The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-06-17
The Coal Combine.

The Coal Combine.
Editor The Washington Herald:
No act OF the administration will give
more satisfaction TO the general public
than its decision 70 bring suit against
the railroad combination which for years
has controlled the output and price OF
coal. by which the consumers Of this
necessity have been made to pay far more
than fair price.
Every one knows that the railroad
companies have for years combined and
controlled absolutely the output and price
Of hard coal. They own or control nearly
all the mines. and TO prevent competition
or interference with their control Of the
market neglect or refuse to transport the
coal for what few independent producers
there are. BY these means they are en-
abled 10 fix the price 10 all the dealers
both wholesale and retail ar what they
please, and if any dealer attempts 10 buy
Of the independent producers At a less
price. they refuse to sell to such dealers
at all It Is said that they even 80 50
far as TO tx the price at which 1t shall
be sold by the retailers, and refuse 10
furnish them If they offer % sell at a
less rate. and as a result. II IS understood
that nearly all the dealers in turn COM
bine and agree on q price at which #
shall be sold,
Here and there may he found a few
dealers who offer to sell at a slightly re-
duCed rate, but they constitute but a
small fraction of the whole. and are gen
orally small dealers and usually supply a
coal OF inferior quality. Though not gen
orally known 10 consumers. there is really
a great difference In the heat-giving quail
ties Of the various grades Of coal, and
not infrequently this difference occurs in
different veins in the same mine or in
the same region.
Much has been said and written about
the coal oil trust II is not half as in-
furious % the general public as Is the
coal trust. The cost Of the oil consumed
by a family is but a small fraction COM.
pared with the cost Of the coal il is com
PEELED 20 use. as any one can see. The
action Of the general government IN this
matter is q complete justification Of the
remarks OF Secretary Root In his speech
in New York last fall, and for which he
was strongly criticised by the State rights
politicians and q portion OF the press. In
that speech he said, in substance, when
speaking Of the remedy for the outrages
perpetrated by the corporations and
trusts. that II the States would not eX-
ercise their power 20 remedy them. then
the general government must DO Il.
Now, in the case of the railroads.
which IN fact constitute the coal trust.
their action is In plain violation OF the
provisions Of the Pennsylvania State con
stituuon, as will be seen by reference TO
sections g. o. and Z. Article XVII. OF that
basic law.
The railroads are common carriers. and
charters are granted them primarily for
the accommodation Of the public. and. in
cdentally. for the profit Of the company
Their charters do not authorize them 20
engage in any other business. but it was
found IN the course OF time that they did
and the provisions above referred to We're
designed TO correct the abuse by limiting
their operations 70 that Of common car
riers, 10 compel them to treat all alike.
and 70 prevent discrimination Of any
kind.
To evade these provisions, they resort
to trickery. They organize a coal COM
1taANs Nttil tiHft Va AAiN At-4Al NtlAA JIM ti9
and a few outsiders, but so managed that
the railroad company shall have the con-
troll. and thus the railroad companies
have absolute control Of the supply and
price Of coal, and swindle the public 60
any extent they choose.
OF course. this is a deliberate evasion
of the constitutional provisions. but IN
no way lessons their guilt When during
h. rp1f e+rFt~a In 4ha rf hrarffa
in 1892 attention was called to their vio-
lation Of these provisions. President Baer.
Of the Reading Railroad. said he cared
nothing for them as the charter of his
was granted prior 10 their
adoption. and, therefore, under the de-
cislon Of the Supreme Court in the Dart
mouth College case, they could not be
held liable. and he even went so far as 70
say that Divine Providence had given
them control of the coal supply.
During all the years that these practices /
have continued the authorities Of Penn
sylvania have never so far as 1 have
heard. made the slightest effort 70 pre-
vent them OF to punish the guilty parties;
and hence, as Secretary Root said, it
has to be done by the general government
under laws enacted by Congress. It is /
inconceiyable that any honest citizen
should not wish the government success
in the effort, and yet there will be plenty
Of the ablest lawyers, who. for big fees.
will do all in their power to prevent, not
their oath when admitted.
to help the court administer justice"
This, with the japanese muddles, are
but two of many reasons why the Con-
stitution should be so amended as 10 give |
the general government the power 20 con- |
troll not only the trusts and corporations. |
but many other things, regardless Of /
State lines, Notwithstanding the opposition |
Of the State rights domagogue; and I !
hope the time is not far distant when this |
viii be done. ". c. DODGE. |
20 Ninth street northwest
WASHINGTON u e