West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1903-01-22
COAL TRUST MISERY.
Prices Arc Raised Beyond the
Reach of the Poor.
wANTAED SICKNESS In THE CITIES

No Restraint to Rapacity OF the Coal
Darons--The People Helpless In the
Hands of the Trust = Republican
Administration Makes No Effort 60
Cnrry Out the Law.
The rapaclty and greed OF the coal
barons are getting almost beyond en-
durance. The bituminous coal combine
Is equally as guilty as the anthracite
trust. for 1t has advanced prices in
about the same proportion. The coke
combine has also Increased prices on n
par with It's brother reprobates, The
pretcnse Is being made by the hard
coal trust that Il has hard and fast
price OF S3.T5 ton at the mines TO
which IS added the railroad freight
rate OF S1.55 to New York, 81 to Wash.
ington and "wlmtcyor the traffic viii
bear" TO other points. which varies ac-
cording TO tie competition of river and
lake transportation. To these charges
Is added Si.50 allowed the retailer for
carriage and profit. The agents OF the
coal trust are. they say, Obliged TO
agree not 10 charge above the prices
glyen-that is, on the basis OF $G.75 at
New York, ST25 at Washington. and
mt other points according TO the In
creased railroad charges. The facts
however. do ndf substantiate this gcale
OF prices. for when the harassed house
holder puts In his order for coal 10 the
agents OF the trust he Is Informed that
his order VIII be booked. but delivery
cannot be promised Compelled TO End
coal that VIII bo delivered Immediate
ly, the buyer finds that the independent
dealers have hard coal on hand. but
the price ranges from 50 TO SO ton.
The natural conclusion TO arrive at ls
that the trust Is selling at IA large adj
vance In price to the independent deal.
ers instead Of supplying it's own agents
at the advertised rates.
The rich and well TO do are, Of course
able 20 obtain coal but the largely i'm
creased cost to the poor VASTLY aug
mented by the profits OF the small deal
ers. Is so serious that great destitutlon
and suffering are reported IN the large
cities. In New York alone Il Is report.
VI AAAA NftVV lHuilifH are MnNnlt 10
buy fuel, and the corporation Of Great
er 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 70 n great In
crease Of sickness and a consequent
great loss OF life from pulmonary and
kindred diseases
The criminal section OF the antitrust
law covers Just such restraint OF
trade aud monopoly as the coal trust Is
imposing upon the American people
The administration Of that law is I'm
tie hands of the attorney general OF
the United States. and In each state the
United States district attorney can en-
force tho law IN the federal courts
Thus the Whole machinery for bringing
the conl monOpollsts TO the bar OF Jus.
iice can be put IN motion by the Repub.
Dcan administration One word from
President Roosevelt would compel his
attorney general 90 act IS he Goes
nothing TO curb the monopoly. II would
seem certain that hc does not want any
action taken or. frf political rearons
does not wish the ext0rtiOn of the trust
stopped
The criminal statute wOuic allow the
arrest Of the coni barons aud G'cpOn cor.
viction Of being parties 20 any restraint
OF trade or or having fDrmrd q comb
nation 20 control prices they could be
imprisoned fOr yDr a coal baron IN
iail would soon tr.Hg BIN md his broth
or robbers io tcrms. and the price Of
coal would soon tumble