Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-06
IRELAND, PA, OCTOBER 6, 1902.
Sure Cure for Coal Strikes.
From the Johnstown Democrat.

From the Johnstown Democrat.
Governor Stone could end this strike
and settle the disorder now obtaining
with word if it were sincerely spoken.
He could do it without firing shot or
without resort to military force. Let
him simply say that every resource OF
the state will be used from this day
forth in compelling local taxing auth
critics to assess coal lands at their full
cash value whether used or unused
Let him say that lawless combination
between the coal operators and the coal
roads must cease. And then let him
begin resolutely to carry out the work
involved.
The coal trust is strong in its ability
to prevent labor and capital from en-
gaging in coal production on their own
account when they are dissatisfied with
the terms offered by the trust. The
latter can prevent labor and capita
from so engaging in coal production
only through the monopoly it maintains
in the ownership OF coal lands. And
this monopoly is rendered possible only
through the failure or refusal of taxing
authorities to tax idle coal lands accord
ing to the law at their actual market
value.
In this connection the testimony of
Charles M. Schwab before the indus
trial commission is interesting and in
tructive. He swore that the United
States Steel Corporation owned prac-
tically all the available coking coal
lands In the Connellsville field. He
said holdings aggregated 10000 acres
and that the land was worth $50, 900 per
acre, or 50, 600, 900, 900. However, the
land is assessed for taxation at a valua-
ton averaging perhaps less than $500
per acre.
What would happen to the United
States Steel Corporation If President
Schwab's testimony as to the value of
those coal lands were taken by the tax
ing authorities as the basis for assessing
them? Suppose these 10000 acres were
listed at value of SOC, 900 an acre and
taxed on that basis. What do YOU
imagine the United States Steel Cor
poration would do? What could it do?
These lands are now possibly assessed
at $500 per acre, or at total valuation
Of 100000, 900. The tax at Is mills
therefore aggregates $3.50, 900. But sup
pose they were assessed at the value
sworn to by President Schwab-S3, ,6OO,-
100000. On that basis the tax at Is
mills would reach the stupendous figure
OF So4 900, ,OOO-or nearly three times as
much as the total annual revenue of the
state of Pennsylvania from all sources.
If these coking coal lands be worth
$4,000 per acre-and Mr.. Schwab
swears that that is their actual value
then the anthracite coal lands must
surely be worth that much or more,
wv" u 'hoy are "ortn only nall as
much, their actual value is stupendously
greater than their assessed value. In
many instances 1t is said they are asses
sed as agricultural land In no case
are they assessed even approximately at
their true value.
And so the coal trust can afford to
hold them out OF use. 1t can and does
prevent labor and capital from utilizing
these opportunities save upon the trusts
own monopoly terms; and so complete is
lts grip upon the situation that 1t can
reduce the nation to state of abiect
dependence upon its caprices and COM
pei the state to do its bidding in labor
war melted by the trust itself through
It's scandalous and worse than brutal
aggressions.
y 1t is scarcely to be hoped that Cover
nor Stone will give any heed to this
phase of the question. He is creature
OF the monopoly forces Of this state and
can act only as those forces direct, But
there is yet court of public opinion to
which appeal lies. 1t is perhaps too
late to deal with the present situation.
1t is not too late, however. to take this
appeal. And the place to make it is at
the polls.