The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-06-28
GOODRICH
So NOTIFIES
WASHINGTON
Governor Says He Has Fooled
With the Coal Operators
About Long Enough.
TIMES BUREAU,
AT STATE CAPITAL.


INDIANAPOLIS. IND, June IS
once more the prospect of a special
session of the legislature stares Indi-
ana In the face. Unless Congress comes
through with a law giving the Presi-
dent authority to fix the price of coal
and to regulate the distribution of coal
throughout the country within short
time. Governor Goodrich is going to call
the legislature together and ask it to
take action that will settle the coal
question for Indiana. He has not made
any such announcement, but persons
who are close to him and who know
what he thinks ard what he has in his
mind say this is what he proposes to
do He has fooleS with the coal opera
tors and the coal psoblem about as long
as he is going to fol with it, and has
got nowhere, and he Is determined that
Indiana people shall Save relief.
There is every indfcassoa that the
coal operators are not acting in good
faith and that they do not intend to cut
the price of coal until they are forced
TO do 1t, one way or the other When
the coal shortage and the high prices
were tackled some time ago the opera
tors came through with defense that
they were unable to get coal to the
markets because of a shortage of cars.
They said the urailroads did not supply
them with more than SO per cent enough
cars to keep their mines running half
the time. and that this car shortage was
the cause of the shortage of coal snd
high prices
Bat since the public service commits
sion. the state coupcil of defense and
the Governor took bold of the PROPOSE
tion and started to work it out the
railroads have been furnishing the
minesswfth all the way from 80 to 100
per cent of all cars asked for. and in
some instances they report that they
are giving mines mere cars than they
ask Tor. And yet coal prices have not
gone down. They are as high as ever.
and some of the operators are advising
customers to buy large quantities of
coal now at present prices because coal
will be higher within a short time. Just
what they propose to base further ad-
vanced prices upon is not known. be-
cause they placed all or the blame be-
fore on shortage of cars
Last week the operators fatty refused
to have anything further to do with the
plan OF solve the coal problem in this
state until after other line of business
had also been regulated. Thus they
threw down the gauntlet of defiance to
the state authorities and practically de-
fed them to do anything toward bring
ing coal prices down
This attitude on the part of the coal
operators has aroused indignation all
over the state, and it has given rise to
the likelihood of prompt action by the
legislature.
Governor Goodrich asked w. II
Thompson. Republican. and Charles E.
Cox, Democrat, leading lawyers of this
city. to prepare for him a wri>en opin-
ion on the question of whether the Leg
llature had power to enact legislation 10
fix prices and regulate the production
and distribution of coal in the state.
Cox is a former judge of the Indiana
supreme court. There can be no politics
in the move just taken, because both
parties are represented by these two
lawyers. In their opinion, Just deliv-
cred to Governor Goodrich they agree
that the legislature has full power to
take such action and to enact such laws.
This opinion was laid before the
state council of defense. yesterday. and
that body Immediately adopted a reso-
luton calling on Congress to pass law
giving the president authority to fix
coal prices and regulate the distribu-
tion Of coal throughout the country, and
it became known that unless Congress
does this soon Governor Goodrich will
take the advice of Thompson and Cox
and call the legislature together
1t is currently reported that Indiana
coal operators are making more money
now than they ever made before in the
history Of the industry and the public is
paying the bill. The operators say they
see no reason why they should make
any sacrifice by giving up any of their
present profits.
Whether any other legislation besides
the coal matter will be proposed at the
special session remains to be seen. but
it is thought that the legislature might
be asked to make such appropriations
for war purposes as may be found nee
essary. Every possible effort will be
made to keep party politics out of the
session and to put the entire matter on
the high ground 70 patriotism and
justice.