Saint Mary's beacon., 1903-05-07

Commission set Itself in motion at
the instance of United States Attor
ney General Knox That is an ex-
traordinary misapprehension of the
situation. The truth is that the in
vestigation is being held because
Attorney General Knox could not be
induced to take action against the
Coal Trust on precisely the same ev-
idence that is now in course of being
made public at the sessions OF the
commission.
On October A last, Representative
William Randolph Hearst informed
President Roosevelt by open letter
that he had petitioned the Attorney
General for permission TO supply the
latter with Documentary Evidence
of the existence of the Coal Trust, in
order that he, Mr.. Knox, might be
enabled to proceed against it for its
disruption uuder Federal law. A
few days subsequently Mr.. Hearst
was formally requested by Mr..
Knox to submit his proofs to United
States Attorney Burnett for the
Southern District Of New York, who
would report thereon TO the Depart
ment of Justice.
Mr.. Hearst placed General Bur
nett in possession Of evidence which
established the facts that the coal
carrying railroads are in illegal
combination for the suppression OF
competition in mining for the arbi-
trary regulation Of supply, and the
fixing OF prices.
| Attorney General Knox received
Mr. Hearst's proofs, with General
Burnett's report upon the same,
but neither brought suit against the
Coal Trust nor gave Mr.. Hearst s
evidence publicity.
Last winter a number Of United
States Senator's endeavored TO com
pei Mr.. Knox to reveal the nature
Of the evidence transmitted TO him,
but their efforts failed, the Attorney
Generals friends in the Senate,
taking the ground that to force him
TO disclose the case against the Coal
Trust might interfere with his plans
for prosecutingit And this ground
was taken without any apparent hu-
morous intention.
Representative Hesrst appealed to
the Interstate Commerce Commission
TO grant him hearing The Com
mission complied with the request,
and Mr. Hearst, as the sole com
plaiuant against the Coal Trust, is,
| by attorney, now exposing in New
| York the methods and practices Of
the monopoly which cursed the com
! munity with tho prolonged miners
strike Of last summer aud brought
on the fuel famine TO IFS own profit
and the pubiic's loss.
| When this inquiry Is ended, The
people Of the United States will
have been made so thoroughly "a.
miliar with the devices Of the Coal
Trust and their unlawfulness that
legal action should be taken for its
dissolution.
Ar Baer and his parecners IN
coal monopoly are not engaged IN
a legitimate business enterprise,
but criminal conspiracy. There
fore the law should deal with them
for the protection Of the robbed pub
| lie.
II the Coal Trust Is not then pros.
ecUted by this administration, we
will know how empty are its pro
fessions Of hostility to the combined
monopolies Of the country.
Who has read any comment on the
comparative smallnesS OF the Steel
Trust 5 taxes? Its report shows
that it paid taxes TO the amount OF
81 ,397 ,4G5 10 1902. This Is less than
per cent. Of its net earnings and
less than 2 mills on the dollar Of the
value Of It's property, according to
its capital and sworn statement Of
its president Is there any sound
reason why this protected billion
dollar trust should pay IN taxes IS
cents on every 800 when the un-
protected common people pay 81 or
So on every 800 worth Of property?
CHAs. II. EDWARDS.
|