New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-10-10
THE DETROIT CONFERENCE.
DECLARES FOR GOVERNMENT CONTROL
WOULD HAVE THE STATE CONDEMN THE
coal. MINES AND THE COAL RAILROADS.

1 L
; Detroit oct. s-senator Mason of Illinois. was
elected permanent chairman Of the Interstate Coal
I Conference to-day after Mayor Mayhem had made
a speech welcoming the 139 delegates to the city.
, Plans for ending the strike were then presented
| and resolutions concerning IL introduced These
I plans ranged from censure of the coal operators
: for refusing arbitrate 10 a demand that the
President send troops into the anthracite region
( TO seize the mines. the government assuming con-
troll OF them and beginning the production OF coal
Immediately. So many propositions were before
| tine committee that it was decided to appoint a
subcommittee of eight to formulate set of reso-
buttons which should be presented TO the full COM
nittee for approval and afterwaTd to the confer
ence for discussion and amendment. II necessary.
| While waiting for the report of the committee
| there was a general debate the coal situation
I The speakers almost unanimously favored govern
mental ownership Of the mines. The enthusiasm
with which this proposition was received showed
that a large majority of the delegates favored it
as permanent solution OF the coal question.
At the night session resolutions were adopted de-
cIsring that:
Anthracite coal is domestic and industrial neces-
effected with the public interest which authorizes
States 20 action under their present statutes
and constitutions respectively; but II those cOnsti
tutiOns and statutes are not sufhcient TO remedy
the defects. end the present strike and remove the
menace for the future, then such statutes ought
be enacted as will accomplish this purpose
This conference having been advised by eminent
known the Interstate Commerce act. the Sher-
man Anti-Trust act md other statutes there are
urge the President the necessity and expediency
of instructing the Attorney General 10 institute
civil proceedings looking the enforcement OF both
the Interstate Commerce act and the act of July ,
Second of nstitutins criminal proceedings IN the
proper courts against the managers directors. Off
and agents OF all such corporations for viola
ton of both the above named acts
Third-To direct the Interstate Commerce Com
mission al once To inquire INTO the reasonahleness
Of the rates Of transportation charged by the coal
of the Interstate Commerce act. and cause that
tribunal to make application to the courts for an
bnse a2d VOCATION Sa'" 'ur'n'r exercise OF such
Fourth-To have Congress confer upon the In
terstatc Commerce Commission the absolute power
to fix and determine the rates Of transportation
upon Interstate commerce
We respectfully petition the Governor Of Penn
sylvania- unless the strike is speedily settled To
call for special session Of the Pennsylvania Legis-
lature. aud recommend to il the passage Of a law
providing for the condemnation by the state. at
ialr dil JUST compensation OF all the coal carry
ing railroads IA Pennsylvania and Of sufficient OF
f Ia SoaI lands TO enable the State to
The demands Of the American public; and pend
mediate possession Of such coal mines bv receivers
to be appointed hy the court pursuant 10 statute
ard railroads and operate the same
7i,sd pfStfuly T'anest the President Of the
OF Representative and recommend To N the an
origin Of the present dIro srr the cause
49, M Slanr therefor upon tho responsible par
leeds. charters payrolIs stock books and other
o,uhl.Iits ana testimony tending To throw Iisht
upon tnt present mana cement and ownership of
M C'al carrying roads and anthracite coal mines
OF f'InSy wanna. for in LITIGATION and other
puhlc PURPOSES that tho state o. Pennsvlvania or
'hr irderai government may hereafter institute
ms conference Is not In possession OF all the
iscts. and does not attempt 70 make a judicial or
auth.rltaINo decision, but n does express us pro-
louhd sympathy for the miners and their families
a5lI - Evidence or this sympathy this conference
resented here and 20 all other cities In AnerIt,
tEdt steps o" taken by them To raise "A fund 20
strikers. -'''' UT '''