The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-01-03
COAL MONOPOLY
IS SCORED BY
TREADNhY
State of Pennsylvania Attack
cd for Probing BY Tax
on Anthracite.

~ International News Service.
.'Uncontrolled monopoly was haId
responsible today BY Congressman
Treadway Haspl Of Massachusetts
in q speech in the House for the
present high prices OF anthracite
coal.
'"The fact that, anthracite produc-
ton - . monopoly. uncontrolled and
unregulated. makes II the toy Of
every element in any way connected
with the business" Treadway de-
clared. "The reasons for the In
f1ated prices are the results ct the
combined action on the part OF the
following:
''The land owners. the state l9ws
miners, the transportation companies
and the jobbers. .
Blames People Partly.
Treadway said the American peo-
pie were too willing to accept pre-
yaiIing conditions without inquiring
into their causes"
prices have continued to rise out
Of proportion to the general increase
of costs" he said. These increases
have been gradual and, under com
pulsion. have been observed By the
public. Those responsible Tor the
continued increases have realised
that the public was In their power.
1--WE have been hit gently over
| period Of years in order that W0
could be quietly put to sleep rather
49, kHAENHn A.
q result the public has now reached
the point OF its own comeback and
refuses to longer be inflicted with
the prevailing oppression.
Royalty Put At $50 Tun.
Treadway quoted from the report
Of the United States Coal Commits
sion to show that the Girard estate,
said to be- the largest single owner
In the anthracite fields Of Penngyl-
wanna, had received royalties a. low
az IL cents a ton. that this royalty
rose to IS cents q ton IN 1913, ana
IL now $50 q ton.
'It IL certainly q remarkable
condition" Treadway continued.
whereby tho general public Outaide
Pennsylvania contributes 90 MboEal-
ly to the support Of q great, charity
| and educational trust" said Tread
way. Under the percentages sys-
tenn of royalties, every time the
price OF coal Is raised to the con-
sumner or a change is made IN the
price Of coal ct the mines the royal
charity, profit thereby He called
upon the Girard estate trustees vol
unfairly to reduce the royalties To
the 1913 percentage and escape the
danger OF drastic regulation.
The State tax on anthracite coal,
which Yields Pennsylvania So, OOO,-
600 annually, was condemned by
Treadway.
''rhe famous Pinchot agreement
with the miners resulted In an in
crease Of $500, 900 from this tax to
Pennsylvania" Treadway said. II
am reliably informed that the lower
branch Of the Pennsylvania legiela.
ture passed repeal Of this law but
through the personal influence Of
Governor Pinchot the State Senate
failed to confirm the action ana the
tax remains in force"
inconsistency Cited.
Treadway called attention to the
fact that the Pinchot campaign
committee in 1922 characterised the
State anthracite tax as an 'iniQult-
Gus enactment" and q most un.
justifiable "affliction upon house.
holders" He said Governor PIN
chot had been urged to cali q
special session OF the Pennsylvania
Legislature to repeal the law that
''the State may not suffer the op-
probium Of taking unfair advantage
Of the necessities Of sister Sfates.'
Urging that in settlement Of dis
putes between the operators and
the miners a representative Of the
public should hereafter sit at con.
ferences, Treadway warned OF q
growing sentiment In favor az
Government ownership Of the coal
mines.
mo longer Is maximum profit 20
owners the first consideration, he
said, but rather the maximum SER
vice to the public. II the opara-
tion Of railroads, telephones, water
companies and banks are rightly
regulated by Federal or State aSi-
thOrity much stronger case can
be made for the regulation OF
those engaged In operating coal
mines and selling the products"