Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-01-16
coal LEGISLATION.


alton that Thought Il was the imperial
istic guardian Of the country is
bringing the American people TO a
FITCH OF excitement and radical action
along almost so.Ialis'lr lines which Is
bound TO havea most far reaching cf-
feet on future legislation and give a
new impetus to the campaign against
the Trusts.
The law passed by Congress allow
ing a rebate on foreign coal is a direct
blow at the money power" as repre-
scented by the Pennsylvania operators
and the lesser lights who have been
taking advantage Of the general short
age Of coal resulting from the miners
strike 10 corner local supplies and make
a dollar at the expense OF untold suffer
ing among the poor Of the cities and
towns. 1t is all an eXempmication that
there comes a time when the Ameri-
can people will turn against the des.
troycr, that there is limit TO the
greed for gain and that limit has been
reached.
Though the operators may endeavor
to hold the striking miners responsible
for the coal famine the general pub
Tic looks TO the coal operators az the
instigators of the crime and this i'm
preston is not belied by the testimony
that is being brought out before the
commission appointed by the President.
| The coal operators are not suffering
for the necessities OF lie nor have
| they been. II has been a case OF in
[ creasing dividends. Hence the SYM
pathy that goes out to them is minus
quantity.
The crisis in the coal market COM
! ing in the midst OF the general pro-
test against the growing power of the
great combinations of wealth has
reused Congress TO a line of action
which has the strong backing of honest
public sentiment II the country has
in it's easy going way been wandering
away from a proper recognition OF the
rights Of the individual. particularly
! the poor man, the coal famine has
served TO bring the people to their
senses The power Of one trust 10 hold
up the whole country has been demon
! strated, and what one can do is with
! in the power Of others, even to plac-
! ing the merest necessities Of life be-
yond the purchasing power OF the we'll
to-do as well as the poor.
The Coal Trust has overreached it.
self and in so doing has brought about
reversion OF feeling against similar
combinations which has forced legis-
iation that year ago would have been
regarded as impossible 10 obtain from
an American Congress. There is no
bluff or political play in the present
temper OF Congress Only few days
ago the dispatches stated that no rad
ical Trust legislation could be expect
ed at this session and within week a
cold wave that brought out the suf-
ferings Of the poor in all its horrors
has resulted in the most radical steps
Congress has ever taken in this par
ticular direction.
Not only has the movement been
made to break the coal blockade. Mem
bers of Congress are ready 10 go fur
Their and seriously contemplate the
seizure of the coal mines and opera
tion by the government. This is Popu-
listic and yet there Is none to thank for
It but the coal oarons who have car
ried their contest beyond all bounds
OF decency. These men have at last
encountered the psychological wave
which is setting toward anything but
the goal which the barons had hoped.
The question now rises, II the gov
eminent assume control Of the coal
mines and be as successful as might
reasonably be anticipated will the peo-
| pie demand that the control be con-
tinued. Are these great combinations
fastening the day when government
ownership will be the final destination
of all the federated industries and the
common carriers?