New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-02-01
couHODITTES CLAUSE.
ucus IN Fhich Railroads Could
Meet Aduerse Decision.
Of The Tribune.

she Editor Of The Tribune.
j ~ recently published article quotes me some
= ,,accurately upon phase Of The conln1odi-
We ,syse question. now before the Supreme Court
-. T-n,fed States final appeal, which you will
e--szs I Think. to be Of national Importance
- - the anthracite and the bItuminous side
.te coal question. Ny interest comes Of an ex-
s.,ce Of Two and half years in the investiga-
LAWYER. CT the effect OF a enforcement Of
n-asas from their coal interests legally, indus
s.r- and financially
.,e4. ofacer Of one or the six anthracite rail
"a companies has just stated TO me that Il the
,.-,s,on Of tfse Supreme Court should uphold the
--or6ifies clause at least two Of those railroad
,rsnfes would al once go into the hands of re-
,-ers on the other hand. the president OF one
+be three anthracite miners unions declares that
.5onls those SIX railroad companies in ease OF an
srnrse SECESSION. agree 70 let the present system
= z1perintendents and bosses on. the real
ozns-ship could be gradually shifted without ma
..-isl effect upon the production shipment trans
-,-tsflon or sale OF the coal Ths truth. of course
lies somewhere between these summaries. The six
a-es6 companies referred TO are the Pennsyl-
-sn;s the Erie. the Central Railroad OF New Jer-
,.- the fyehigh Valley. the Delaware & Hudson
~ IRE Delaware. L.ackawanna & Western.
The possible methods Of compliance with the
,ournodHiss clause open the railroad companies
~ Questions asked are: :. The utilization Of
ane snothe-s lines for the carrying Of the coal
,,-ess the state borders. ? The sale Of the coal
q
q does 2. The temporary reservation Of the rail-
-oad coal and the encouragement CT the independ-
emf operators each road TO double treble their
erfput. 70 maintain the tonnage for trans
aortatur and consumption. + The sale (or gift. in
me STARE Of bonus) Of the coal interests to the
-slroad stockholders. as practised hy the Buffalo
sachester & Pittshurg and she Louisville & Nash
rils 5 The sale OF the coal interests a friend
syndicate or company. practised by the Bal
amere & Ohio. s The transfer OF the coal in
,s-ests 10 trustees for the contamination Of bona
sde sale The sale Of the railroad coal interests
psceraes! after the receipt Of bids to individuals
Or Individual companies. under the supervision Of
rastees
While several of these methods could legally
give the railroad companies relief from en-
hs-rsssing SITUATION the last two methods. being
reality perhaps identical, seem alone he free
from Say faint o. evasion
/ have addressed LETTERS to number Of retired
anthracite operators. and have received replies
saving that If their bids could he financed by bank
e-s they would he inclined to make bids for the
-sfres5 coal lands. piece1neal. in blocks, with
breakers and coiFeTy machinery as they stand.
: have also sscertaine1 that small bankers q dis
tingush small bankers from the banking trusts
roulG ne inclined 10 finance such bids. based
expert reports as the quantity Of unmined coal
remaining in each case by government neutral
Engineers. both. and intended 20 pay of all
sting liens
TIE miners union executive referred 70 ex-
presses the opinion that there sre large number
e exert MIXERS Of undoubted experience and char
aete- rho might participate in such bidding The
aisn seems worth consideration that dozen or
-~enrv trustees might be selected in given coal
istri-t. who could. II necessary. receive govern
nsnt recognition, 10 whom might be committed
= gradual transfer by the railroads 81 their coal
sierests. along some such lines as have been just
escrfHed. with tF7e result practically safeguard
hs % the railroads the normal tonnage for trans
ortafion and fair and stable prices TO the public.
EMLEN HARE MILLER
View York. Ian. 81, 1909