New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-28
,cyyoy AGAINST THE ENTORTIoN

ACTION AGAINST THE EAIOhiioN'
The nationwide inquiries ordered y!
the federal Department OF Justice in'o
tho recent advance in coal prices coH-
tomnlate civil or criminal action uuu''
thc Sherman act against the coal opera,
tors who have lust decided to take -
conts ton ont of the consumers OF coal
in order to pay 10 cents ION 'h"Ic
WAGES 10 their miners. The lrlpule
nrompt exposure of this scheme Is lh"'
having effect. 1t will have more erect
public opinion will not rest content
without an inquiry by the lnterSI'c
Commerce Commission into the lTeiSh,
rates that have marvellously cnrlcheu
the coal carrying roads in the liSt Ten
wears and at the same time nave ne
stroved the competition Of the indcpeh-
dent operators. D.,
Mr. Bacr predicted drastic acton II
tho nrice Of coal was raised when he
ronl;od 10 the demand Of the miners
for higher wages. He will soon he aplo
70 set up a good claim to the 'ltI' 81
n,.onhct There il sure Ia he uraSu'
action. II is very unreasonable" Tor pee"
ME who have endured Nlo.O'nN" Il
year extortion not to put mp WIN II
little ST OOO. 600 n year additional cN-
tortion. But that is Il way they nave
They are sure 10 diSappoint those VINO
count on their stupidity and patience,
The fortunate immunity which these
coal price raiSerS enjoyed in the past con
tanned no guarantee for the future. II
they have escaped the Sherman act Nun
erto they are reckoning now with law
whose teeth have been Sharponed ny
the recent decisions. If the Interstate
Commerce Commission has hitherto only
animadvcrtcd upon the high freight
rates on coal and their effect In building
up monopoly in the coal fields ana
Welding tremendous SURPRISES Tor the
coal roads. the present attempt al Iur-
thcr cxtortion and an awakened pubic
opinion will be sure 10 direct its atten-
ton sharply to this factor in the OPP
preston of the consumer.
This attempt To cXtOrt S6WO,oOO from
the public is made under circumstances
different from those under which such
schemes have hitherto been carried
through successfully Usually the pub
lie feels only vaguely that il Is being
robbed. This time il has the demon
stration before It's eyes. The Tribune
set forth the figures rs soon as it be-
came known what increase the coal men
would exact. That the sum Of S6.6OOOO
IS going TO be taken without warrant
or excuse IS matter not Of vague he
lief but Of actual proof. The Statis-
tics show il. The Trihune'S figures
have been accepted everywhere. hav-
ing been reproduced in the ncwspap-
ers Of this city and other parts Of
the country. either I'm news articles or
in their editorial columns. The people
know that 100000 more will be taken
out Of their pockets each year by the
present advance in the price If coal than
is necessary 10 pay the additional costs
Of mining, and that. furthermore. there
is little excuse for increasing the price
Of coal any way. since the last two In
creaScs brought I'm S40,0O0OOo year
more than was necessary Ia cover the
advance in the cost Of mining at that
time If the people wish 10 stop max
Inc further big contributions 10 coal
road melons" and SURPRISES, now is the
time for them TO insist on their repre-
sentativeS taking adequate action.
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