Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-14
NAY TAKE OVER COAL MINES OR
OTHER PROPERTY IN INTER.
EsTs OF PEOPLE.
NECESSITY GIVES
STATE GREAT POWERS
Under Constitution Even Moneys in
Banks Might Be Appropriated by
Necessity-comparison Of Coal Prices
to State and 10 individuals.
Special to Times Republican.

Special to Times Republican.
Des Moines, Aug. 14.-Governor w.
L. Harding will go to Chicago Thurs
day to attend the congress Of COVER
nors of the middle states on the coal
situation. Several members of the
state council of defense may also at
tend.
Secretary H. j. Metcalf of the state
council has received a telegram from
Samuel insult, chairman of the Illinois
council for defense. who is planning
the Thursday meeting, calling atten-
tion to the results of the conference
which Governor Lowden held with coal
operators there last Thursday. In this
telegram Chairman insult said:
THE coal operators of Illinois at
midnight yielded and agreed to sell
coal to the people of Illinois at price
to be fixed by the governors represen-
fative. The governor Immediately ap
pointed Chief Justice Carter of the Illi-
nois supreme court to act as his rep
resentative and as coal director. The
splendid result in this state will be of
immeasurable value in facilitating the
business TO be transacted at the meet
ing here of various state councils next
Thursday and makes it all the more
necessary that we should have large
attendance so that our work may not
only Immediately benefit the people OF
the states represented at the meeting
but also help to bring about relief at
the hands OF fedora! officials n Wash
ington in connection with price sup
ply. distribution and transportation of
fuel that crosses state lines. Samuel
insult. chairman state defense council,
Illinois"
States Right off Seizure.
Governor Harding declares that I'M
der the constitution the state can
seize anything it desires and that
prices must come down, not only for
coal but other necessities or something
of this sort may be done.
There is not the least doubt that
under the constitution and with the
plea of necessity the state can seize
ANYTHING it desires" declared Governor
Harding in discussing present prices.
Il am satisfied that if necessity arose
we could seize the money in the Des
Moines banks"
1t is pointed out by the governor
of control was able to make for its
various institutions showed consid-
cradle range which could not all be
charged TO freight rates. But the
prices paid at the state institutions
are much less than those being charg ed
the consumer. The states longest haul
is to the hospital at Cherokee where
lump coal has been contracted for at
s4o7 per ton. This IS quite a contrast
to the prices asked in Des Moines
where local mines, with no railroad
haul charge S. per ton for soft coal
mined in the city limits
Lower Prices Dema nded.
State and county defense council
members are considerably wrought up
over the high prices asked for coal and
other commodities. They declare, in
letters to the governor, that such con-
ditions must be looked after.
Senator John F. Weber Of Wapello
county, in letter to the state defense
council, says:
For more than two years now the
only answer necessary by those who
were inclined to extort was, when in
quiry was made: 1t is on account
of the war This has been suffi-
Gent answer but the time has arrived
when something more IS going TO be re-
ouired by the public. If I do not mis-
take the situation democracy in Europe
: will be Of little Importance unless some
Of these local matters are given at
tention."