Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-07-16
MOVES TO SUSPEND
new COAL RATE
win Oppose Increase Granted
Southern Roads Hauling
Into Capital.

The struggle between the Pennsyl-
vania and Maryland coal producers, on
the one hand, and those of the New
River fields of Virginia. West Virginia
and Kentucky. on the other, for places
Of vantage in the Washington market
took on added strength today, with the
Federal Government prepared to throw
It's strength to the Southern operators
In protest against the Chesapeake &
Ohio, the Norfolk & Western and the
Virginia Railroads, which haul New
River coal to the Capital, granted an
increase in rates from $2.S4 per ton to
$S.IS per ton. effective August 10. w. H,
Cuigg, acting co-ordinator for trafac,
arranged today to file brief tomorrow
with the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion requesting suspension of the new
rate.
Denies Higher Living Costs.
While various commercial groups in
Washington and the Southern operators
prepared to file protests against the
rate increase with the commission
Charles O'Neili. secretary of the Central
PENNSYLVANIA Coal Producers AsSocia-
ton. sent kilograms from Altoona. Pa,
yesterday 20 various civic organizations
denying that the coal freight rate
changes will mean added living costs
In the Capital
The pennsylyania coal operators In
sist that "a proper comparative rate
from the South would be $3.47 per ton, !"
instead of the proposed $3iS per ton.
In the O'Neill telegram, the Northern
operators charged that "the efforts of
the West Virginia coal operators to hold,
and to further extend. an unfair adj
vantage in freight rates having failed,
they now seek to have Washington
business interests come to their aid
Points to Saving.
Mr.. ONeiil denied that coal freight
rate changes viii mean higher gas light
rates and higher apartment house
rentals in Washington, the Pennsyl-
vania coal operators insisting that
Washington coal users can save Is cents
per ton now and win be able to save -
cents per ton by purchasing Northern
coal, from Pennsylvania and Maryland
fields. when the new rates are effective
August 10.
Another telegram was sent by Mr..
OMEN to George S. Pope, engineer of
the United States Government fuel
yards. yesterday and reads as follows:
I'VE protest contemplated action by
Government fuel yards, as reported in
press. in Washington freight rate mat
ter. Request answer to my recent let
ter and courtesy of a meeting before
partisan action Is taken by Government
In contest between citizens and tax
payers"
Mr.. Pope explained today that this
was q matter for the Federal Traf1ic
Board, as 1t concerns freight rates,
pointing out that he was standing on
the ontSide."
Operators Position.
Mr. ONeill, on behalf of the Pennsyl-
vania coal producers, sent this telegram
70 various civic organizations in the
city. setting forth their position in the
controversy:
pennsylvania and Maryland coal
operators deny that coal freight rate
changes being put into effect VIII mean
higher gas light rates and higher apart
nent house rentals. The fact is that
reduction in coal rates from mines in
Pennsylvania and Maryland has been
c0n0Nnaed by the Interstate Commerce
Commission and has been In effect since
Junee5. Prior to that date the rate
from the Northern mines was $2E4 per
ton. The present rate as prescribed BE-
the commission is $2.71 per ton, a re-
ductien OF Is cents per ton. Washing
ton users Of coal can save Is cents per
ton "a their coal purchases by buying
from the Northern mines today, and
when the rates are all in effect they viii
be able to save A cents per ton by
doing business In the Northern fields
The Goals Of Pennsylvania and
Maryland are the same In character
and quality as the Goals produced In
southern West Virginia The Northern
mines produce the highest grades of
coal md are equipped to furnish the
coal I'd ample quantities and in any size
the user wishes and at as low price
where.
I'VE believe that you are being misin-
formed as to the real situation. The
efforts Of West Virginia coal operators
70 h0ld and to further extend an I'm
fair advantage in freight rates having
failed. they now seek to have Washing
ton Business interests come to their aid
Rates Are Cited.
The contest between Northern and
Southern coal operators over Washing
past I'VE years The readjustment Of the
rates now going into effect result from
two recent decisions of the Interstate
Commerce Commission. Prior to these
decisions the rate from Northern and
Southern districts was the same, $2.8z
ton. The new and proposed adjust
ment gives rate from the nearest coal
field to Washington, 200 miles. S2.71, and
q rate from the Southern fields, 4i2 miles
distant. 1871 per ton. Northern oper.
at0rs contend that proper comparative
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