The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-18

An able and interesting letter on the |
current agitation concerning haulage !
rates and other features of the anthra- |
te-bitumInous controversy has been
written by e. r. Acker, of this city |
Tho letter was published in yesterdays !
Wilkes-Barre Record in reply to q COM
munication from Judge D. L. Rhone, |
which appeared in the same paper last
saturday. Mr.. Acker is a clerk in the
coal department of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western company.
Mr.. Acker writes as follows:
'As an ordinary empoye of an an
thracite shipping road 1t is with
great deal of reluctance that the writer
presumes to question the position taken
by Hon. d. l.. Rhone upon the anthra-
cite versus bituminous question. as
outlined in your issue of Saturday last,
His view, however, is so radical and so
utterly disregardful of the logical con-
ditions which enter into this important
question that it must be regarded as
not only novel but eccentric. and on
account of the gentlemans position and
ability it's publication, if unchallenged.
may impel more feeble minds to prac-
tically apply the idea which he i'm
parts.
CAREFUL ANALYSIS.
ut is expected of all judicial minds
that circumstances and facts be
| brought into the closest possible lux
| Imposition and that they render no
| opinion upon any question without the
most careful analysis. 1t is surprising,
| therefore, that Judge Rhone should so
| far forget his usual acumen and fair
| mindedness as to ignore this rule of
| judicial conduct, and, overlooking the
| arguments of the defendant (the BIZ
luminous using shippers) advise the
| plaintiff (the public to institute d boy
colt against the former
This is refreshingly frank advice for
a conservator of the law to give con-
cerning the application of a custom or
method against which courts of equity
are disposed to exercise their jurisdic-
tion. Indeed, it is somewhat paradoxi-
cal that one elevated to overthrow and
restrain iniquitous customs should at
tempt to elevate another and in the
| face of so utterly wrong and inde-
fensible a position the writer may he
| justified in these observations without
fear of imputation that he is trucking
to employer or corporate influence. He
is simply giving the results of such
|
incumbent upon one who would i'm
partially consider it.
! "Supposing the merchants put the
judges idea ito practical operation;
it is boycott pure and simple Boy
colts, however are double edged. Sup
! pose, further, the employees of the btu
minous-using roads (whose present in
come depends upon the use of bitumin-
| Gus coal, as we will attempt to show
| further on), refuse to buy goods of
| such merchants. What becomes of the
| merchants profits? Suppose railroad
| companies should refuse to employ and
| retain lawyers and eX-judges who re-
| fuse to ride under btuminous smoke;
what becomes of their fat fees?
These are two simple illustrations
which might be multiplied indefinitely.
which show the double incisiveness of
the plan he advises. Suppose the judge
We're an extensive landlord: would he
insist that one Of the conditions of the
| occupancy of his premises be that gas
stoves be not used, nor wood fires built:
this to be his contribution toward the
| advancement of the anthracite coal
trade? With such limitations his reve-
nues from rents would barely pay
| taxes.
LAW OF MISREPRESENTATION.
"We fully concur with the judges
observations upon the laws of supply
and demand and of exchange and reci-
procity, but the political economist has
not yet been born who can establish
the supremacy of any economic law
over the law of self-preservation. We
may write and talk about moral laws,
ethical ideals, altruism and what-not,
yet this fact will remain, humanity,
singly and collectively in working out
the great problem of existence, is gov
erned by this principle, and there is no
human power that can alter it, You
may institute boycott, build new rail-
roads, vllify and abuse the manage
ment of old roads and organize incom-
petents, yet this principle will prevail
among railroads, as among men, as
long as there is the ceaseless and in
evitable struggle and competition which
are characteristic of this progressive
age. 1t is this principle which impels
the anthracite shipping roads to resort
to the use of bituminous coal as fuel
for their locomotives.
I'VE have received from the press
and otherwise a most one sided view
of this question of anthracite versus
btuminous, yet we have not yet seen
or heard any reference as to how far
this agitation may affect the employees
of anthracite shipping roads and, in
directly, the entire business of the ter
ritory through which these roads radi-
ate.
"The railroads of today are operated
and managed upon the lines of strict
est economy. So far, indeed, is this
| policy of economy pursued that there
is universal complaint in the business
world over the manner in which rail-
road supplies and material are pounded
down to the smallest margin of profit.
IT, therefore, the necessity for re-
trenchment becomes manifest there re-
mains three sources from which to re-
coup their losses-.fuel expense, wages
account or the passing of dividends.
and the pruning process would natur-
ally begin with the account in the order
named.
"The fuel account Of any one Of the
anthracite roads runs well up into the
millions. 1t is the chief item Of trans
portation expense and is, therefore.
watched with the most jealous care to
the end that the maximum results may
be obtained from the minimum of cost.
The master mechanics of every division
for years have been required TO show
minutely the relative performance of
their locomotives using anthracite and
bituminous coal, together with the
relative average cost per mile for such
service.
REMARKABLE ADVANTAGE
"On account of the rapid decline in