Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-10
THE NATIONAL MUSTARD POT


should be one withutthe States The
fact that federal Law prevents the
combination OF great coal producing
companies does not meet the situa.
|. ton, from the published reports, Iof
these Companies, to ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is
the correct situations If il turns out
that these high prices, and they are
unconseienable in many parts of our
State-it is not the shortage in one
town or another it is not that-if 1t
| turns out that it is the fault of the
men who operate the mines, then of
course it is a matter for federal in
quiry.. IL it turns out as / confident
ly believe that it is a combination
within the State, because for instance
you cannot buy coal from Portland
unless You get it through the local
dealers, unless you can do this. why
then there is no question that the
combination is within the State and
we are to meet that situation. Would
it be wise to say to the people of the
State of Maine Here is. the most
necessary thing you have for the win
ter. Our laws, framed many years
ago. practically do not reach the sit
uation," taking the view of the gen.
tleInan from Aroostook. Would they
say is that to be your answer to US?
Why do yon not enact law for our
lrrelease?" What would the expense of
an investigation amount to, Mr.. Pres
| ident and gentlemen of the Senate?
The summoning of witnesses, perhaps,
from half a dozen centers of the
State. There would not be many more
witnesses than would be summoned in
good sized law suit. Frequently
suits occur, occasionally occur, where
fifty to seventy-five witnesses are in
a case. Less than that number would
be required in an investigation of this
sort. The matter can be determined.
and perhaps only stonographer- and
| typewriter TO. pay. with the assistance
of the attorney general And it seems
! to me the witness fees would be a
mere bagatelle to meet this. situation
and provide for the future.
! l do not think for moment that
the senator from Aroostook would do
anything that he thought was detri-
mental to the interest of the people
of this State. | know that he believes
| in the people of the State of Maine.
/ cannot see why this small expense.
as it will be, establishing this fact,
would not render it imperative on the
part of the Legislature upon the re-
port of the committee to enact such
| legislation if it is found that it is re-
quired. to limit the evil that exists in
the State on this point.
| Mr.. HERSEY:. Mr. President: / must
THANH the senator from Androscoggin
for the frankness in which he has ex-
pressed himself in answer to my posi-
| ton. I think he and I agree upon this
matter as lawyers that in. the Stale of
Maine. today, our trust laws are de-
fective and do not reach this matter
al all and cannot reach 1t. and Ifthink
agree with him that the duty of this
Legislature is now at the present time
| to remedy that law and make it more
effective to reach this very matter IL
we can and do it constitutionaIly. And
l will warmly support him in any
measure he may introduce. looking to
| that end.
Should he make an investigation at
the present time, when we get through
1t Will only prove the facts he has
stated. and leave US without remedy:
accomplishing nothing. We must first
have the law before we can punish the
criminal. l think the practical thing
would be for the senator to present
bill to. the Legislature, and in this
way We should have "a remedy at law,
and / think we will all support him in
that measure.
/ MIR. MUREY: Mr.. President. | UNI
derstand, am infringing upon the rule
but the situation is. this. The retail
dealers say that the fault is, beyond
he II xxrl1x inv
should be held. to see whether tits be-
You'd Of within, the. State. When it in
determined that it is within the State
and the methods. that are. taken to es-
| tablisf, if at all, this coal trust, for ii
is SO or it is not SO, then law to fit the
occasion could be drafted. They say
the fault is not here at all, that it is
way beyond in the foreign states. How
then are you goin gto get your infor-
nation? How except by legislative in
quiry can the books and papers and
agreements be found out?5 They would
snap their fingers in your faces. and
the law would be looked at in wonder
and establishment in the lack OF any,
thing it could accomplish.
Mr.. RE,YNOLDS of Kennebee: Mr.
President: I do not wish to interfere
with the senator from Androscoggin,
but L do not see how this would re-
suit IN anything different from an in
vestigation of wood. Wood has been
sold in Rockland at 1926 a cord for
years. We have all we can burn in
Maine ard still it is high Every one
knows all it costs is getting it to mar
ket. / think we ought to look into
something of that kind as well as coal.
Lewiston telephoned, yesterday morn
ing. for car of wood and down in
Bath they needed Just as much more.
do not see why they should investi-
gate the coal matter when a cord OF
wood buys a ton of coal and, we know