New-York tribune., 1919-07-14
''Times'' Says That the Gov
ernment Has Deliberately
Created the Suspicion
Of Political Prohteering
ALI Industries Protest
Labor Charges Move Is an
Attempt TO Sour Public
Taste for Naturalization
NeD l'o,h Tribune

LONRON, jury IL. ne govern
ment's White Paper justifylng the six
shilling increase in the price of coal
has failed to satisfy the press The
Tines declares "the government has
deliberately incurred the suspicion that
it may not be above political protitecr-
! ing"
The Daily Express" says "the gov
ernmcut has decided that the price
must 20 up. but it now develops that
/ the original estimates are all wrong.
The first thing TO be done is for Lloyd
| George to come back to London and
face a crisis that contains almost un-
! precedonted peril"
A report from Wales says the Pre-
miel's health is giving "serious con-
Germ" lie is suffering from relapse
following his strenuous work in Paris.
Several Cabinet members are spending
the weekend with him in the hope Of
reaching decision on important state
matters.
"The Westminster Gazette" says:
"The upshot is that the government
and the coal controller suddenly hnd
it necessary TO convict themselves of
gross blundcr. Perhaps this is a
case of blundoring officials being FOR
once anxious to make Il full confession
Of their error but We do not think
that the government viii be greatly
surprised If it arouses suspicious by
these proceedings.
Deliberately Rubbed I'm
Tor the new figures were produced
with d dramatic flourish on the eve of
a by-elcction and garnished with com
ment which rubbed them in 1t is OBJ
viously intended to make our flesh
creep, 10 show the indignant public what
utterly selfish and considerate people
miners arc and to induce indignant
householdcrs especially women to
vote for the government candidate"
LONDON, July l3.- Seldom has any
people received such a swift and vivid
lesson IN practical economies as the
British government has given this ma
ti0r by the notice in the House Of
Commons ON Wednesday that it WAS
raising the price of coal six shilings
per ton from next Wednesday,
The response has been mmodiate
and specific, and comes from almost
every branch OF industry in the king
dom, from s.eel manufacturers. ship
builders. snip owners, railway maN-
ayers gas works and almost all so1tS
Of manufacturcrs and Industries down
to iaundrics and bakeries. They cN-
, plain just what the government order
will cost their concerns and serve
notice, also, that they uust pass the
cost ON to the buyers and consumers.
Handicap in Competition
Great export industries declare tha.
the increase in the price Of coal Will
handicap them in their competition
with other countries and may meas.
IN some Instances, a stoppage Of their
plants and an increase in uncmploY.
ment. The general public is told hoN
much the higher price of coal will in
hate living expenses. The govern
ment apparently meant this 10 he an
object lesson as TO what would result
from the prevalent agitation fo.
higher wages and shorter working
hours.
1t also seems to be trying to throw
cold water on the campaign for the
naturalization of industries by trying
to show that government management
does not mean that wages can be in
creased and prices decreased indei-
nitely. Labor has taken up the
gauntlet Immediately. charging the
/ government with wishing to Kill the
+ plan Of naturalization, and also de-
/ clariNg that the government is favor
/ ing capitalists and misreproscnting
conditions by bungling bookkeeping.
'Proit for All"
The government fixed coal price, af-
ter it took control of the mines at q
rate to permit the weakest mines to
make profit. The strongest mines
made large profits, but so per cent Of
/ these came back through the excess,
I profits tax
The government holds that the In
crease Of six shi!lings was neccssi-
tated by increased wages granted as a
result OF the report Of the commission
headed by Sir John Sankey, and the
falling Off Of production The pres
ent position Of railways and mines is
that there is government control with
/ private ownership.
The question agitatng the country.
/ particularly politicians, is whether
| the government proposes to adopt the
demand of labor unions for national-
zation. Colonel Winston Spencer
Churchill, Secretary for War. told his
/ constituents IN Dundee during an ad-.
( dress in the last election campalpn
that the government had decided to
natlonalize the railways. Conservative
members Of the Lloyd George Coalition
/ Cabinet opposed this bitterly and an
/ pear to have carried the day. Andrew
Bonar Law. government leader in the
House Of Commons, said in the House
on Wednesday,: at is utterly imnos-
slbe that an industry like coal should
be subsidized out OF the taxnavors'
/ pockets"
Sir Eric Opposes Subsidy
Sir Eric Geddes, sneak ng ON the
transport bill, said: THE surest wav
TO national bankruptcy is to 90 on