The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-09-18

pOliOy III ldTSc u6BTe6 against lnOSt fulilC operators who produce domestic coal. This policy is perhaps the natural policy to adopt from the point of view of winning the strike, but it exhibits a singular lack of regard for the public health ana com fort The responsibility for this situation lis shared by brokers and dealers insofar as their contracts with the operators have given them exceptions to the rule. The commission is convinced that there exist individual instances of fine human sym pathy and a reasonably righteous regard for the public welfare. These men will have their reward.
 SATISFACTORY OUTPUT
 Figures submitted by the operators covering the production of coal for the first eight months of the current year in dicate satisfactory output under the ex- isting circumstances. It is claimed rnas during this period the production or coal in the Alabama field has been substan- tially~ equivalent to the production cover ing the same period of 1919. Such snow ing makes it difficult to understand the present status of the coal market anu the constantly soaring prices.
 Some of the operators in Alabama have contracts with the railroads that absorb their fufll production. Some oi the industries of the district operate their own mines and consume thelr complete production. They are not en- gagged In commercial mining. Any fail ure pn their part to produce norma output cannot, therefore, affect the public supply. Quite number or op- orators make it policy to contract either with the railroads or with in- dustrial plants for considerable Der centage of their output. Operators who produce domestic coal not infrequently contract with dealers or brokers for the distribution of their entire output in a more or less fixed territory. The situation is that, owing to the present restricted supply and to the un- restricted demand, prices have in many instances gone beyond all reason. We regret to add that some of the opera tors who have contracts at a price lower than the present market are evil dently withholding shipments due un- der their contracts, using the excuse of car shortage. Meantime they find cars for other shipments and are mar keting coal at the higher price level. This policy has been adopted without regard to existing contracts with view to participating in the more or less general orgy of profit-taking. The net result is that the public pays the freight.
 CAR SHORTAGE
 Reference has been made to car shortage. This has been at times more or less acute. Prompt effort ought to be made to correct this shortage wherever it exists. At the same time the commission emphasizes and de- plores the fact that in many instances advantage is being taken of this situa- ton to create unfair market conditions and contractual relations that need i'm m ediate and radfca1 correctiOn
 from car shortage and labor condi- tions, that have contributed to the shortage of coal in Alabama. For ex- ample: The action of the interstate commerce commission in placing an embargo on shipments to Atlantic ports for export and bunker purposes without permit directed the atten- tion of dealers who had been accus- toned to secure their supply above certain latitude north of the southern districts, to the Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky fields. Through their representatives they have been bidding up prices of available coal. This policy has resulted not merely in advancing prices but it has induced operators to dispose of their available supplies and in some instances to divert their avail able supplies from the usual channels. Naturally such procedure has resulted in depriving the state of it's usual pro- portionate supply of coal from the Ala abama field. This unusual situation ought in some way to be met. Just how far the supply of coal absorbed by the railroads, as compared with normal conditions is z rendering the situation more acute the commission is, for the moment unable to report
 It has been well established that there are individual instances of sheer profiteering in the coal industry. The public is the victim. This phase of the situation ought to be promptly and thoroughly investigated by the proper authorities. We are convinced that the spread between the mine and the cellar is in general far too great.
 Alabama is richly endowed with nat ural resources. This endowment, how ever. will Navail us little unless these natural resources are rightly used It is the duty of the state to understand it's industries. to deal with them in telligently and fairly. and to adop' such measures as will guarantee their real value and their right develop ment in the interest of the public.
 ABUSES TO CORRECT
 That is the outstanding problem. There are beyond question abuses to
 
 that the leaders of labor and the lead tion of American manhod. Neither are lily white. neither are jet black. They are engaged in an economic struggle in which the public's interest frequent. ly sufferers; and it. therefore, behooves the public to revise the rules under which the contest takes place."
 Capital must be fair to labor. That means an adequate wage. proper liv- -irg conditions and reasonable working hours. Labor must be fair to capital That means an honorable observance of labor contracts, efficient and faith ful service and repudiation of attempts to wrest control of industry from its owners Both capital and labor must be fair to the public upon which they depend for their prosperity and right to do business. Men debate the right of capital to organize and the right of labor to organize. That Is rather common topic of conversation. Few will question that right. But what of the right of the public to organize? We shall inevitably pay more atten- tion to this phase of the situation in the days to come unless we are stupidly blind.
 The public can organize itsef only through legislation. Legislation is, therefore, essential if the public would protect itself in the fierce struggle between capital and labor, whose chief, and, at times, only concern is to pro- tect selfish interests, leaving out of considera ton the mass Of people who make possible any kind of reward to either party in the never-ending con-