The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-08-09
COAL
OPERATORS
At SESSION
Evidence Found in Indian
apolis Yesterday That
There is an Agreement
Among Coal Operators to
Regulate Coal Prices
Which They Denied.
TIMES BUREAU,
At STATE. CAPITA

AT STATE CAPITAL.
rNDTANAPOLIS. IND. Aug. 3-Pre-
dtctfons that have been made in these
dispatches for the past several weeks
that a special session Of the Indiana
legislature would be called Will be
verified next week, when. it is prac-
ticaUv certain. Governor Goodrich VIII
issue the call that will bring the In
diana lawmakers in session on or
about August 81
IT is apparent that something must
be done TO curb the coal operators IN
their hold up of the people with out
rageous high prices. and it can only
be done through operation of the law
There was a development in this
city. Yesterday. which is interesting. in
view OF the attitude Of the coal opera
tors on the price question. When the
coal hearing was held before the pub
lie service commission a few weeks
ago the operators vehemently denied
that there was any combination among
them for the control Of coal prices.
They said the Coal Operators Associa-
ton OF indiana had nothing to do with
making prices for coal.
There was a hearing before the Pub
lie Service Commission. yesterday. in
which the indianapolis L ght and Heat
COMPANY sought permission to make a
TEMPORARY increase in its electric light
rates 70 cover the heavy advanced
cost Of coal and other materials Mem
hers Of the commission brought out
from C &. Perry, president Of the
companv. that he had a contract with
the Queen Coal and Mining Company
Of J~asonviIle for its supply Of coal at
a low price. but tina the company had
refused to live up TO the contract and
! had advanced the price to a very high
figure. 1t was discovered. too. h a
there was in the contract between the
light company and the coal company
the following provision:
Should the Coal Operators Associa-
ton Of Indiana by its action reduce
the price Of coal per ton during the
life of this contract, then the price
herein per ton for said coal shall be
reduced as much as such said associa e
ton may reduce the said price. but
from and after such action only
should the price of coal per ton be
generally reduced by reason Of a dis
agreement or disruption Of the Coal
Operators Association during the life
of this contract. then the price herein
Der ton for said coal shall be reduced
TO the LlGh prev AAEh@ AAA1@ 49, 80
The discovery Of this provision has
again raised the question as to wheth-
er there is an agreement among the
! coal operators to regulate coal prices
in the state and run them mp as high
as they please. This is regarded as
the most important evidence yet found
It is likely that all of this evidence
viii be laid before the legislature
when il comes TO consideration Of th'
coal problem.
There viii probably be q large mum.
be- Of bills introduced at the specla
session. although there is no need fo'
a mass Of new legislation. Three OF
-four important measures are in tn
minds Of most Of the leaders in publi'
affairs. but it may well be anticipated
that the usual grist of freak and use.
less troublesome bills will be intro.
duced.
In addition to coal legislation their
will be an effort to pass a law to plac'
a tax Of some kind on corporations il
the state. It is likely hat there Wi
he an appropriation bill to provide
100000 for the emergency mainten
ance fund Of the state institutions
There will also be a bill 70 provide
state defense system to take the plac'
Of the national guard. which will SCOT
be out Of the state.
That bills will be introduced to cal
a special election TO determine wheth
er the state shall hold a constitutions
convention goes without saying.
IT VIII he a busy forty days whel
that special session opens.