The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1903-01-15
ILLINOIS COMBINE
CHICAGO GRAND JURY IS GIVE.
SOME EVIDENCE.
Owners of Railroads and ~.
Reap Rich Harvest While n
Suffer and Die from Lack ;.
Fuel---Attorney General NJ,
Strong Statements.

Chicago, Jan. 12-Evidence of c,;,
inal combination of Illinois coal 49,.
operators and owners and railroads '. !.
control the market and advance a !"
price of fuel was presented in stsrt, ;u'
array to the special grand iurv wh;ns
was convened on Saturday by Judaa
McEwan. se
That the combination extends ors;a.
the state of Illinois and embraces nro r'
ically the entire central west and eas.
was shown by the evidence placed ho
fore the inquisitor by ATTORNEY Genars,
ID. j. Hamlin. The Illinois men
were charged with having started tba
combination, and the cooperation do
sired was asked from the surrounds.
states.
That the Illinois Coal Mine Onero
tors Association entered into combin..
ton with the association of Indian.
was also shown by the TESTIMONY.
The most severe penalties were er.
acted from those who Violated the
agreements.
And while the poor have suffered and
many have died from lack of coal. the
operators, owners, and railroad officials
have been reaping the harvest of the
condition they created.
The most sensational evidence in now
in the hands of States Attorney De.
neen, and consists of letters passed be.
tween the various operators and rail.
road officials, kilograms, and even. il
is said on good authority, copy of the
agreement to conspire against the pub.
lie interests.
A rate book of prominent local coal
firm, the head of which is a million.
aire. is in possession of Attorney General
Hamlin, and will be produced before
the grand jury.
More than forty witnesses have been
summoned. and half as many more
will be called. Six prominent railroad
officials will be hauled into court and
must answer under OATH the fire Of
questions which will be put to them
by the states attorney.
A federal grand jury is to be asked
for, and a recommendation will be
made by the present inqnisitors for
such body, which will have wider
jurisdiction than the state grand jury.
The proof of conspiracy is SO strong
that the government will propbably be
advised of the developments, and action
from Washington is looked for.
The most important testimony Of the
day was that given by the attorney gen.
eral, who was the last witness called.
His testimony was based upon the ev.
idence secured in the actual mining
fields and among the railroad centers
by his chief clerk, Felix Streyckmans.
During the past month the attorney
generals chief clerk and several other
agents have been keeping busy making
secret investigation into the comblna'
ton. This information, comprising vol.
luminous report, was read to the speclai
grand jury. 1t showed
Combination of operators.
Combination of dealers.
Combination of operators with rail-
roads.
Combination of dealers with rail-
roads.
Triplex combination of operators
railroads and dealers
Effort to form operators coalition
throughout coal mining states.
Absolute control of local market anu
regulation of prices.
Penalties imposed upon members oi
combine for underselling.
Large shipments of coal from mining
centers to other than Chicago Market
Thousands of tons of coal standingo Oh
tracks in vicinity of Chicago.