Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-15
BUILDING ACTIVITY HOLDS IN
ALL OF new ENGLAND STATES
POINTS OUT few
THINGS GOV. PINCHOT
HAS OVERLOOKED

Boston, Nov. 14-Governor Cham
ming H. Cox in statement made to-
night relative to the conference call
cd by Governor Pinchot of Pennsyl-
vania to consider the anthracite sit
uation said that the remedy for pres
emit injustice seems to be wholly
within the control of the state Of
pennsylvania. The massachusetts
governor suggested that Governor
Pinchot ought to lay his plan before
PRESIDENT Coolidge inasmuch as the
pennsylvania chief executive had
been quoted as having said that JUS
tlce to the consumers must be reach
ed mainly by national action.
In his statement Governor Cox
said that although he had read in the
newspapers that Governor Pinchot
had invited the governors of 80
states to come to a conference in
Harrisburg he had as yet received
no invitation and added that he
could not believe that he invited
the governors of 90 states. as there
are only eleven states which con-
sumo anthracite coal in any amount"
IF Governor Pinchot is earnest in
his desire to have the help of other
governors in remedying conditions, |
am surprised that instead of telling
the newspapers what he was going
to do, he did not submit to each of
us his proposed plan of action so
that we could give it quiet and inn
partial consideration, the statement
said. Il am further surprised if he
has come to the conclusion that fed
eral action alone is necessary, that
he has not taken the matter up with
President Coolidge who is soon to
address congress-.
Our Massachusetts fuel adminis-
traitor has been studying the anthra-
cite question carefully for years and
the remedy for present injustice
seems to be wholly within the con-
troll of the state of PENNSYLVANIA.
Practically all of the anthracite coal
is located in Pennsylvania and that
state has a complete monopoly. l
agree with Governor Pinchot when
he says I'VE do not have to prove
the existence of abuse in the anthra-
cite industry or of crying injustice
tn the consumer in extortionate pri-
ces. They are matters of common
knowledge. If Governor Pinchot de-
sires to deal effectively with the
situation | should like to see him
lead the Pennsylvania legislature in
doing three things:
Repeal the unjust tax levied by
Pennsylvania upon every shovelful
of anthracite which we burn; re-
peal Pennsylvania's restrictive legis-
lation as to employment in mines
and thus help increase the volume of
production: and let Pennsylvania fix
definite standard of quality and
size of anthracite coal so that the
consuming public may be protected
and when it pays good money fer
coal receive something that can be
burned
"Of course if Governor Pinchots
conference gives promise of any con-
structive relief ] shall try to attend
or be represented, but if he is quoted
correctly that Justice to the great
body of anthracite consumers must
be reached mainly by national action,
it seems to me that he ought to lay
his plan before President Coolidge,
who. | am certain. would like his CO.
operation. The truth is Governor
Pinchot by action in his own state
can remedy evils of which we have
just cause for complaint"