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

l
of our State.
I understand from the Senator from
Androscoggin that the Information
given to him is this: That there is
in this State of ours today a high price
of coal. We all know that, every one
of us. He states further that there
is in some localities price of $1,000
ton or so, and in others ss.25 or $500,
which does not show any combination
that is very widespread, but / think
it is true, as the Senator states, that
the price of coal is unreasonably high
1 in Maine. and think that an investi-
CATION from any committee, appointed
by this Legislature would disclose that
as fact. The Senator has made, a
statement here in regard to the. prices
over the State which have no doubt
Ian investigation would show to be
true. But admitting that that inves-
tigation, which if it is made should
be a thorough investigation,-it should
not be any halfway investigation
with authority given that committee
authorizing them to summon witnesses
iall over the State to investigate the
focal matter in Maine, to make the in
Investigation thorough and complete,
lswould be very expensive in the procur-
Ling of witnesses at some central point
| in this State where the committee
could meet and hear evidence. And
after that committee has made that
Thorough investigation, which must be
very expensive to the people of this
State by making it complete and ex-
haustive, and taking the time of the
Legislature to do it, and if that com -
mittee should find the facts as the
Senator has disclosed them here this
| morning, which he believes to be the
facts, if they find everything as the
| Senator has found it, what relief is
there for the people of Maine? That
is d practical question. Unless this
Legislature, on the report of the COM
| mittee can give the people some re-
| lief, unless we can arrive at some
practical business ending of the same
then the appointment of the commit
| tee would be one of the most absurd
matters that could be done by this
Legislature.
The, Senator has said that if this
| investigation discloses the facts as he
states them here that the attorney
general might proceed to do something
under the trust laws of this State
Well l think the trust law of this
State is correctly quoted in the Kenne-
bee Journal, this morning, Page 81
compared it with the Statute, and the
trust law of this State is this in sub
stance: That any Incorporated COM
pany or persons organized for the pur-
pose of manufacturing, producing, re-
filming or mining any article or prod
uet, which enters into general use and
| consumption by the people to form or
organize any trust is an unlawful
Organization, and that this State has
| authority to deal with such organiza-
tions. Coal is not product that is
mined or refined or manufactured in
the State of Maine therefor it does
not come under the trust laws of
| Maine, and, we have no authority over
any combination that is formed out
| side the State of Maine for the pur-
| pose of mining or manufacturing COAL
If, Mr.. President. an inyestigat ton of
this kind should disclose--which / do
not believe the Senator believes to be
la fact-that there is any such
organization in Maine, an unlawful
| combination for the purpose of manu-
featuring coal. mining it, then we can
deal with it, but until the Senator dis
closes some such combination, some.
such organization in the State of
Maine, over which we have jurisdic-
ton, then anything this Legislature
may do or law We may enact cannot
reach the disease.
| Further, Mr.. President, it seems to
me, as the Senator from oxford said.
that the trouble is outside the State of
| Maine. If a few men. one or more,
combine in the State of Maine to raise
the price of coal in Maine we have
no law that meets that. If the Senator
can show to me that we can enact any
law that will reach such a matter as
that. l will work with him to that end.
We have no such law today l have
ne doubt men in Maine are the same
Las everywhere. In localities where
Itheya have coal on hand and there is
shortage of coal in that locality, the
price will go up. That has been the
| law of trade in all ages and that is
1.-The law of trade in Maine today. If
here in, Augusta coal is $780, and over
in Lewiston it is $1,000, it is due to the
shortage in Lewiston and plenty in
| Augusta. And men in a locality where
| there is q shortage of coal and they
can corner the market, will raise the
price and over that raise this Legisla-
ture has no control. and the laws of
| this State cannot control it.
L 1t seems to me, Mr. President, before
| we appoint committees of this Legis-
lature and go to the expense of an in
tvestigation of this kind we ought to
understand and realize that there
| should come out of it some practical
| result. Congress, is in session and we
| have the Sherman law and other laws
Iagainst unlawful combinations. If
anyone can meet it, they can and not
| this Legislature of Maine. And | say
with the Senator from oxford that I
would be only too ready to go with
| the Senator from Androscoggin in
such an investigation. and heartily
and warmly support him if l thought
there could be any practical outcome
| in the, matter to the benefit of the peo-
pie. of Maine. -.
Mr., MoREY: Mr. President: L