Evening journal., 1917-08-08
TO Reduce COAL
OR SEIZE mines
State Council OF Defense
Calls Conference of Six
teen Governors
PEOPLES WILLSUPREME
LAW, GUIDING MAXIM

CHICAGO. Aug. s.-Initiative in call
ing a conference OF the Governors OF
sixteen States al Chicago, August 10
for the purpose Of taking concerted ac-
ton TO reduce coal prices. even to
the extent Of selling the mines. was
taken yesterday by the Illinois State
Council Of Defense
The report OF Levy Mayer, chairman
Of the law and legislation committee
which hold that the Governors have
power TO seize mines, was adopted
Governors Of the following States
will be asked to attend the conferences
Tennessee North Dakota, South pa-
kota, Ohio Kentucky, Nebraska, MIS-
souri,, Kansas. West Virginia, Pennsyl-
vana a, Indiana Michigan, Wiconsin,
Iowa, Minnesota and Illinois.
After calling attention to the critical
coal situation In Illinois. the report or
Mr.. Mayer saysi
Though not heretofore invoked,
these are available fundamental prin-
ciples Of law that furnish means OF
relief. As TO methods, the opinion
enumerates:
First. Seizure by the state and
operation by II during the period OF
the war Of the coal mines In this
State, salus popuh supreme lex is a
principle as old as government itself
There - an implied agreement on the
| part Of every member OF society tha'
| his own individual welfare and prop
erty shall in cases Of necessity yield
10 that OF the State. The seizure Of
the coal mines can be effected without
the institution OF judicial proceedings
and thus court delays be avoided. The
right OF the State in cases OF thil
kind has for its foundation she SO
curity Of sovereignty itself, and thu
doctrine OF eminent domain and thu
police powers support the right.
"The necessities that confront I
State IN the exercise of It's sovereign
powers. whether for military pur
poses or for the safety and protection
OF the people, inherently require tina
the State shall have the power to TAX
property for public use tnd 10 max
Just compensation thereafter
"If the State operates the coal mine
during the war a scale OF prices 70
the coal mined can be established b
the State and changed from time 4
time to meet various conditions. Tn
existing wages can, II conditions re
quire, be increased by the State. TIL
state should control such prices abov
the cost OF production as will latte
allowing all proper charges and de
ductions) leave all reasonable margi
OF profit with which 10 pay Just CON
pensatlons as the court OF claims ma
81 grant the operators.
The course here indicated II pul
sued. will IN our opinion not violai
the State or Federal constitution M
constitute an interference with int
I. state commerce.
y Second. Call an immediate NEE
y ing OF Representatives of the Sta
I, councils OF the nelghbOring coal pr
!. ducing States so that an adequate an
uniform measure OF relief can be
= once contemporaneously adopted an
y enforced in all these States.
I. Third. FL her separately or In cor
: junction with the State councils
the neighboring coal-producing State
take Immediate steps to bring abol
= the adoption Of a Federal law whic
- will give full and sweeping Feeders
promise Of control over prices an
!, distribution 10 an arbitrative bod
= possessing the machinery 20 rend'
comnleta and instant relief"