New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-29
JOINS IN COAL TRUST FIGHT
Merchants Association Decides
to Start an Inquiry.

Tn, Merchants Association has joined
Tn. Tribunc's band Of anthracite eating in
suig"nts. The Board ~ Education is an
other husky recruit coal consumers. large
and small. are taxing heart now that The
Tribune has prodded the government into
an investigation Of the "Ntortion practisod
and in contemplation by the anthracite
octopus.
The Merchants Association has decided
to make thorough and impartial invest
CATION Of the 25-ceut increase in the price
II domestic sizes Of anthracite. The mem
beers promise that the Investigation will
follow the lines OF the associations effective
inquiry into the cost OF telephone service
in this city. which resulted in a saving to
telephone subscribers OF tl.JOO.O00 II year
and Of its more recent investigation Of tn"
express companies The association really
initiated the movement which is about 10
result I'm a complete reorganization OF the
express business.
In set Of resolutions adopted unaui-
mously yesterday by the board Of directors
Of the Merchants Association. the Organi-
Zation outlines the points At issue. The
resolutions SAY.
Whereas II has been widely stated in the
public press that III" anthracite coal op-
orators intend 10 max" an advance OF >
cents ton In the prices for the domeSti.
sizes II anthracite coal on June |. 1872. and
whereas The total consumption of tn"
domestic sizes of anthracite coal II stated
to be approximately 04o""0 tons year
at present. the advance OF - cents a ton
Thereby ,ntailing an additional charge TO
The public OF about N3,OOOO year, Of
which larg" portion Will fall upon this
community; ana
Whereas Thu reason set forth for THIS
advance IS the increased cost OF labor I'M
der tine recent adjustment between the coal
operators and the coal miners, although il
IS alleged that the advance In wages rem
r.sents less than one-half OF the proposed
advance In selling prices; and
Whereas BY reason Of the restriction
uron the use Of bituminous coal in this city
the use of anthracite IL practically com
Dulsory not only tor domestic but also Tor
Industrial purposes, thereby rendering the
cost of anthracite coal a matter OF vital m
tcrest 10 the members of this association
and TO all our citizens; therefore, be II
Resolved. That IL IL the sense Of the
Merchants Association of New York that
"a thorough and impartial nv" 'tiBatI"n OF
the conditions governing the cost OF produc-
tIon TRANSFORMATION and distribution - an
thracitc coal. and its selling price In TINS
market. should be undertaken. for the pur-
thcrson. I'm order that If the facts when -
rqcortained indicate that tn" proposed adj
vance is not iustiiable and reasonable,
steps may bc taken to secure such rellri
tor this community as the la'ts may wa" VA
rant. and .hat for the purpOS" thus indl'
Gated "A special committee of lhl~ aSsoCI"-
lion he appointed by the president. 80 con
duct an investigation which SHAH d"N'Io
all the essential Facts pertaining 10 'n'
matter. tho conclusions so arrived At To -
| embodied in a report to be presented T.
! rho hoard OF directors for such turtf'.
action ae il may then deem cxredi"nt