New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-04

conviction has become by the headwsy
e proves 70 have made in Congress-
Frank ". No'on, Secretary Of the Rail-
way Business Association, in The Ma
tons Business.
The taxation Of Europe will be re-
Elected in the costs of production, which
in turn will re an important factor in
the competition we will have to face
after the war.-Edward A. Filene.
The mining companies are supplying
the country with coal as fast as il can
be produced and shipped. In no previ-
Gus year has there been as much an
thracite coal actually marketed as in
1915. Although the production from
the mines and wSherie' was 100000
tons below that Of the year before,
owing chiefly to the labor shortage,
which at some mines reached - per
cent, this loss was much more than
made good by the immense shipments
from the reserve yards. This shows,
therefore, that tie mining companies
are in no sense 20 blame for the coal
shortage. since they supplied the coun-
try with greater quantities than were
ever before sold in a twelve-month pc
Rod The published stories Of an inn
pending coal famine have had, however,
the wholesome effect Of making the
consumer fill his coal bin. Therein lies
the one sure way to prevent senss-
tionsl rise in the retail price OF coal,
for with his cellar full the consumer
becomes absolute master % the situa-
ton. The mining companies for years
have been trying to make the public
fill its coal bin during the summer
months when prices were the lowest Of
the year. But the experience of the
past year shows that it takes first
class famine scare 10 make the con-
sumer purchase coal before he has to
do so. Much Of the difficulty has arisen
from the rush of the largo and small
consumers 70 buy coal at the same
time. This led TO a total demand which
overtaxed not only the producing ca
pacity of the mining companies, but the
country's transportation facilities as
we'll. IL is 70 be hoped, however, that
the public has learned a lesson and
that in future il will fill its bin az
time when prices are low and the rail-
roads are eager to get coal 10 trans
port-Mners' Bank of Wilkes-Barre.
Congress is about 70 make levy on
the business brains and energy Of the
country, so that the enormous extrava-
gance with which the government is
conducted will be paid for by few
and the great body Of voters upon
whom Congressman depend for reelec-
ton will not be touched. They have
also opened the way so that, no matter
how much they may increase their ex-
penditures, the same single class Of
people will pay for them. In the bill
which is proposed there is an intima-
ton that in this country business prof
its of S per cent are sufficient after
So 900 has been earned. This intimation
is conveyed in the provisions under
which all concerns, after a fat exemp-
ton Of the first $4,000 in the profits Of
corporations and partnerships, are al
lowed TO earn per cent per annum on
the capital invested without taxation.
All amounts over that are TO be taxed.
The rate at first is to be s per cent per
annum. But this percentage IS liable
10 be increased next year, and the year
after that until it would not be i'm
probable 10 have business men paying
in one-half of all they make in these
so-called excess profits. This seems 70
be a favorite Democratic method OF
establishing a bag, 70 be filled by the
competent people Of the country only.
and 70 which q greedy, tax-consuming
Congress may 60 for a larger and
larger amount OF plunder. From this
hold-up the agricultural classes are ez-
empted also the professional classes.
Labor, of course, IS exempt. ;.
Bache & Co.
..:.r An ,ho railuays "a