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THE COAL TRADE BULLETIN. 39
to roads and others was to go to pensioning aged that all people would have to pay, and necessarily
and inflrm men that had been employed in the the consumers would have to pay it, or, at least,
business," replied Mr. Kerr. "But that is delu­ it would seem as though it would come from them.
sive and I think they did that in the hope of But in this instance it comes off us direct and
getting the labor employed in it to indorse the must affect labor as well as the capital employed
measure. It has been the opinion of prominent in it. There can be no other solution of it. Now,
people in this state that no such legislation has don't let us put ourselves in a noose here by au­
been contemplated seriously; that it is one of thorizing any such legislation and it will do no
the many kinds of legislation that is advanced at harm to hold it up until a more careful investiga­
Harrisburg with a view of dragging financial help tion can be had as to how it can be met. We are
from those interests affected, and it has been a of one opinion—I have talked to a number of these
common species of graft in the history of our gentlemen this morning—about it, that it is a
state, unfortunately, and many have taken this serious matter to us and affects us all. Now, I
view of it. But in the last couple of days some viewed this from our own standpoint as the Cen­
have taken a more serious view. Now, there can tral Pennsylvania district only. The other dis­
be no doubt, if we are going to tax a ton of coal tricts of the state that are in competition with
after it is produced by this special tax of 3 cents other fields, such as the Pittsburgh district, would
a ton, we are indirectly, if not directly, taxing the lie met with the Western states not having such
results of labor in the production of that ton of a tax. It would appeal to them just as forcibly
coal. Labor must pay it—at least, the greater and I know they are very much agitated about it.
portion of it. A large proportion of the cost of I hope all of us will be at least on common ground
a ton of coal is labor; a large proportion of the in a law of this kind that affects us."
value of a ton of coal after it is on the cars is Secretary-Treasurer William B. Wilson, of the
labor, and if a special tax of 3 cents a ton can be I'nited Mine Workers said:
put upon bituminous coal we are placed at that "Mr. Chairman: We agree with you in the
much greater disadvantage with reference to the three statements you make in opposition to the
fields in West Virginia and South of us that we measure now pending before the legislature. We
are now most seriously complaining of as competi­ believe it would he an additional burden on the
tors."
results of labor, that it would add to the difficul­
"What do you suggest as a remedy?" asked Mr. ties in the production of coal in competition with
Wilson.
Southern fields, and that the weight of the tax
"I was going to say that, if we have the right must necessarily in the end be borne by the miners
view of this matter, if we are not mistaken as of the state. There are additional reasons, how­
to our position, if we know anything about our ever, that we think ought to be assigned and I
business situation at all, we ought to all join in would therefore move you that a committee of two,
a common voice to the legislature to hesitate in one operator and one miner, be appointed to draft
the passage of any such measure. Now, I will a resolution on this subject in opposition to the
agree that, if our business was a monopoly, as present measure and to report back to the confer­
some other lines of industry in the state of Pennence as soon as possible."
sylvania are, the burden might be put upon those The chairman, Mr. Kerr, appointed W. A. Lath­
outside of our state, or within it, for that matter, rop for the operators, and Mr. Wilson for the
who were the consumers of our product. But the miners, and together they prepared this resolution,
bituminous coal business is a very diversified in­ which represents the sentiments of both sides:
dustry. It is too widespread, too general, and Resolved, That the miners and operators of
any special tax upon it in the state of Pennsyl­ bituminous coal in the Central Pennsylvania disvania
that is not enjoyed in other states is to the trict of Pennsylvania, in which there are employed
disadvantage of not only the labor that is em­ 55,000 men and a production of 29,000,000 tons,
ployed in this state in that business, but the capi­ view with alarm the proposed tax of 3 cents per
tal as well. Surely, gentlemen, if we are sane ton now contemplated by the legislature at Har­
men, having the best interests of those employed, risburg, as a new and additional burden on the
whether capital or labor, in the production of coal results of labor. The bill now under considera­
in this state, we must recognize that it is against tion by the legislature, if it should become a law,
our interests to have this special burden put upon will add to the difficulties in the production of
us at this time. I could readily understand, if coal in competition with the Southern fields that
congress should adopt a law putting a tax of 3 do not have such a tax.
cents upon bituminous coal, we all would have
to pay it, that it would be no special hardship
In order to meet commercial conditions the
weight of this tax must necessarily be borne by the
and might not reach labor or capital employed in labor engaged therein.
it seriously. It would then be a horizontal charge We insist, therefore, that the labor and capital