Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-13
Inquire Quickly, Act Sharply!

With two congressional Investigations in
progress at the same time that the Pres
idents commission Is inquiring into the
price of coal, incidental to it's broader work
of arbitrating the wage question, there
should be no lack of full information re-
specting the causes underlying the present
extortion of the public in fuel rates. But
the public Is asking, What will result? VIII
these various Investigations work reforms!
VIII the price of coal drop in consequence
or will the people have, at the close. only
bulk Of testimony and reports and no rellef
from the squeeze?
The winter is now well advanced ABOUT
two months remain of cold weather. in all
likelihood the severest Of the season. Inc
pinch of the fuel famine. sharp already,
will be felt most cruelty during these next
few weeks. SO that relief, If it is to be
given. must come soon or it will not be re-
qulred A conclusion reached on the edge
of departing winter will not save the people
from suffering and heavy loss.
Thus there is every reason for haste In
the work. Committees now in session but
about three hours a day should be given
authority to sit continuously and should
work night and day. if necessary, in order
to probe the case to the bottom and TO
reach conclusions. 1t Is, of course, uncer-
tain whether a remedy can be found and
effectively applied. but there must be no
loss of time in seeking it. else the winter
will bring keen suffering to great multi
tudes and death to many.
The present inquiry is as to the responsi-
billy for the existing high prices. The
purpose is to fasten that responsibility so
clearly that public indignation will find
proper object and any legislative or legal
,,-;fL
or delay. Just what remedies can be de-
yised is at present beyond conception short
of a seizure by the public agencies of the
coal producing and carrying facilities and
the regulation of the price to meet the
needs of the great body of the people Such
a course is perhaps direct and radical, but
its possibility need not be absolutely laid
aside in view of the acute emergency.
The fact of difficulties in the way of ac-
tual solution should not cause those engaged
in the inquiries to regard their task as
academic, contributing to the solution
of future fuel problems. Nor should there
be disposition to piilory one or another of
the agencies now engaged in the supplying
Of fuel to the people, or all Of them, for
purposes of later retribution. Every energy
should be expended to the single end of
present correction. 1t is absolutely plain
that the mining of coal, as the production
of oil. is costing practically not a penny
more today than year ago. notwilhstand-
ing the Readings addition Of fifty cents a
ton as covering increased cost Of mining
owing to the strike. Yet anthracite is SELL
ing at retail for anywhere from twenty to
three hundred per cent more than usual.
Nor Is there an abnormal demand. The
demand is merely more concentrated now
than ordinarily because of the idleness Of
the mines-due in large part to the mis-
management of the companies-for six
months. 1t is even less in proportion than
IS customary, owing to forced economies
The coal producers are mulcting the people
because of a relative shortage of the supply
caused by corporate and Individual stub
bornness and stupidity.
Morally. the obligation rests today upon
the producers and dealers to sell their coal
at normal profit. Legally. there may be
no present remedy short of drastic govern
mental action to compel them to respect
this moral requirement. II deaths occur
because of fuel shortage-seven are re-
ported today from Chicago-they can be
laid directly at the doors OF these coal fac
tors. If they are willing to assume the
awful responsibility of triffing with human
life that fact must be made plain, and at
once.