The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1923-11-29
SILzER DECLARES
PINCHOT TO BL anne
Jersey Governor Holds PennSyl-
vania and Its Executive Re-
SponSibIe for Conditions.
EXPECTS EARLY PRICE DROP
Say Operators, GousIns Consumers to
Limit, viii Effect Reduction--Asks
Is Pennsylvania Ready to Change
Methods - VIII Attend Farley.

Trenton. = Responsibility for the
present coal situation was today
placed upon Governor Pinehot and
the State OF Pennsylvania by Gov
ernor Silzer OF New Jersey, when the
latter accepted the Pennsylvania exec
utives invitation to attend the con-
ference Of governors of the twenty
nine anthracite-using states at Harris
burg.
Governor Silzer propounded series
of questions to Pinchot designed to
ascertain what Pennsylvania was
ready to do to bring relief to coal con-
sumers. Silzer asserted that New
Jerseys problem was to get the coal
from Pennsylvania in sufficient guam
titles and at reasonable price.
Governor Silzer charged that he had
information to the effect that because
the independent coal operators have
sufficiently gouged coal consumers,
there will be a reduction of the price
of coal during the next month.
Pennsylvania was charged with I'M
justly exacting a dollar ton on coal
through the coal tax and was alleged
to be impeding and limiting fuel pro-
duction
Asks Several Questions
els Pennsylvania ready to repeal
the coal tax, and so relieve the people
of her sister states of an unjust exac-
ton of a dollar TONI" queried Silzer
of Governor Pinchot.
as Pennsylvania ready to repeal the
law which now limits and impedes
production?
is Pennsylvania ready to fix a
standard Of quality and size?
''Is Pennsylvania ready to set up
high class commission, who will see
that the coal industry is regulated in
the interest of the consumers and
thus eliminate the present unfair prac-
tees?
care you ready, as Governor OF
Pennsylvania, to recommend and push
to consummation these measures, in
the same successful manner that you
! did with prohibition and economy at
the last session of your legislature?"
These were the battery of ques-
lions fired at Governor Pinchot by
New Jerseys executive.
"As I wrote you some time ago,
New Jersey can protect herself once
the coal gets here" explained Gov
ernor Silzer. "Our trouble is to get
it here from Pennsylvania in sufficient
quantities and at reasonable prices.
! The real problem must be solved by
| the federal government and the State
of Pennsylvania New Jersey will
back any movement designed to Sc
! cure federal action, so long delayed,
and will be glad to listen to any sug-
gestions that will bring relief. On
the other hand, we also want to hear
from Pennsylvania, and what you are
willing to do there"
Scores Coal Operators
Silzer charged that whenever the
coal operators found 1t profitable, coal
shortages would be the order of the
day, so that, in order to cope with
future conditions, some action should
| be taken now.
az am reliably informed" said Sill
ger, chat within the next month there
will be a reduction of the price OF
coal, due largely to the fact that the
so-called independents have suff1-
GENTLY MIXED the consumer, and that
there will be plenty of coal. This
| should not deter us, however, as the
distressing conditions will recur as
often as it is found profitable"
! Governor Pinchot was told that
since responsibility for the coal sit
uation rests with Pennsylvania and
the federal government, any confer
ence for the relief Of the conditions
should re called jointly by President
Coolidge and Pennsylvania executive.
Governor Silzer's letter to Governor
Pinchot, in part, follows:
81 have your letter Of the 18th in
slant. l am thoroughly in accord with
any movement which has for its pur-
pose the giving of relief to the people
| in the matter of price and the distri-
button of coal
'I am reliably informed that within
| the next month there will be a reduc-
| ton of the price Of coal. due largely
to the fact that the so-called INDIE
pendents' have sufficiently MIXED the
consumer, and that there will be
plenty of coal. This should not deter
us. however, as the distressing condi-
tons will recur as often as 1t Is found
| profitable.
New Jersey will be represented at
the conference, although | believe. as
| have already suggested to the Presi-
dent. that such a conference should
be called by him and you, as the re-
sponsibility rests upon the federal
government and the State of Pennsyi-
vania, Through these agencies alone
ran the consumers Of coal be pro-
tected.
1T is particularly gratifying that
the governor of the only anthracite
producing state Is taking an active in
| terest in this most important subject.