulation or contract to make the en-
ployes of one become the patrons of an.
| other. Moral coercion Is used to defeat
all the purposes of the act OF 1891, and the
| laborer continues to be the victim of the
so-called 'pluck-me" system. A more
particular. legislative definition Of this
Specific punishment, by fine and impris.
onment, of the individuals directly or in
directly engaged in ii would be found cf'
| ficient as partial remedy.
High Explosives.
The provisions of our statute law rela.
| tive to the manufacture, transportation
| sale and use of explosives should be
amended or supplemented by Legislative
provision regulating the same in regard tc
nitro-glycerne, dynamite and other de
| structive agencies. The terrible danger
| to property and human life occasioned by
the careless or criminal use of these deal
| ly compounds demands that some safe
| guard on those who use them even for {
| lawful purpose.
Railroad Determinations.
| The evil of corporate discrimination
against some and in favor of other pa
| irons Is neither abated nor diminished
Existing legislation seems to be ineffc =,
| tive to restrain or TO punish those whC
violate the plain mandates of our funda
mental law. Whether 1t has not been tht
serious intention of the legislature TO ~
/ ford remedy, or whether 1t has been re
fined away by judicial construction, Is no
SO much the immediate question. IS low
| fifty to meet the condition which con
fronts us. That common carriers ShO OllC
not afford superior facilities or iowe
| rates to one person or corporation un'el
like conditions than to another and tina
q transportation line should not charE,
more for the shorter than for the longcI
haul, seem to be such obvious PROPOSE
tions that they apply as forcibly TO thu
sense of commercial expediency as to tina
of natural justice; Nevertheless, it Il
freely charged, and has been frequently
disclosed in judicial proceedings, thu
these automatic principles of law, justice
and trade are constantly violated. Nor,
stringent and positive legislation is need
ed to enforce them. Every sort of secre
rebate, discrimination and favoritisn
should be made punishable by a fine an,
| Imprisonment of the individuals who prac
tice them, and should warrant the forfeit
ure of corporate power which thus abuse
1t. The constitutional inhibition of FIRE,
passes is practically a dead letter. be
cause appropriate legislation has not beef
enacted to enforce 1t. The new constitu
ton of New York in embodying a like pro
vision has provided forfeitures and fore
| shadowed fines and Imprisonment TO
those who offend against it in this re
gard.
The complaint that the chief seaboar,
city and principal port of Pennsylv0n'i
has lost its commerce and is the victim
of trunk line discrimination--that III,
products of our mines and mills are car
| ried past our own markets and delivered
more cheaply TO extra-state points-tha
the conl dealers and consumers of Phla
delphia are placed at u disadvantage will
those of New Jersey and New York
comes from the press, the merchants an,
manufacturers of our metropolis. If thos
to whom their first appeal is fitly mad
pay no heed, the general assembly shoult
afford prompt and far-reaching relief.
Street Passenger Railways.
An interest of vast and constantly in
creasns Importance in the common
wealth Is that of street passenger, elec
tric, traction or trolley railways as the,
are variously known, according to the diff
ferent appliances used I'm the nature o
the country which they traverse. Tn
old-fashioned horse cars which used L
pass over comparatively few OF tn
streets of the cities have given place +
the swiftly moving trolley cars propele
by electricity, occupying not only tn
streets of the cities but the turnpikes an
highways of the suburban and rural dis
tricts. and with their appliances movin
on wires strung from poles raised in IN
air. BY what Is vaguely called "muniC
ipal consent" by the lease or purchase O
turnpike roads and the control of thci
franchises and by permission obtained ~
various devices and In the most ,informa
way from township supervisors. the cor
porations owning or leasing these road
boya ncuuired most Valnnhlp and impnrf