The Washington times., 1924-03-01
CHARGE IS
MADE To
Ice.
West Virginia Operators Say
Rates on SmokeIess Are
Prohibitive.
BY GLADSTONE WILLIAMS
Cosmopolitan News Service.


the Interstate Commerce Commsi-
sion today that a powerful group
OF railroads, dominating the pro-
duction Of anthracite in Pennsyl-
vania, are maintaining a system
Of excessive freight rates abso-
lutely barring from the New
York, New England, and other
hard coal burning territory coal
produced in West Virginia which
may be used as a substitute for
anthracite.
Probe Is Started.
Following the report Of the United
States Coal Commission. the Inter-
state Commerce Commission has
started upon an independent investi-
cation of rail rates on coal to the
anthracite consuming area. The
Coal Commission recommended that
the people of the New England and
Middle Atlantic States relieve them
selves from their dependence on
anthracite for household fuel through
greater use of suitable substitutes.
This recommendation was backed
up by petitions from authorities Of
New England States, particularly
Massachusetts and Connecticut, urg-
ing that reasonable joint rates be
established on coal from the smoke
less mines in southern West Vir-
ginta to all points in the New Eng
land territory in order that they
may have an additional supply Of
substitute coal for overcoming fuel
Shorta ges and breaking the anthra-
cite )nopoly Of the household fuel
market.
Producers Make Charge.
West Virginia producers of smoke
less coal have now Joined in the
proceedings with the charge that
they are absolutely prohibited from
competing with anthracite producers
because of eXorbitant freight rates
maintained by a powerful group of
railroads interested in the anthra-
cite fields.
C. c. Morfit,. secretary of the
Tug River Coal Operators Associa-
ton, composed of West Virginia
Smokeless coal producers, is here
today prepared to lay before the
commission evidence to show that
discrimination exists in favor Of
anthracite producers.
Representatives Of the New
England States" said Mr.. Morfit,
"have explained to the commission
In great detail that manufacturing
in Massachusetts was Frustrated
during periods Of fuel shortage
through absence of skilled work
men who were engaged in seeking
supplies of household fuel and
through absence of workmen due
to illness attributable to insufficient
supplies of household fuel.
Rates Are Different.
Nevertheless, our substitute coal
cannot come in competition with
anthracite because of the unreason.
able freight rates."
AS an example of the alleged
discrimination, Secretary Morfit
cited the difference in freight rates
on two kinds of West Virginia
coal shipped to New England.
1--WE produce in the State two
kinds of COAL" he said. Zone kind,
the smokeless variety, is suitable
substitute for anthracite and there
fore completes with anthracite. The
other kind offers no competition
to anthracite. Both producing dis.
tricts are approximately the same
distance from Boston. NotWith.
standing this the railroads interest
ed in anthracite established rates
on our competing coal which were
considerably greater than those on
non-competing coal. That was
some time ago, but the rates have
been maintained.
Tariff Nearly Double.
Last November all rail rates on
competing coal were 1925 per ton
to Boston, a rate which would eff.
competing coal were only $4.62 q
ton to Boston.
1.-THE undisputed testimony of
the several producers Of substitute
coal in southern West Virginia Is
that their coal has been barred out
Of the domestic fuel market OF
twelve northeastern States by ex
cessive freight rates."
Secretary Morfit said smokeles.
coal producers of his State were
able to increase their production
approximately so per cent, If per
mitted to go into the New England
market through reduction ir
rates. This would eliminate further
fuel shortage, he said, and would
guarantee the people OF the section
an ample supply.
"Officials of some Of the powerful
railroads interested in the anthra
cite fields Of Pennsylvania have
protested before the commission
against any revision Of rates, hav
ing In mind the protection of their
present monopoly. Even the
Norfolk & Western railroad, which
serves the smokeless fields. has op
posed granting a reasonable rate
But 1t is shown in Poor's Manual
Of Railroads, 1923 edition, that the
Pennsylvania railroad, which is one
OF the companies interested ir
anthracite production, owns nearly
one-third Of the preferred and com
mon stock Of the Norfolk and
Western.
Blames Pennsylvania Road.
"The foundation for the present
Stonewall barrier Of freight rates
viii be found in the time when
Alexander J. Cassatt was president
Of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com
pony. At that time the Northern
roads found 1t to their interest tC
bar further encroachment Of the
southern West Virginia coal fields
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