Denver labor bulletin., 1917-12-08

seventy-five organizers for the league
would be in the field in Colorado be-
ginning January /, all travelling in
Fords, and that it was expected TO
make this force felt in the 1918 STATE
election.
A Wealth of Coal Lands.
The state of Colorado owns $780,
OOO, 900 worth of mineral lands. most
OF its coal, and this based upon the
lease price of only 10 cents per TOM
said Nh. Harrington in his address
The people who own this rich and
much-needed natural resource ought
to reap some benefit, and they will
wnen the state operates its own coal
mines. Ihe Denver municipal govern
ment, from leased mines, is TODAY
placing coal in the bins of a Iimita3
number of citizens at $3.50 per TON
while private dealers are CHARGING,
Si'oU and So per ton. The Non-parti-
san League has taken up this vital
question in earnest. With the co
operation of organized labor we will
succeed next year in changing thi.
situation"
Assembly Gives Endorsement
The Trades Assembly, by unani-
nous vote, endorsed the coal mining
petition and elected President n. s
Feregrlne as one of the official repre-
sentatives thereon.
other members of the committee
are Ed Anderson, secretary of the Col
ofaoo Federation of Labor; John
GGratton, broomfield, representing the
colorado grange; w. R. Callicott, Car
oondale, representing the Farmers
union, and j. B. Pettijohn, vice presi-
dent of the Pueblo Trades and f.ahor
Assembly.
League Is the Promoter.
Altho the league is behind the
movement, it has no representation IN
the committee other than thru its AZ
fiiiations, according to Manager Nor
ser. The league, he explained, is an
organization which paves the way for
the accomplishment of the principles,
OF the national organization, and the
business of mining coal by the COM
monwealth is one of these proposed
reforms for the benefit of the miner
the farmer and the city consumer.
The proposed amendment is similar
10 the petitions for signatures circu-
iated several years ago thru the agi-
1at1on started by organized labor.
That amendment created a coal min
ing commission. the members of which
were to be paid salaries. The present
petition calls for a coal mining
commission, to consist of three state
officers, namely, the governor, the
secretary of state and the state super
intendent of public instruction. They
are expected to perform the duties in
addition to their present duties, with
out additional pay
Features of Proposed Amendment
The proposed amendment authorizes
the reservation of coal, oil. metals
and minerals found in state lands TO
the commonwealth.
Surface rights only are to be
granted with the sale Of state lands.
Authority also is given the commits
sion to lease other lands for the pur-
pose of mining coal, if it is found ad-
visable. The coal is to be sold at cost
plus a reasonable additional sum to
keep the department self-supporting
To get the mining industry under
way it is proposed that the common
wealth authorize an issue of $500, ,o0e
in bonds, in denominations of $40 to
$1,000, bearing S per cent interest.
These bonds are not to be taxed,
and only so much of the bonds as are
necessary to care for the expenses
shall be disposed of by the state treas
urer's office.