The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-01-06
BY Congressman Avis, in Effort
to Reduce Accidents
Among Them.
(By Chas. Brooas smithl

Avis from the coal men doing busi-
ness in the Third and Fifth congress
sional districts OF West Virginia
against the bill introduced by Repre-
sentative Treadway, of massachusetts
providing for a new and complicated
system Of coal analysis. The gist 81
the provisions of this utterly inigui-
tous bill has been given. several times
heretofore, and West Virginia coal
men are by this time not.unacquatnt-
ed with its intent and purport.
, The lengthiest and most formid2-
bic argument against the bill is cor
tanned in a letter to Represen
Avis from John J. Tierney, who, with
his brother, Lawrence and others. IS
one OF the leading coal men in South
ern West Virginia. Prefacing his
analysis of the. Treadway bill, which
Is too long to be published, is this
paragraph of surprise and disgust:
after reading the bill was forced
to explain to myself: My God, what
nextn 1t seems that this Is one eA-
ample of the kind of legislation that
IS going on at this time, and it also
seems that these measures will make
trouble in various industries Though
out the country. In looking over the
bill / cannot understand why 1t was
thought necessary by MI Treadway
TO formulate such a bill. If he UNDER
stood sales of coal. and the manner in
which shipments are made through
out the country, do not see why ne
would want such a bill presented, es-
pecially ii ne thought the measure
would be made public, and come TO
the attention of people who were di-
rectly Interested in the business, as
they would be forced to acknowledge
that the person getting up such
bill certainly had no knowledge oil
the subject which he wished to con-
troll. . (The author of the bill frank
lily admitted to Representative Avis,
as has been heretofore stated, that as
matter of fact he possessed no such
knowledge, which reading of the
bill by practical coal men caused
them to suspect).
c. H. Caperton, president of the
New River Coal Company, says OF tho
bin: Il can see no good that can
be accomplished by such measure
and 1t would entail tremendous
amount of work and unnecessarily
additional cost to comply with the
same. 1t would further have the eli
feet of disbarring low grade coels
from the market and injure the lev
grade Goals to such an extent that It
would be impossible to mine them.
al a profit Who is this man Tread
way, from what state does he, come,
and what business does he follow?
The whole thing seems so ridiculous
that | can hardly credit 1t as be ng
offered in good faith
w. A. Brown, of Lawson, Fayetts
county, writes of the bill: Il think It
will do much harm and we certainly
are in such condition at present that
all business needs u rest. what -
the scheme anyhow?
John c. Dickinson, of Charleston.
says: 1T looks to me as II i IS
right serious matter and particularly
that it is a step in the wrong direc-
ton. 1t would almost be impossible
to comply with the bill ami I would
be particularly hard upon the very
small producers OF coal.
G. c. Beury, of F'ayette county, de-
clares the bill to be drastic and eX-
lceedingIy unfair, and impracticable
| Of enforcement ITO make a correct
analysis of any coal, says Mr.. Beury,
should be by taking sample from
the face of the coal. Ints mas no.
been done excepting in a very few
cases so far as my knowledge goes.
"One of the results of such law
as proposed would be TO bring about
con troversy among the mines, dealers
and consumers, making claims hat
the coal on its receipt did not come
up to the standard analysis which you
cannot guarantee due to some foreign
matter getting mixed up With the.
coal. and weather conditions have
considerable 10 40 with IL as 70 moss
ture."
w. S. Wood, of Standard. writes
Upon reading this bill carefully il
seems to me mat 1t is manI1esJly IN
fair to the coal producers and viii
work a great hardship upon the coal
producers of this country. l beli:ye
every effort in reason should be made
to defeat this bill.
d. z. Evans, secretary of the Kama
wha Coal Operators Association:
'.The whole thing is impracticable
and unnecessary. Our present laws
amply cover any misrepresentation
made BY the seller.
c. A. Cabell, Kanawha county: Il
consider the bill not only unreasona-
BILE but absolutely unnecessary to pro-
Cect the purchaser. You know and
everyone else knows, who is familiar
with the coal business, that there
is a true analysis of every seam OF
coal of any Importance mined In the
United States on file at the depart
ment OF mines OF the federal govern
ment. This is not only of public rec
ord, but anyone desiring copy OF I
same only has TO write the depart
ment and make the request.
VIM. Nickel, of Glen Jean: Tho +
bill is not only unreasonable and ur-
fair 10 the coal producers and car
II - ana ga. deGlL4.s ~ piaSirS
burGest o. them, Lut viii &c of -
benefit to the consumer. It woula
be just as reasonable to require every
'armer and every dealer in farm prod
lcts to furnish every customer who
it, certificate of the quality
Of his product"