Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-23
FEDERAL AID TO CONSUMERS

Within limits the mail order
house, favored by parcel-post rates.
exerts an influence in restraining the
prices of the local dealers. Without
the Government aid in cheap postal
facilities it would be unable to do
this. Why accord these concerns
privileges not generally granted?
Something like this Is suggested
by the needs of coal consumers here
in New England. All will agree
that the Federal Governments aid
should not be given to fasten
Pennsylvania's coal monopoly on
New Englanders. Indeed. may not a
reasonable way be found whereby
the Government may properly afford
us a chance at a fair market? That
question Is being asked of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission.
The petition that has been pre-
scented to the Commission lis briefly
to the effect that our health, safety
and welfare required that the joint
rates and through routes on low
volatile coal from the Virginia and
West Virginia fields, which We're
temporarily ordered by you last win
ter, be made permanent and that the
run-of-mine size be included with
the prepared sizes of coal for house.
hold use. The introduction last VIM
ter of q new competitor, producing
an excellent fuel into markets that
had been enjoyed almost exclusively
by Pennsylvania interests brought
N q faItiaI hpnnfif, 20
Energetic competition for part of the
enormous sum spent annually by
New England householders for fuel
should be stimulated rather than
stltled by public authorities.
1T appears that some of the
Pennsylvania railroad companies,
coal producing associations and
others in that State are protesting
against the continuance of these
rates and routes to New England
Whatever may be the cause of the
opposition, if their endeavors are
successful the result will be to re-
strict the supply of domestic fuel
for New England householders. 1t
is submitted that the people of New
England have a right to purchase a
commodity as necessary for their
existence as domestic fuel from any
source Of supply able to compete in
this market, and that it is the duty
of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to enforce this right by pre-
venting unjust and discriminatory
combination rates.
The joint-through rates establish
ed by your commission last winter
on the movement of West Virginia
coal to New Haven points is S110
above the so-called Clearfield rates
from Pennsylvania and $1.35 a ton
above the Clearfield rates on Boston
| d Maine points; in the case of Bos-
ton and other points with water
| compelled rates, the differential in
favor of Pennsylvania producers is
even greater than $1.35 a ton. If
| the coal producers of Pennsylvania
are unable to compete in this market
where they enjoy preference of
! from $1.10 to $1.35 or more per ton
on coal, it is respectfully submitted
! that New England should not be re-
| quired to support such an industry.
During household fuel emerg-
| encies prior to that of last winter,
| New England was obliged to draw
upon the bituminous mines in
| Pennsylvania or on foreign sources
| for its supply of domestic fuel in
| order to survive the rigors of winter
! In such periods of emergency we
| have been largely dependent upon
| Pennsylvania bituminous coal and
| prices have been unjustly and ex-
| cessively increased, while some of
! the coal supplied has been entirely
unsuitable for domestic use"
| Possibly this is not all that might
be obtained in the way of relief. In
! course of an interesting and at times
! amusing debate in Congress over the
subject of coal legislation, a sugges-
ton appearing to receive some favor
was that of Representative Wynant
! to license the retailer and take his
| license away should he practice ea-
tortion. This is getting back to the
| public's power to interfere.
| In the last resort it will be up to
! the consumer. Possibly the commits
| sion which fixes the freight rates
can adjust matters more equitably
Perhaps Congress can help a little
| but what will most efficiently help
curb the Pennsylvania coal mon
| opoly. we believe, will be intelligent
! preparation and unalterable resolu-
| ton to demand equitable freights,
| honest dealers and substitutes to re-
| place the coal. For one thing we
i should not forget the dealers in low
! volatile coal from West Virginia,
who came to our relief a few weeks
ago.