Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-10
THE COAL CONFERENCE
AT DETROIT, MICH,
RESOLUTIONS Urging President to In
>titutc Proceedings Against the
Coal Comprnies.

DETROIT. MICH, October 9-The
delegates. representing eleven States. who
attended the interstate conference on the
coal situation here to-day, adopted reso-
buttons. after much debate, urging the
President TO institute civil proceedings
looking to the enforcement of the inter-
state commerce act against the coal COM
panies. and criminal proceedings against
their officers. and petltionng the Cover
ner of Pennsylvania to call a special ses-
sion OF the Legislature of that State to
condemn all the coal-carrying roads and
su,..cient of the mines to supply the de-
mands Of the people.
John c. Nelson. of Logansport. Ind,
contcnded that the government should
send in a force of men, headed by some
conservative man like General 90
Wood. to open the mines imm edia tely.
and give the country coal.
Mr.. Berger offered minority REPORT,
requesting the President to call an extra
session of Congress, and seize and ope-
rate the coal mines.
w. c. Pa Breckenridge. of Kentucky,
made the principal speech in favor of the
majority resolutions. he contendcd thai
there was no possibility of doing what the
minority resolution proposed. Eve
knew he said. that even if Congress
were called in extra session. the Senate
would not permit the President to seize
the mines. There can be no question as
between violence and force, and appealing
to law, We are a law-making and law
abiding race
Mayor Marbury was made chairman OF
a committee to forward the resolutions to
President Roosevelt The resolutions fol-
low. in part:
The Resolutions.
Resolved. That this conference. having
been advised by eminent counsel. that
under the various cts of Congress. known
as the interstate commerce act. the Sher--
man antitrust act, and other statutes.
there are sufficient remedies for this pres
ent condition, we urge upon the President
the necessity and expediency of instruct
ing the Attorney-General to institute civil
proceedings looking to the enforcement
of both the interstate commerce act and
the act of July 2, 1890
Second of instituting criminal pro-
ceedings in the proper courts against the
managers, directors. officers, and agents
Of all such corporations for violation of
both the above-named acts
Third, to direct the Interstate Com
merce Commission to at once inquire into
the reasonableness of the rates of trans
portation by the coal transportation COM
panies and any other violation of the in
CGTState commerce dCt, diiu CAUSE Tx
tribunal to make application to the courts
for an injunction to restrain further eX-
ercse of such abuse and violation.
Fourth, to have Congress confer upon
the InterSta tie Commerce Commission the
absolute power to fix and determine the
rates of transportation upon interstate
commerce.
Resolved, that the government, that
possesses the right of eminent domain.
f1,a rich n q
half of the people. when by such exercise
great public wrong can be righted, and
great public suffering averted.
Resolved, That we respectfully petl-
ton the Governor of Pennsylvania, I'M
less the strike is speedily settled, to cal!
for special session of the Pennsylvania
Legislature, and recommend to 1t the pas
sage of law providing for the condemna-
ton by the State, at fair and just COM
pcnsation, of all the coal-carrying roads
in PENNSYLVANIA, and of sufficient of the
anthracite lands to enable the State to
operate the anthracite coal mines so as
to supply the demands of the American
public; and pending the ascertainment
of their value, to take immediate posses
sion Of such coal mines by receivers, 10
be appointed by the court, pursuant 10
statute, who shall at &c take posses
sion of said mines and operate the same
respectfully request the President OF the
United States to call special session OF
the House of Representatives, ana recon-
mend TO it the appointment OF commit
tee to investigate the cause and origin OF
the present disastrous strike, and to
Mace the blame there or upon the re-
sponsible parties.
For Government Ownership.
During the afternoon, wnile waiting 10:
the report of the Resolutions Committee,
the conference was given over to general
debate on the coal situation. Inc spedt-
ers almost unanimously favored govern
mental ownership of the miness ana the
enthusiasm with which this was received
by the delegates, showed that large
ma iority of them favored 1t as per-
manent solution of the coal question.
Senator Mason outlined his plan to have
a special session Of Congress pass an
act authorizing the appointment OF re-
ceivers for the mines, and their 1mmeol-
ate opening.
,.rrIt nnrorT CThV