The Penn's Grove record., 1923-10-05
Boost in Valuation

sets. Maine, New Hampshire, Yer
mont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and
Delaware feel that Pennsylvania has
been unneighborly in adding 80 cents
a ton to the mine price of coal for the
expenses of the Pennsylvania state
government. Governor Silzer cites
the fact that last year the people Of
these anthracite using states paid
nearly S4.O00000 because of this ac
ton by Pennsylvania, and the New
Jersey executive suggests that if
Pennsylvania will remove this tax it
will equalize the so cents added to the
cost of each ton by the strike settle
ment
Governors Statement
MY Dear Governor have your let
ter of September 10 and am glad to
know that the coal strike has been
settled and that we are not to suffer
from a coal shortage.
q am also happy to know that you
ere giving the coal question publicity.
Nothing will solve it so quickly as
at is unfortunate that all these
strikes and strike settlements end one
way. They always finish by raising
the price of coal and by adding to the
burdens of the consumer. Since the
strike settlement added 60 cents to
the cost of each ton of coal. you are
to be commended for your efforts to
see that this does not reach the con-
sumer. | sincerely hope you will sue
ceed It has never happened before
the consumer has always had to pay.
1T is quite clear to everyone that
bere must be a stop to this continual
Increase in the price of coal, and 1t
mist be permanent, not temporary.
You have we'll sad it is primarily a
Federal question to be dealt with by
the national government. The Fed
eral Government has the power. 1t
can find out the facts, and it can apply
the remedy. Why it has not done so
do not know.
1.-THE national government and the
to Of Pennsylvania can prevent this
gouging of the consumer If they will
act. II you will continue to prod the
rational administration perhaps we
will get results. You cannot be
charged with doing it for partisan pur-
poses
PENNSYLVANIA has the anthracite
coal, and the national government and
PENNSYLVANIA together can control pro-
dLction, distribution and price. Will
they do it?
Frankly, too. think there is an
other matter you ought to know about.
New York, New Jersey, Massachu-
setts. Maine, New Hampshire, Yer
mont, Rhode Island, Connecticut and
Delaware all feel that Pennsylvania
has not been a good neighbor and that
Ii has treated them unjustly. In 1871
Pennsylvania imposed a tax Of w per
cent on coal and openly admitted that
It's purpose was to make the coal con-
sumers of these states pay the run
ming expenses of Pennsylvania.
Tax of so Cents Ton
"At price of 50 ton this tax
would be 1872 cents a ton. But what
did you do to your neighbors? The
Pennsylvania Fuel Commission ruled
that 80 cents a ton be added to the
mine price on account of the state tax
and expenses incidental
Every time anything is done some
- ssizes the opportunity to add a
Gttle more. The people of New YORK
New Jersey, Massachusetts,, Maine,
New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode IS
land Connecticut and Delaware pald
last year nearly S4,OOO,OOO on account
Of Pennsylvania action. This they
should not have had to pay.
IF you take off this tax it will prac-
tically equalize the 60 cents added oy
the strike settlement. We will hoid
the dealers down if Pennsylvania and
the Federal Government will do their
full duty, having in mind, however
that the added so cents came from the
settlement and not from the dealers.
q feel sure that at the coming ses-
son of our legislature we shall protect
ourselves. as suggested in your letter
We have had legislative committee
look into the facts, and at the last ses-
sion recommended remedial leglsla'
ton, which failed of passage. Tne
coming session will bring different re-
suits.
New Jersey will be glad to do any.
thing it can to aid in the solution OF
his pressing problem. We are wiling
IL help our neigh bors as well as our
selves.
with kind personal regards | am
yours very sincerely,
GEORGE S. SILZER. Governor"
nnn.t nc afraid what "neopIe vii