The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1915-08-27
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Y. Va. oDn
INDUSTRY.
EHsrts n Ok;s teH,d-
er ard Destroy Tie
Csal Industry n
Tbs Stabe
the MIE elsE IS
ONLY 1 SuBTERFUeE.
,Usst stVisinisDsss1ats1vvugb =
10 kealizaiisa sf he Pit
That Has Besa Desissel
By Their Rivak.

y 1uG41 tk1v0Es
The bearing of the OHIO rate case BE-
fore the Ohio Public Utilities Oommis
sion b Of vital interest 10 the coal rndus
try Of West Virginia, and therefore h
every citizen Of this sease.
The action was brought by q diskrc
organization Of the United Mine Worker
Union Of America against oil the Coz
carrying roads Of the state. thirty-nins
in number. demanding . reduction in
tie rates for carrying coal from one point
20 another in the state.
The real purpose is to reduce the rates
in Ohio in order TO establish Q lower diff
ferrntial between them and the rates for
Transporting coal from West virKinia and
Pennsylvania. The end sought u TO ees
60 the msrkess with the Ohio cod With q
greater selling margin in favor Of the
Ohio coal OPERATOR.
However, THE main issue \ being keps
in the background. i'm the hearing, -
much - possible. The attorneys for the
coal miners and OPERATOR have their
gnards constantly poised against the in
production Of any evidence that would
tend 10 show that mining conditions in
the rival states have any hearing on
market conditions, or hsye 90 do with
the present dilemma of the Ohio coal in
dusery. The Ohio Interest," have but one
song and it IL constantly ringing in the
ears Of the commission. The burden Of
the song 10 that the rates for transport
ing OHIO coal within Ohio are excessive.
And to the vocalists the Ohio commis-
s'on appears to be inciining an attentive
ear.
That the trouble in Ohio 10 not one OF
rates, 10 well enough understood by those
who know tie conditions. Ii H. well
enough knoe "a by the sstute lawyers Who
are promoting the u quiry. a. 10 show
bv the geninr that ihey are displaying in
keeping ont "f the record the farts thai
lie at the botsom OF the Ohio difficulty.
IL was shown last week that the pro-
duction Of coal in Ohio for the year 1918,
-exs eded thirty six million tons. and that
Was the largest production in the history
Of the state. At that time the same rates
were in existence a. now Nevertheless,
since that year the business has IaDguish-
ed. There hss be~n an almost incesssni
strike in consequence Of a new Law in the
seate relative TO the screening of coal,
which law adds immensely 10 the sdvsn-
tage Of the miners, and reduces CORE
spondinsiy the opportunity of the ooal
producers 70 get into the markets upor
the same basis - before, in compesitlor
with tire producers Of the rival coal pro.
dncing states.
Recendy there was granted o reduc
ton OF fifteen cents per ton on transpor
tation OF coal on tle Hooking Vale,
railroad. by the commission. which 6nd
ing was upheld By the sesss suprsm
Court Yet this significant reduction Il
the transportation rsfes did not have th
effect OF reinstatins the mines In thei
activity or the miners in their employ
ment.
Now, even with this reduction Of rats
on the Hooking Valley in effect, the min
ers and the operators are holding tb
road 10 still further accountability IN
are insisting that the rasss there ssssh
Iisbed are sill excessive, and ssk furth
er reduction Against this demand n
railroad protested. and cited the 80
Law which Rusrsnsecs the stability Of rsss
established by the commission, for tb
period Of one year from the time she
become effective. But the commisso
found . way 10 continue the Hockin
Valley rosd in the sction, e6scsuaIl
holding thss they could review and alsl
their own findinp made in m entirel
different, albeit similar action.
A . rslief from shis condition sbsu
re- recsnsiy ben searssd Buy 0his
col" propsg.nda, In he hops shss
. pside-of -sesse sentimsnt win copar
Ohio col usB 70 The prodncs a a
49,. 1he Ohio Ssase journal, he -
ing nevspepev st the stsss capitol, 81
ssssnsion - he fusiiisy d shb NV
nsus. bovsvsr, in sn sdisousl rsss.sl
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