New-York tribune., 1918-01-20
Distribution Wholly
A Railroad Problem

The distribution of this coal its rout-
ing over this line or that, represents a
growth of years. 1t was almost wholly
railroad problem, and the hauage of
lhls coal at low rates has always been
the traffic managers chief concern. 1t
IS no mere question of brute haulage.
but highly complicated system for
supplying the varying and special needs
OF an the different communities. One
VIII need the low volatile Goals of
pennsylvania or West Virginia. and
often pay high prices for their trans
port long distances, while others can
put up with the cheaper grade, which
Tor physical as we'll as commercial rea-
sons cannot be carried any such dis
lance. You might say that this whole
dlstrlbutlng system represented u series
OF cogs and pulleys, certainly as COM
pllcated as modern automobile fac
TORY, and almost as delicate, in some
ways, as the mechanism of a watch.
Now 1T would seem as If no sane man
would dream of assuming autocratic
powers OF direction over such deli
cate mechanism and one so vital to the
nations life without lifelong expert
ence both with actual coal production
and coal distribution. Equipped with
a perfect and 100 per cent ignorance of
the whole subject, DR.. Harry A. Garfield
was Wiling to undertake this fateful
task, and President Wilson was will
ing to back him in this preposterous
attempt.
1t is said now in Washington that
DR.. Garfield regards himself as "the
most maligned nan in the land": and
wonders why. 1T is only fair to saw
that the blame is not wholly his. In
some measure he has been the goat
OF the rash and semi-socialistic policies
folsted upon The country by the radical
clement of the Administration.
The initiation Of the catastronhe Law
m the prevalence Of the belief in
Washington that it would be possible
TO increase production by violent re-
Uuction IN the price. Everybody in
Washington and out. save the devoted
band OF followers of this fatuous be-
lief knew that the great need of the ma
ton all last year, and for this wear
was more coal. Because it takes time
ana huge expenditure of capital. for
machinery, for electric systems for
underground operation and transport.
70 develop moocrn coal mine of large
output, the coal industry had been slow
IN responding to the tremendous stimu-
lus Of the war IN Europe. 1t was lust
getting astride when Secretary Baker
threw monkey wrench into the ma
chime. Price fixing and Dr.. Garfield
did the rest
Because it was found that large
mines, with broad seams could make a
large profit on a two dollar base price
it was assumed that anything over this
was simple robbery, as if in everv in
custry, from farming up or down. there
are not always some producers able to
mako large profits at price which
means starvation to n multitude of
others. For this very reason. and to
meet this very fact was the excess
profits tax adopted in England and
other countries of Europe and law for
TINS same purpose was even then be-
ing enacted by Congress-
There was no limit to which this
law might so save that of economic
prudence and effective operation. II
could have taker so per cent. or. if
there was need, 100 per cent, of the
ccal miners profits beyond any e,ven
point. 1t could be so formulated as tn
take away any incentive to raise tho /
price of coal or any other product be-
yond certain limit This was and is
the scientific method Of price fixing.
But the fatal order was signed fly