The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1917-05-17
v. Va. Va. COAL MEN
ASKED TO EXPLAIN
SPECIAL GRAND JURY IN FED
j.. ERAL COURT INSTRUCTED
TO SECURE EVIDENCE.
WILL OELvE INTO BUSINESS
Must Inquire For Information Re-
aarding Alleged Violations Of Sher-
man Antitrust Aot-Part Of GEN.
erai "HIgh Cost" Probe.
Especial Charleston Correspondence

Especial Charleston Correspondence)
Char1eston--Operations OF volun-
tary associations OF coal operators Of
West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania,
Kentucky and Indiana are being in
vestigated by a special grand jury In
the Federal District Court which has
convened here on the order OF Judge
Benjamin +. Keller The scope of the
inquiry,ait was announced by District
Attorney William G. Barnhardt, is to
ascertain IL the associations OF coal op-
orators In the several states had com.
mitted violations OF the Sherman anti.
trust law by retarding competition In
restraint OF trade.
That the investigation by the Fed.
eral Grand Jury here is a part OF the
general probe being conducted by the
Government into the higher cost Of liy.
ing, was admitted by the District At.
torney.
In New York, in January, indict.
ments We're brought against a half
hundred operators in the Pocahontas
and New River fields by a grand Jury
probing into the cost OF commodities.
The investigation here is to extend
that inquiry into other fields. r. Col.
ton Lewis, Washington, Special Assist.
ant'to the Attorney General. is here to
assist the District Attorney.
Witnesses summoned to appear be-
fore the Federal Grand Jurors include
W, D. Mckinney, Columbus, Secretary
Southern Ohio Coal Operators Asso
citation; ID. A. Morris and w. p. Dear
NIT Pittsburg, Secretaries OF the Pitts
burg Coal Producers Association: c.
G. Han, ferre Haute, Secretary In
diana Coal Trade Bureau; c. ]. Fletch
or, Indianapolis, Secretary Knapps
County Coal Operators Association
w II. Cunningham, Huntington, Sec
retary West Virginia Coal Association
t. l.. Lewis, Charleston, Secretary
, Splint and Gas Coal Association; MaS
t. Price, Secretary Kanawha Goa
Shippers Association; Z. r. Clayton
Hariin, KY, Secretary Harlin Coal Op
orators Association, and r. A. Howard
Lexington, KY, Secretary Hazard
County Operators Exchange.
War Delays Debt Decision.
The impression prevails in Washing
ton now that because OF the war there
Will not be decision of the United
states Supreme Court in the Virginia
debt case while hostilities are in prog
ress. Prior to the declaration OF war
a decision was looked for before the
annual adjournment OF the court fol
the summer months. probably moi
later than the early part of June. But
Win the war in progress, 1t is believed
mere the Supreme Court will not rem
der any opinions that may tend to up
set the existing order of things Nc
opinion that might interfere with the
WORK OF great corporations or states
or which would involve the payment
OF large sums OF money, are expected
curing the continuance OF the war. Bis
trust cases. which might involve 8
cnange OF methods of business in vari
GUS lines, the state debt case, which
might require West Virginia to pro
Vioe Tor the payment OF a large sum
ana other cases of magnitude, Il is be
heved, will be held back till the war Is
over, or at least until II is we'll under
way, and will not be announced now
70 upset existing conditions when they
are already greatly upset by the war
ror this reason, II is believed. there
VIII be no opinion in the Virginia debt
vase IN the near future, and West Vir
s'nia probably will not have to make
provision for the payment OF its part
OF the debt until after the close OF the