Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-28
ASKS PRESIDENT FOR FUEL
Yet Coal Convention Believe Anti Trust
Laws Should be Enforced.
BREAK COMBINES AND FIRES CAN START
Calls on Administration to Prosecute
All who Illegally Restrain
Competition or Unite to
Keep Prices Up.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-The Get coal"
convention assembled today. little less
than two score delegates from a number
Of large cities we're present and the key
note of The addresses was the criticism of
federal officials for not enforcing the anti
trust laws against those responsible for
the shortage.
Mayor Maybury OF Detroit presided and
the principal speakers were Senator Mason
Of Illinois and Congressman Gaines Of fen
nessee. Both speakers criticised the re-
sponsible government officials for failure to
institute proceedings against the individ-
ucls and corporations combined to heep
down the supply OF coal and to raise the
price.
The convention at the evening session
adopted a series of resolutions calling for
remedial action.
Alleges Combines ExIst.
The declarations set out that it is the
judgment and opinion OF the convention
that contracts and combines. in the form
Of trusts exist to the detrment OF trade
and Of competition in trade, especially in
the production, transportation, distrbu-
tion and sale of coal; that combines, agree
ments and conspiracies exist between many
of the transportation companies where
rates and drawbacks are allowed to some
shippers and denied to Others that pools
exist for the purpose and with the effect
Of restricting competition and enhancing
the cost of fuel; that such combines con-
stitute an open and palpable violation Of
the interstate commerce act, and are in
violation of, the antitrust acts that ade-
Quate power is vested in the United States
courts to restrain such unlawful prac-
tn
that it is made the duty of the district at
torneys under the direction of the attorney
general to institute legal proceedings to
compel proper observance Of the laws.
Tells President to Enforce Law.
The resolutions adopted follow:
Resolved, That the president, whose duty
States are faithfully executed, be and is
hereby respectfully requested to direct the
attorney general and all other proper Off
ctals, to at once cause to be instituted civil
proceedings in the several circuit courts
where such infractions exist, to restrain
such Illegal combinations and conspiracies
and strictly enforce the several remedies
provided, and to direct the attorney general
to cause to be summoned grand juries and
cause to be indicted and punished all man
ayers, directors, officers, agents and other
persons whosoever found guilty of viola
tion of the law.
Resolved, That the president be requested
TO direct the Interstate Commerce commits
sion TO inquire at once into the reasonable
ness Of the rates of transportation charged
by the coal transportation companies, con-
cerning any rebates, drawbacks or dis
ordinations allowed or permitted by such
transportation companies and TO cause said
commission TO make application to the
courts for injunctiOns to restrain further
exercise of such abuse.
Resolved That 1t is the sense of this
convention that If such proceedings be in
stituted relief will be had from the existing
evils, that such combinations will at once
dissolve, normal conditions of production,
transportation and distribution will be re-
stored and healthful competition revived,
cheaper and more abundant supplies of
commodities necessary to life will be OBJ
taned and restoration of confidence in
official integrity returned and the Ameri-
can people be saved from the humiliation
and loss of confidence resulting from laN
or non-enforced solemn vows enacted for
the common good and general welfare for
the whole people.
An amendment to the resolution was
adopted providing for the appointment OF
a committee of five persons, whose duty it
shall be to consider and present to the
attorney general from time to time evil
dence of any acts apparently in violation Of
the antitrust act and the interstate com
merce act.
Hold Up n Coal Train.
CHICAGO, Jan. 27.-A mob of nearly 500
men, women and boys held up a Chicago
Northwestern coal train at Webster av-
enue on the Wisconsin division and car
ried away the contents of five cars before
dispersed by the police. Women led the