Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
COAL CARRYING RATES
WESTERN ROADS CHARGED WITH
DISCRIMINATION.
Miners and Operators Heard by the
Interstate Commerce Commission
Complaint to Be Filed.

The coal operators and coal miners or
southern Indiana and Illinois had con-
ference with the Interstate commerce COM
mission yesterday in connection with
charges of discrimination on the part OF
the coal-carrying roads in their territory
In addition to a complaint which, as the
result of the conference. Is to filed formally
with the commission, II Is probable that
the Attorney General will be urged to insti-
tute prosecutions against officials OF the
coal-carrying railroads in Indiana and Illi-
nois for alleged violation of the Sherman
antitrust act
Present at the conference. which was
held in the office of the interstate COM
Inerce commission. were Judge Wood OF
the Indiana railroad commission. John Nit
chell. president of the United Mine Work
ers of America: W. ID. Ryan. secretary of
the Illinois miners organization. and sew
eral mine operators of both Indiana and
Illinois.
Advance in Rates.
ii has been announced by the coal-carry-
ing railroads operating between southern
Indiana and southern Illinois points and
Chicago and the northwest that an ad-
vance of about 10 cents per ton will be
made III the freight rates on coal This
advance. IT is asserted. will affect seriously
both the operators and the miners. The
operators under contract to supply
coal In large quantities at a stipulated
price. out of which they have to pay the
freight charges. If the increase Of 10 cents
q ton should go into effect during the life
of the contracts the operators say they
would be forced to either lose money
themselves reduce the wages of the
miners. The miners are working under a
scale which yet has about year to run.
They opposing the proposed increase in
the freight rates, because ii certainly will
seriously affect their wages in the future,
even il Il should not affect them i'm
medlately.
The operators say the increase in freight
rates has been made to apply to coal from
all mines except along the lines of the Big
-Four railroad, where the increase is but
3 cents per ton. This the operators allege
results in discrimination.
The mine operators and miners officials
desired to confer with the commission re-
speeding the character of the complaint to
be brought before the commission by the
railroad commission of Indiana.
Complaint to Be Filed
Chairman Knapp of the commission was
unable TO devote much time personally to
the conference. as he was engaged in hear
ing another case. Commissioners Prouty,
Lane and Harlan, however, discussed the
situation with the delegation. 1t was de-
cided that. the matter involved inter-
state commerce, the commission had ample
AutnorltS 10 entertain lorIfdl complaint
This complaint will be filed In the near
future.
In addition to bringing a case before the
commission. the delegation will confer with
Attorney General Bonaparte with view to
asking for him 10 initiate an action against
certain Indiana and Illinois railroads for a
violation of the antitrust law.
Preceding their visit TO the commission
Mr. Mitchell and those interested with him
in the matter called at the White House
and explained the situation in detail to the
President. bespeaking his help in obtaining
an early hearing. The President received
his visitors cordially and discussed the
questions at issue with them.