The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-15
sop TO PUBLIC CLAMOR
LITTLE BENEFIT Is EXPECTED FROM
FREE CANADIAN COAL.
House Judiciary Committee to In
vestisate the Power of Con-
eress to Take Collieries.
soec,aI TO the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Jan. H.-Spurred to ac-
ton by the threat of a "get-coal-quick
convention and the proposed onslaught OF
Mayor Maybury and BILLY" Mason's CO.
horts coupled with the universal complaint
of dear and scarce fuel, Congress to-day
railroa6ed the duty-rebate bill through both
houses. Ii is not expected to relieve the
situation TO any great extent. but Ii will
give New EngIanders an opportunity to use
Nova Scotia and Cape Breton coal, which
can be purchased much cheaper than Penn
sylvania and West Virginia fuel. and on
which the cost of transportation is less
With New England burning Canadian coal,
other portions OF the United States can be
supplied more speedily by home mines.
The demand for Investigations, the de-
fant attitude of representatives of the an
thracite coal-carrying roads when an effort
was made TO end the strike. the popular be-
lief that agreements exist between opera
tors and distributors for the purpose of
keeping up prices. the knowledge that In
some instances retail dealers have COM
bined to mulct consumers all they can
stand the fact that trainloads of coal have
been held back on sidings by wholesale
dealers at Chicago and elsewhere, and the
further fact that the price of soft coal has
been raised at the mines, when no increase
in wages was granted the diggers-these
facts and allegations combined have re-
suited in the crystallization of sentiment
among congressman that the time is ripe
for investigating the evils complained Of.
and, IL the charges be found true. to ap-
ply drastic remedies. With this end in
view a resolution was introduced in the
House to-day directing the committee on
judiciary TO investigate and report whether
Congress has the power to take possession
OF all coal lands. mines and lines of trans
portation and whether the necessity exists
for such action.
No one here believes Congress will ever
appropriate private property, as the resolu-
tion suggests. but the fact that such prop
osition may be considered by Congress
shows the state of public feeling regard
ing corporations that are alleged to OPP
press the people. There is no hiding the
fact that the trust question will not down
until remedial legislation of some kind is
enacted. Had II not been for the anthra-
cite strike the great prosperity of tho
country might have Offset the antitrust
clamor. but the strike made coal scarce and
gave rapacious operators chance to
squeeze money from the people. The coal
carrying roads have dealt fairly in the
matter by keeping down prices, but indi-
vidual operators and some large dealers
have made capital out of public misery. The
outcome of all the legislative and judicial
Investigations will be watched with inter-
est. and may result in the passage of more
stringent laws against pools. agreements
and combines in restraint of trade and COM
merce. but II will not leopard private
ownership OF mines and transportation.
There win be no appropriation of property
by the government.