The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-15
Britain Takes Steps Toward
Matchmaking Her Coal Mines


About $40 years ago the sixth, Edward was King Of
England BE sicly boy. One of his courtiers was
Sir William Herbert. Sir William raised an army which
put down rebellion, and the young King duly grateful
There versions as to how this ancient queer of
social unrest rewarded.
One says the boy King gave him great grant of land
The holding remains the possession of his living descend
ant Lord Butte and consists of $50 acres of which
1873 acres bear coal
The other and less charitable version says that Sir vii
liam Herbert procured the Kings signature to the grant by
trick the King not knowing what he signed Later, as
executor Of King Henry VIII, Sir William produced the
paper and validated it.
It is not especially important today which of these
versions you accept The important thing is that for more
than three centuries the heirs this strong defender
Of royalty have taken toll the coal dug from these lands
the gift Of scy boy who if he read the paper ere
he signed it, certainly did not foresee the extent of his
lagesse extracted from the people of England because of
this grant during the intervening years.
The of the royalties high into the millions of
dollars With other income from that royal grant of the
scy boy King given $40 years ago. they make the present
holder Of the estate Of the richest peers of England and
Of the economically powerful rulers of the earth
This typical instance of the working Of British feuda
ism is of the why the Sankey Commission
named by Lloyd George to investigate Brtains mining
problem has just recommended that the government acquire
owners to receive ''just compensation
Of course other reasons entered into this radical
mendaonthe demand of the mine workers for better iv
ing and working conditions including profit sharing and
voice In the management the demand of for coal
ct cost exclusive of much tribute vested privilege and
the general feeling that the basis of property distribution
accepted by society three centuries ago does
deserve to be continued forever.
Now will arise the question what is just compensa-
on to present oWners?" and around that British politics
may witness interesting fights
While the sankey Commission was investigating, it
quzzed Of these feudal land and developed
that they quite satisfied with the present system
Lord Durham of 12,411 acres of coal land and
recipient Of $175OOO year royalties Intercepted by
Mr.. Balfour
Question: If the state takes over royalties
or any property, it should pay compensation
A Certainly
60 If rights of property are not respected in
this country, the whole credit of the country would
be wrong? A. There would be state of chaos
90 People would not trade with this countryf
A. No"
Even more pointed was the testimony of the Duke of
Northumberland of 25OO acres of proved mineral
rights and recipient $4,000 in coal royalties last
year Replying to questions by Robert Smile, he said:
81 shall do my utmost in the House of Lords
and in the country in trying organize opposition
to any scheme of naturalization.
go. Would you do than cast your votef
A. Certainly. I should do my utmost.
90. What particular service do you perform
for the community a coal owner? A As an
owner of COAL do not perform any service for the
community"
It. therefore is not surprising that the members the
commission representing the of coal lands agreed
that ANY form Of naturalization would be detrimental to
development of the industry and the economic life the
country"
On the other hand the miners representatives on the
commission equally firm for naturalization and against
compensation apart from allowances where small ROYALTY
would be deprived Of their ivehOods They would
concede something here not principle, but in mercy
So thus is big and interesting issue Joined; an
issue wise Americans will follow closely.
We, too, have coal problem, with many identical
features.
Our coal owners take toll on bounty of nature and
On other mems toll
And Of coal paying more for it than it is