Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-15
The Coal Investigation Report.

Now we know what the coal inves-
tiga.ing committee of the Maine Legis-
lature thinks of the methods of the
coal business, from mine TO consumer
Summed up succinctly, we have been
exploited" by mine owners, operators,
transportat ton companies, Jobbers
commission merchants and dealers.
1t is worth something to have our
convictions verified, but it doesn't save
the wear and tear of our pocket books.
If there is any possible RELIEF in the
remedy offered let us take dose, but
it seems to be another job for Uncle
Sam, using such as the Maine Legis-
lative report for evidence. Other states
have denounced, inquired and-waited
Here is another bit of evidence that
seems to apply The Philadelphia.
Bulletin says:
The Leligh Valley Coal Company
announced last week that because of
the accumulation of coal and the lack
of demand during the mild winter,
opera ton of its mines and the produc-
ton of anthracite would be abandoned
three days IN each week until further
notice For SIX months and more these
custodians of coal have been charging
the consumer high prices for antilra-
cite on the plea that a strike OF SIX
weeks duration last year lessened pro-
duction to such an extent that there
was shortage in supply and advanced
prices were necessary to check the de-
mand. Now that nature has dealt
kindly with the consumer and reduced
the winters consumption and there Is
no likelihood of any interruption by
labor troubles, production is arbitrarily
curtailed In order that the high level
of the market may be sustained next
rail-.
Probably We shall hear that this IS
only the annual spring eurtailment, 4
little earlier this year than usual, per-
haps. But, whether regular, or excep-
tional, the announcement demonstrates
how easy it is to explain and justify
high prices for commodity by refer
ence to the law of supply and demand,
when the power exists arbitrarily IN
regulate the supply to fit the desired
scale OF prices. A few Independent
anthracite jobbers broke prices last
week and granted a discount of nifty
cents ton in advance of the usual
schedule, but the response of this rep
resentative cf the Coal Trust is TO
shut off production and force the mar
ket to fit the established prices. The
new attorney general at Washington
har ehon To Hnnnnstrat q his faith
in the far-reaching efficacy of the
Sherman law by bringing such unrea
sonable restraint of trade to the bar.
Even the present State Railroad
Commission of Pennsylvania. with its
admittedly limited powers. can, by en-
forcing it's demand on the railroads for
the facts as to the cost of transporta
ton from the mines. establish basis
of cost of coal production upon which
the consumer could stand in his de-
mand for reasonable prices. And, GER
tainly, the proposed Utilities Commits
sion can be. and should be, endowed
with power to compel fair dealing on
the part of corporations whose stock
In trade is chiefly the natural re-
sources of this Commonwealth. The
time for half-hearted. hesitating. at
your pleasure dealing with these Goa
companies has passed. The authority
of the law should be asserted. and
first of all, by the railroad commission
and the attorney general representing
the State OF Pennsylvania.
There's work enough to do for tht
common people, if somebody woulj
only use the tools provided