Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-08-23
Coal Substitutes and Profteering.

The government is taking steps to
provide fuel substitutes for anthra-
cite in the case of a shutdown of the
hard-coal mines. If suffering is TO be
prevented this winter, with coal
strike in effect, the government also
must undertake to see that the prices
Of the substitute fuel shall be within
the reach of the public. OF what use
is a supply of fuel to the poor if the
poor cannot purchase it?
Reports from New York show that
pleas are being made to Gov. Smith
for emergency legislation similar TO
that of last winter to protect the citi-
Zens Of the state against profiteerng
and TO provide for an equitable dis.
tribution of coal. Rituminous coal
and coke will be the substitutes used
for anthracite this winter, in the event
IF a strike, together with fuel oil. OF
which there is an excess supply on
hand at present. The bituminous pro-
Gucers may have an opportunity to
reach out and take permanently part
Of the anthracite market. II would
appear, therefore, that these pro-
Gucers would wisely insist upon rea-
sonable prices TO the consumers of
the substitute fuel. prices that would
attract when compared to prices that
have been paid for anthracite.
On the other hand, with the anthra-
cite supply curtailed, some of the
1 hit inc hair
opportunity TO squeeze the last dollar
out of the public; TO make a big clean.
tup. It is against such producers and
against some profiteering dealers that
the public must be guarded If the
government can bring about a plenti
full supply of the substitute fuel, then
the ordinary law OF supply and de-
mand may be sufficient 10 meet the
situation
Handling the profteer has been a
difficult task. The public has been
feeced many times. The great diff
Guilty has been to obtain all the facts
lin the cases presented. The recon-
nendation of the United States Coal
Commission that legislation be en-
acted providing for the fullest pub
Ecity in connection with the coal in
dustry is regarded as a valuable meas.
urc TO prevent Gouging. But these
recommendations of the commission
cannot be carried out until Congress
meets.
The anthracite operators in their
controversy with the mine workers
have insisted that an increase of the
wages paid the miners must be passed
along to the public in increased prices
Of coal. With the present high prices
Of coal such a statement can be re-
carded as a bid for public sentiment
against the miners. They have also
.said that they are willing to submit
the wage question to arbitration. But
they have said nothing about being
willing to submit the prices of coal
TO arbitration. They are willing to
submit to arbitration the price Of
labor, but how about the price of
coal? The miners product is labor,
and naturally he may have the same
desire not to arbtrate in regard to
the price he receives for it that the
operators may have not to arbitrate
the price of coal.
In informed quarters it is said that
the mine operators are not candid in
their statement that any increase in
wages must be passed along to the
public. A margin of increase may he
found which will not necessitate an
increase in price. TO the coal con-
sumner, and at the same time might
well prevent a shutdown Of the mines.