The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-01-31
MINE AND MINING
COMMITTEE MEETS
FOR 4 DISCUSSION OF THE BILL
CREATING a RAILROAD COM
MISSION.
But Only a Few Are Present and only
One Tatks - Discrimination
Charged Against the Bill
BY Attorney.

BY Attorney.
CHARLESTON. Jan. s1.-The joint
meeting Of the committees on mines
and mining OF the House of Delegates
and the Senate. called for the purpose
OF discussing the bill introduced in
the House by Mr.. Roach and In the
Senate by Senator johnson, providing
for the creation OF railroad commits.
sion, did not draw out a very large
number of persons last night and the
discussion is not expected 10 warm up
to any great extent until last night
when those persons associated with
the railroads will be heard.
Senator Johnson called the meeting
to order last night and introduced Mr..
Roach as chairman of the meeting.
The latter explained that the purpose
of the meeting was to have full dis.
cussion of the new bill and that the
committee had extended the courtesy
to invita- a free discussion.
Just who would open the discussion
caused little trouble. Mr.. 2. Taylor
Yinson, of Huntington, stating that
there wore those present Who wished
to hear from the authors OF the bill
why 1t was created and what the rea
sons were. Mr.. Roach replied that he
was the author OF the bill and thought
IT was UP TO those who opposed the bill
to tell why It should not pass.
L. D. yickers, an attorney OF This
city, then stated If It was up to every
body for free discussion he could
tell what he thought about 1t at that
time as well as any. He stated that
he was for the bill, bat would have to
criticize the bill in certain particulars.
SIN the first place. he said, 81 am
a firm believer In the principles of the
bill. believe there should be rail-
road commission. believe necessi.
ties now exist for railroad commrs
sion and believe 1t is absolutely nee.
eessary. There is evidence of a
good many conflicts between railroads
and shippers and I believe good rail.
road commission could smooth out
and reconcile a great many of these
differences"
The attorney stated that he knew
how hard 1t was to prepare bill Of
this character and he was not surprts-
would pretend to be dissatisfied and
go to some other company to do pre-
cisely ,e same kind Of work. Mr..
vinson made mastery and convinc.
ing argument showing necessity Of
protection Of life and property in the
mining and coal regions.
]. NJ. Roane, Of the Kanawha field,
and Manager Malone of the Fairmont
district, each made able addresses
setting forth the great hardships that
would be inflicted on the companies
by these bills.
He charged that agitators had
made It necessary to employ these
guards, which were always for the
purpose Of protecting life and proper
ey instead OF injuring the same.
Mr.. Malone in course of his re-
marks said that miners could earn
more money with less exertion and
live easier than anywhere in the
world.
It was argued that Senate bill 20
would breed informers and spies that
had made SO much trouble in Penn
sylvania and 81 despise an informer
as much as any working man." said
Mr.. Roane.
John Lang, the well known New
river operator, came next. He made a
very graceful opening by reminding
the committee that they were there
to legislate for all'the people and be-
speaking fair treatment for the inter-
est involved in these bills.
Mr.. Lang argued that force was only
used to prevent trouble and the guards
were Just as much protection to the
men as to the company.
He said when he had trouble he
never struck man with anything but
his fist
The committee heard the arg,-
ments attentively and report is ex:.
pected Friday.