Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-07
MIDDLE WEST COMBINES TO OP.
POSE COAL BARoNs IN THEIR
PRICE HoLDUP.
WILL BACK ILLINOIS
IN ITS CAMPAIGN
Meeting Being Held In Chicago to
Force Price at Mines in !!inois-state
Council Of Defense Heads Movement
and Federal Aid Is to 30 Sought in
Winning Reasonable Rates.

Chicago, Aug. 7.-Extreme action,
the details Of which are withheld, to
bring down the prices Of Illinois coal
from s2.75 and $3.50 ton at the mines
will be taken today by the state coun-
Gil of defense, according to statements
Of its members. Support Of its pro-
gram by the governors and councils
Of defense Of the surrounding states
has been enlisted by Governor Lowden
and Chairman Samuel insult, and the
cooperation Of the rema!nde. of the
states is being sought.
The states that have signitied q
willingness to act in conjunction with
Illinois are Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin,
Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Ken
lucky.
Neither the members Of the council
nor the coal men would discuss mat
tiers yesterday. The mine operators
have retained lawyers to combat price
slashing efforts, and any action by the
council meeting today may. be FOL
lowed by a series of petitions in court
attacking both the legality Of the ac-
ton and Of the law creating the coun-
Gil.
Full Council to Attend.
The session will be held at II o'clock.
and will be attended by the full mem
bership Of the council Governor Low
den will not be present, but will be
advised by telephone Of what IS done.
Mr. Ins,1ll refused to confirm reports
Yesterday that the council will take
steps to have the state take possession
of all the mines in southern Illinois, or
at least those bound up il alleged HiFh
price compacts put thru this year with
the aid and assistance Of coal oper-
ators' association.
conference Of all governors and
councils of defense of the midwest
states will be held in Chicago within
the next few days in connection with
the program of the Illinois council. 1t
is stated that the plan Of action te-
vised by the council in today's moet-
ing will be placed before them Tor
ratification. A general understanding
relative to this program has already
been reached by the officials Of all OF
the central states.
Federal Aid Asked.
The situation will be placed before
the federal trade commission today by
Clifford Thorne Of the utilities bureau.
This is an organization with members
in practically all states, and designed
to represent the interests Of the public
in hearings before government tri-
bunals.
The federal commission will be asked
to knock the props from the scale OF
prices fixed by the Peabody commit
tee.
The petition to the commission says:
up to the present time the coal OPP
orators have forced ex parte hearings
behind closed doors before practically
all tribunals, both state and federal.
This is an anomaly in American prac-
tice. Any proceedings before any tri-
bunal attempting to regulate prices
whether on public necessities. like gas,
water, or transportation service, has
usually been out in the open, where
all parties can be heard. with the
right OF cross examination reserved to
advance interests.
"The prices on coal today are sub
stantially those established by the
Peabody committee. This schedule Of
prices was heralded turnout the Unlten
States as a remarkable example OF
generosity and noble patriotism on be-
half Of the coal operators. 1t Is our
claim that these prices are unjust and
excessive Mr.. Peabody and his asso-.
ciates who fxed these prices have
posed as great public benefactors and
noble, self ascr!ficing patriots"
Higher Than Year Ago.
It is shown that the Peabody prices
for Franklin county are from $3.50 to
s1.s5 a ton higher than the same prices
one year ago. It is shown further that
the Peabody scale actually raised the
price Of Williamson county coal.
In discussing the cost OF producing
coal now, the petition says:
Variations of over 100 per cent in
cost estimates by experts under oath
on the witness stand are common.
Variation aggregating more than 300
per cent can be cited in the official
records Of courts and commissions
MIDWAY NOT RATlONED.