Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-12-25
MISERY FROM COAL TRUST.
The People Are Helpless Against the
Rapacity of the Pampered
Coal Barons

Inc rapaclty ana greed OF the coal
barons is getting almost beyond en-
durance. The bituminous coal COM
bine is equally as guilty as the an
thracite trust, for it has advanced
prices in about the same proportion.
The coke combine has also increased
prices on a par with its brother rep
rebates. The pretense is being made
by the hard coal trust that it has a
hard and fast price of 1918 a ton at
the mines, to which is added the rail
road freight rate, ranging from
s1.55 to New York, two dollars to
Washington, D. c., and whatever the
tariff will bear" to other points,
which varies according to the compe-
tition of river and lake transporta-
ticn. To these charges is added $3.50,
allowed the retailer for carriage and
profit. The agents of the coal trust
are, they say, obliged to agree not
to charge above the prices given, that
is on the basis of $6.75 at New York,
s7.25 at Washington, d. c., and at
other points according to the in
creased railroad charges. The facts,
however, do not substantiate this
scale of prices, for when the
harassed householder puts in his or
der for coal to the agents of the
trust, he is informed that his order
will be booked, but delivery cannot
be promised. Compelled to find
coal that will be delivered immediate
ly, the buyer finds that the independ.
ent dealers have hard coal on hand
but the price ranges from nine dol
lars to SIS a ton. The natural con
clusion to arrive at is that the trust
is selling, at a large advance in price
to the independent dealers, instead
of supplying it's w agents at the
advertised rates.
The rich and well to do are, OF
course, able to obtain coal, but the
largely increased cost to the poor
vastly augmented by the profits o
the small dealers, is sc serious tina
great destitution and sufferings is re
ported in the large cities. In New
York alone it is reported that 5000
families are unable to buy fuel, ant
the corporation of Greater New
York has appropriated 500, 900 t.
purchase coal to be given to sucf
destitute persons.
There is no doubt that the miser,
and suffering on account of the higl
price of coal will lead to a great in
crease of sickness and a consequen
great loss of life from pulmonar.
and other kindred diseases.
The criminal section of the anti
trust law covers just such a restrain
of trade and monopoly as the Goa
trust is imposing upon the American
people. The administration of tina
law is in the hands of the %attorne.
general of the United States, and il
each state the United States distric
attorneys can enforce the law in tn
federal courts. Thus the whole ma
chinery for bringing the coal monoT
olists to the bar of justice can be pu
in motion by the republican admins
tration. One word from Presiden
Roosevelt would compel his %attorne
general to act. AS he does nothin
to curb the monopoly, it would seer
certain that he does not want an
action taken, or, for political res
sons, does not wish the extortion @
the trust stopped.
The criminal statute would allo'
the arrest of the coal barrons ant
upon conviction, of being parties t
any restraint of trade, or of havin
formed a combination to contrt
prices, they could be imprisoned fo
one year. A coal baron in Jail woul
soon bring him and his brother rol
bers to terms, and the price of co;
would soon tumble.