The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1914-02-09
PROBE IN
COLORADO IS
BEGUN
Presidents of Big Corporations
and Horny Handed Sons Of
Toll Gather in State Capitol
for Hearing.
NEXT SESSION TO BE
HELD IN TRINIDAD

ny Atuacu wire 10 EtNuAM9 neaalAsl
Denver, Feb. 9.-Colorado's labor
struggle today was transferred from
the coal mines, militia barracks and
strikers tent colonies 10 sho senate
chamber in the state capitol whore
the subcommittee of the house COM
mittee on mines ana mining opened
the congressional Investigation of the
coal strike Presidents OF hig cor-
porations lined up on one side OF the
chamber while on the other sat lahor
leaders whose names have become
nationally known In connection with
the Colorado mines controversy.
state Officers. attSyneys. stenograph-
crs and spectators made up the rest
OF those in nttendaace when Martin
-. Foster. chairman. called the ses-
zion TO order, read the house reso-
luton under which the investigation
was authorized and summoned Prot.
Russell u. George, state geologist, to
the witness stand to give the COM
mittee preliminary outline OF the
mining Industry in Colorado.
The state Eeologist, with the AID
81 charts. pointed out the varioun
coal fields of the state and explained
the character of the coal and moth
cd OF mining I'm each. He was given
close attention by the committeeman
who interrupted with frequent ques-
tions
The congressional committee in
vestlzatinr the Colorado coal strike
appointed A. w. Rucker. former
representative from Colorado. as le-
gal advisor TO the committee. AZ
the opening OF the hearing at ie:30
O'Clock Il was not known how long
the committee would remain In Den
yer. Members OF the committee
stated that they would try 20 com
plete ths preliminary inquiry today.
departing for Trinidad late tonight.
], was considered more probable.
however. that the Denver hearing
would continue through tomorrow.
Before opening the hearing the COM
miitce called upon Governor y. NJ.
Ammons The governor has agreed
10 appear as witness II his testi-
mony Is wanted AZ the opening OF
the session Martin y. Foster. chair
man, read the resolution by which
the investigation was authorized. He
then asked the parties 90 the con-
troversy 20 select attorneys 10 repre-
sent them at the hearing. John G.
Osgood announced hat the operators
would be represented by Fred c.
lerringtol Frank y. Cove. J. ".
sickland and j. O.. Northcutt.
II was announced that the miners
would be represented by Horace H.
Hawkins. James Clark. +. w. Clark
aud James 49, Brewster General
John Chase obtained permission TO
have the National guard of Colorado
represented by Major Edward
Boughton and Captain ". G. Danks.
The Consolidated Coal and Coke
company was represented by C. l..
Baum, Francis r. Bouck appeared
icr the attorney general of Colorado.
During a paus" az the conclusion
Of Prof. Georges testimony, the oak
Greek Coal company and the South
Canon Coal company secured per-
mission 20 have the name OF George
C. Manley entered on the records as
their attorney. There WAS some de-
lay white attendants searched the
state house for other official wit
nessea and the chairman observed
that the company would be forced
To- issue suhpoenas and compel the
attendance of witnesses unless they
could be produced more promptly.
Finally James palrympie. chief
, state Inspector Of coal mines. made
his appearance ana proceeded tn
answer questions by the committee
regarding the duties Of his office and
the conditions under which coal rs
mined Ia Colorado.
tie explained that the neW mining
law was q decided Improvement over
the old. which he declared, "had
nothing behind H."
Then under the old law. the
state laid down regulations and the
operators could observe them II they
felt like itf" asked Chairman Foster.
Yea " replied the witness.
Mr. Dalrymple then entered upon
"a detailed description Of the Colo
RADIO mining law and the safety reg
ulations now Ia force. lie said.
II don't believe any mine IN the
state complies with the new law in
its entirety"
He explained that aome OF the
mining companies had not been able
a. secure the requires safety appli-
snces but that some had shown no
disposition to observe the law.
What are you doing about those
companies9' he was asked.
Nothing, I haven't had time" was
the reply.
The witness added that ths law al
lowed him five deputies hut that he
had been given only three and there
fore hac not been able 90 make the
thorough inspection required by the
statute.
in response 90 questions ~ said
that III men had been killed In
minc accidents Ia the last year.
Representative Austin asked;
l