The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-04-20

'.Gentlemen: Sometime ago I ascertained
that one =. w. Petran: 45 Third avenue avenue,
Company in Minneapolis. gave them no
tice that he was not subscriber to this
/ few days I have been informed that he has
been getting more or less coal from your
firm. viii you please investigate the matter
bureau or shut his supply Of coal Of. Yours
respectfully John J. Rhodes =
The committee found that Mr.. Petran
promptly became a subscriber.
Retailers Not 20 Blame.
From the facts given you. you will OBJ
serve that the retailer has no voice what
ever in making the monthly schedule OF
strictest accountability for even the slight
est departure therefrom; to illustrate. one one
Mr. John Norton, q respectable retailer
| proposal to furnish the library board, ETC..
| In the city of Minneapolis with coal at
$3.50 g ton; and the schedule price. was a.
| $SS5. and he was awarded the contract
| but the company or wholesaler from whom
he had previously purchased his supply alb,
sol9tely refused to furnish him with coal o.
SCever on the preteXt that it's supply was
SO limited that it could not safely do 50,
and Mr.. Norton was obliged to procure his
coal for his legitimate business for the
space Of about a month through the agency
Of a third party, a friend of his. but was
wholesalers at monthly meeting, but only
after he had made apologies and promises
for better conduct in the future. etc. and
he again obtained a supply Of coal.
! The Minnesota Anthracite Coal associa-
ton, the predecessor Of the present bureau
OF coal statistics. was an institution formed
| for the same purpose, but operated upon a
force Uniform fa; price in Goa! to the con
| guaranty fund for q departure. deposited
| with the chairman of the association.
! Your committee have caused the arrest OF
said Rhodes for perjury and have also sub
| mftted the attorney general of the state
portions of the testimony taken by it,
! with view Of further prosecutions both for
| perjury and conspiracy under the laws OF
our state. ~.
You are aware of the successive steps
taken by your committee, not only to SCI; secure r
| evidence against these cOnspiratOrs' but to
retain the same after it had been secured
We believe that Your committee have acted
strictly IN m M VT ds oS
parliamentary law and practice, and II
there were no precedents for, the action of
stances the committee still believe that the
time has come when a new mile stone along
the path of progress should be established,
munity, but of the entire country, after a
careful survey Of the situation as it con-
fronted your committee has endorsed dt,, Is and
strange state of affairs if a committee APP
pointed to investigate, who being aware OF
eSde aee in sa cUvd a ysW
for the purpose of inspecting it.
| You are cogniZant Of the numerous meas
ures introduced from time to time by either
} which have passed both houses and become
law, measures which we believe will afford
much relief to the people.
We take this opportunity of thanking you
most cordially for the hearty. manner in
which you have sustained us in our every
effort to rid our state of this most per
nicious and outrageous combination, which
. has done so much to blight the industries OF
! this state and to impoverish its people
l railroad tariffs coal in this state under
I consideration. and would recommend thai
the attention of the board of railload a tpt
present rates. which your committee believ'
l | are much too high. and we have been in
! formed that they have not been revised fo
l years. We trust a revision will be made
y and this measure of relief be granted INT
people.
D Prosecutions Recommended.
From the facts aforesaid your committe
: That the consolidation Of the wholesaler
:, controlling this supply of coal at the hea
Se and
: suit in increased prices Tor coai IN I'LL
! state;
s That said combination may at it's pleas
v ure, if it has not already done so, advanc
coal to an unreasonable and eAtortionat
: That ever since the combinations hereir
a before spoken Of We're formed, the price G
!, coal has steadily advanced and threaten
!, That these advances have originated i
h the wholesale branch Of the business an
l. are not due to any natural huctuatlon
y the value of the commodity, but rather tn
s result of the destruction Of competitio
e among the wholesalers and uniform rate e;
e acted by the. transportation companies WI
| IN hmm wit
J.. these local coal barons;
y That such combinations are contrary
e sound public policy and are extremely d a.
~ | gerOus to the interests OF the state and tn
y / welfare Of the people thereof, ana hs
# placed in the hands and within the po y'
v Of a selfish. unpublic-sp1rited and cru
= Of life in this climate. It would be vel
3 lamentable state Of affairs, il our cour
remedy this s. evil that a is ra a
~ ing and bankrupting our infant industries
d That the. question Of fuel. in view OF Il
T: thereof is one that requires the be
It thoughts Of our greatest thinkers, and and.
- charged with the duty of enforcing the la
ID with fearless and persistent energy and tlr
a; That the effects of the formation of tn
- combination has been most peculiarly u
~, IL, fortunate as it has; resulted in fixing
IN price for fuel during the past season VIII!
or the prevailing low price Of wheat and Il
lack Of employment among b tine poor IN o
re hard to bear. r..
1e Therefore. your committee report that Il
attention Of the governor be directed to tt
evils the people are now suffering und
6 from this and other like combinations. al
S, respectfully urge that the power of II
q | ctofo no nyartoH RI tho utmost IN tho o.
ut that they may be relieved from the gra
50 81. dangers that threaten them, and that if
y courts. that these vicious and demoralzil
az combinations be prosecuted under the fe
" eral law in the courts of the United State
~, ~ Respectfully submitted
re Ignatius Donnell
~ ~ r. A. Walsh,
~ ~ H. p. Bjorge,
az az VIM. Lockwood
oe p. B. Winston,
. % James A. Boggs
- II E Frank l.. Morse
- Hitler H. Horton