The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-17
Kansas May Operate All Mines
Within Boundary.
Gov. Capper Declares Operators
Must Show Hand.
CONFERENCE HERE MONDAY
Meanwhile Plans for Police
Regulation Are Made.
Abnormal and Unreasonable
Profits, Is Capper Charge.


Kansas may take over and operat-
all Of the coal mines in the state
Governor Capper, who returned u"aF
from the Chicago conference of mid
western governors, declared operators
must play their cards on the tAble
or yield to state police powers and
regulations. Immediately following
his return to Topeka, the governor
directed a conference of all mine "p-
orators to be held here Monday MORN
ing at II o'clock. 1t was stated -has
Kansas may act without waiting led
eral procedure.
Details for aking over and opeTat-
ing coal mines in this state are being
discussed this afternoon at CONFER
ence which Governor Capper is hold
ing with s NJ Brewster, attorney gem
eral. Every plan for state operation
of mines as an emergency police reg
ulation for the protection of consum-
ers in crisis, will be worked olu IN
advance Of Mondays session. Seizure
Of the mines by the state means that
the governor would direct the seven
million ton annual output from Kan
sas mines.
Unreasonable Profits.
Abnormal and unreasonable profits
are being eXtorted from consumers in
the war crisis. Governor Capper de-
clared. He stated that Information
before the Chicago conference showed
that consumers are paying IN average
increase of 81 a ton for fuel These are
increases of 40 to 80 per cent to opera
tors the governor said, and are not
justified in the showing of increased
cost of production. Operators in all
of the middle-western states are goug-
ing the consumer for unjust and I'M
reasona BILE profits, he said, and would
be forced to submit to state control
unless reductions are granted.
Kansas will be among the first
st ties to take formal action looking
to relief from the coal situation. The
Cove rnor stated today that he is con-
WINGED the constitution provides ade-
quate powers for action against the
mine owners and for the operation
of mines. control of production and
prices and disposal of all disputes.
Methods for procedure will be well in
hand in advance of Mondays confer
enCe. it was stated
n several of the states special leg
islative sessions will he called to meet
the situation If possible to avoid
such action, Governor Capper declared
Kansas would proceed with power
now at hand.
Notify Operators.
All mine operators will receive tele-
grams this afternoon announcing the
conference. They are not only asked
to attend the meeting, but also to
produce their cost sheets showing eX-
pense of operations in 1916 ard 1917.
If a fcrceful investigation of books of
the coal companies should become
necessary. the state laws are adequate
to compel production of records.
Governor Capper stated that the
state would give the operators
chance to meet the ~ituation without
trouble. If they do not meet de-
mands, the state will Immediately
take steps TO control the price and
production.
Federal authorities will be appealed
to But the action of the state will
not be delayed by federal action or
possible red tape in government de-
partments. The governor believes the
government will proceed thru action
of President Wilson granting author
ity to the federal trades commission
An appeal to the president was sent
by the governors in the Chicago con-
ference. a second meeting of the
governors will be held next week In
the meantime, tho, Kansas will set in
motion machinery necessary to control
of the situation in this state.
State Has Power.
Il am thoroly convinced the state
has adequate police power to regulate
and control the output of the mines
and to afford relief to the consumer
in this crisis" said the governor The
operators must stop the extortion of
eXorbitant profits. They must play
their cards on the table Relief must
not only be afforded. but it must be
given at once don't think it will
benefit the operators to seek DELAYS
thru appeals to the federal depart
ments. We want to know and have
right to know the true facts That
is why | have asked the operators to
bring their books to the conference
we cannot expect the average citizen
70 make war time sacrifices when
large corporations are gouging him
Tor eNtortionate profits"
Inc governor returned to Topeka
TO work out the coal situation. fol
lowing abandonment of his plans to
go directly to Washington in an appeal
70 President Wilson for relief While
the state will continue to work with
the federal departments. il will seek
to force immediate action. GoyernoT
Capper will return to Chicapo nev,
week for the second coal conference
For the present. at least. his DIans fo,
a vacation have been abandoned
Ten minutes after the governor ar.
rived in his office today, he directed
the sending of telegraphic notices OF
the COME ence to all operators in the
Kansas field Following is the no.
tee:
NO..c, . Operators
Dear Sir: l ain constantly i'll receipt OF