The Washington times., 1915-11-01

IL may UlahS COM CHcuper, 1ho
f,t the consumer and the public at
large. for the westphalian mine own
ers to be n trust.
It may make coal dearer. and inture
the consumer and the public. for the
middle Western mine owners TO be
trust.
No matter. There must be trust In
westphalia. and there mustn't be one
in the U. S. A.
@. 4. d.
1t Is a curious tale. this of the efforts
of the German coal operators to avoid
being a trust. and OF tho Indiana-1lli-
nois operators to get the advantages OF
being one.
To begin the story In Germany. 1t Is
to be explained that a number OF years
ago the problem of conservation OF coal
became important In that country
westphalia Is the great coal section.
and the owners OF the mines there be-
came concerned about their prospects
Germany became concerned. 700: ana
as result a combination of Westphal-
ian mine owners was perfected. under
an agreement that pooled production.
output. sales and the like. Measures
were agreed upon. which looked to con-
servation OF the supply. elimination OF
Of prices that would make 1t possible
to mine the coal without loss. and that
would prevent the necessity OF sacritic-
Ing the supply.
Made for Five Years.
This contract was originally made for
Ave years. At its expiration II was re-
newed for a like period: and when that
| period expired II was renewed for an
xyhich 10 pYpirinR r
| this autumn.
owners has discovered that the arrange
| ment is of doubtful advantage to him. He
| believes that II there were no such Iron
clad agreement he would make more
agreement overthrown. And some time
ago he served notice that. when the
period Of the Agreement had expired.
he would no longer associate himself
snd %th take M his his in feld Of % far
| or unfair-but at least complete compe-
tition. His withdrawal meant that the
whole scheme was broken down. There
petitive conditions. 1t was regarded, as
especially unfortunate at a time when
Germany is already planning for her
commercial campaign after the war
the post-bellum future. Germany is su-
premely confident that her part will be
an expanding one. In the past she has
| succeeded well under the system OF
ming to press that method farther than
| ever.
Taken by Government.
So the recalcitrant Westphalian mine
owner was taken in hand by Govern
ment authority. He got the chance to
tell his side of the story. and the other
side was heard likewise. Then. kindly
but firmly, the commission which SUI
him that he would not be permitted tc
| withdraw. German policy required tina,
such benevolent combinations be main
tained! It appears that some of the
| ed: In fact, for number OF years there
has been law In Germany, which, while
| not attempting to confiscate mines al.
ready in operation under private owner;
| under private operation. The govern.
ment will buy the property, install the
necessary machinery. and operate the
enterprise whenever 1t is deemed timely
SO the Westphalian coal syndicate
was saved.
Now comes the contrast with Ameri
can can conditions; About IN, the same, same time
ana region got together and decided
that competition was not only making
It impossible for them to earn profits
acing the future. 1t had been discov
cred that hard competition gave such
an advantage to the richer mines. witt
thick veins and good roofs, that proper
measures could only be worked at the
sacrifice OF much OF the coal: pillars
must be left In the mines that causeo
waste OF too much coal: yet It was i'm
possible to put In better supports anc
l''pull" the pillars, because all this cos
lmoney that under competitive condi
Iticns. could not-be afforded.
Il was very plain that IN easy gem