The Grenada sentinel., 1903-01-03
MISERY FROM COAL TRUST.
The People Are Helpless Against the
Rapacity of the PampereA
T. Coal Baron0.

The rapacity and 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
robates. The pretense is being made
by the hard coal trust that it has a
hard and fast price of $3.75 a ton at
the mines. to which is added the rail-
road freight rate, ranging from
$1.55 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 S1.50,
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,
$7.25 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
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 own agents at the
advertised rates.
The rich and we'll to do are, of
course, able to obtain coal. but the
largely increased cost to the poor
vastly augmented by the profits of
the small dealers, is SO serious that
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, and
the corporation of Greater New
York has appropriated 100000 to
purchase coal to be given to such
destitute persons.
There is no doubt that the misery
and suffering on account of the high
price of coal will lead to a great in
crease of sickness and a cons equen mt
great loss of life from pulmonary
and other kindred diseases.
The criminal section of the anti
trust law covers just such restraint
of trade and monopoly as the coal
trust is imposing upon the American
people. The administ ra ion of that
law is in the hands of the attorney
general of the United States. and in
each state the United States district
attorneys can enforce the law in the
federal courts. Thus the whole ma
chinery for bringing the coal monop-
olists to the bar of justice can be put
in motion by the republican adminis-
tration. One word from President
Roosevelt would compel his attorney
general to act. As he does nothing
to curb the monopoly, it would seem
certain that he does not want any
action taken. or, for political rea-
sons. does not wish the extortion of
the trust stopped.
The criminal statute would allow
the arrest of the coal barrons and,
upon conviction, of being parties to
any restraint of trade, or of having
formed a combination to control
prices. they could be imprisoned for
one year. A coal baron in jail would
soon bring him and his brother rob-
bers to terms, and the price of coal
would soon tumble.