The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-04-15
IT RAISES THE PRICE.
I~ffnnesota's Legislative Coal Investi.
eating Committee Reports.

|&N&MZ3 # -
D~ffnnesota's ! Legislative Coal Investi.
eating Committee Reports.
81. PAUL, April 15.-The joint legis.
lative committee which has for more
than q month past been investigating
workings of the coal combine, made its
report just before the adjournment of
the legislature during the evening. It
Tehearses the findings of the COMMITTEES
that a combine, known as the Mime
sofa Bureau of Coal Statistics, exists in
this state; that it has been able in all
the leading cities of the state to force
all dealers not subscribers to the bu-
reau out Of the coal business, and that
this combine has gradually raised the
price of anthracite coal until it now
sells at but a few cents less than 80 per
ton. The committee also recites the
fact that it has secured an indictment
against the
Central Figure of the Combine
for perjury. and is preparing cases with
the aid of the attorney general against
several members of the combine for
criminal conspiracy. The report con-
tinues:
1.-THE. retail price of coal in the three
large cities of the state and their sub
urban districts il determined monthly
at conference held between the man.
ayers of the shippers or wholesalers held
at the city of ST. Paul at the Office of the
Minnesota Bureau of Coal Statistics, q
spying institution, maintained by an
arbitrary assessment of $25 on each re-
taller, and the remainder Of the price of
maintaining, which, with its parapher-
MALTA of detectives and ~bulldozers, lie
borne equally by the shippers and
wholesalers. John j. Rhodes, who is
now under arrest for perjury in con-
n~ection with this Investigation, is the
manager of this bureau, and is paid a
salary of & 1000 a year. Such combine
tons are contrary to sound public pol
icy, and are extremely dangerous
To the Interests of the state
and the welfare of the people thereof,
and has placed in the hands and within
the power OF a selfish unpubiic-spirited
and cruel aggregation one of the abso-
lu.e necessaries of life in this climate.
ItAWould be a very lamentable state of
affairs il our courts cannot remedy this
evil that is rapidly reducing our people
to beggary and blighting and bankrupt
ing our infant industries.
.sThe question of fuel, in view Of the
attitude of those who control the sup
ply thereof, is one that requires the
best thoughts of ON greatest thinkers,
and . combination of the character
herein shown to exist must be dealt
with by those charged with the duty OF
enforcing the law with fearless and
persistent energy and t~ireless activity
The Recommendation.
The committee recommends to the
two houses In conclusion that the at
tention of the governor be directed te
the evils the people r now suffering
under from this and other like combin
ations, and respectfully urges that thu
power of the state be exerted to the ut
most, to the end that they may be re
lieved from the great dangers tina
threaten them. and, IL no adequate
remedy can be had in our own courts
that these vicious and demoralizine
combinations be prosecuted under tn.
federal law In the courts of the UuiteG
Stafaa-