New-York tribune., 1919-05-12
Several Dukes and Earls
Appear at Investigation to
Defend Their Rights to
Royalties From Mines
Union President Scores
Robert Smillie Plays Role
of Chief Inquisitor at
Commissions Inquiry
Nsw York Tribun

Special Cable Seryico
Copyright. 1919. New York Tribune Inc }
LONDON, May 1.-THE Coal Com
missions examination of British peers
reached its most interesting stage
yesterday with several dukes and
earls giving testimony. There still are
signs that things are moving toward
some form of naturalization of the
mines.
The title holders OF the richest coal
fields in England appeared before the
commission to defend their rights in
what may be the last-ditch fight of the
British land barons. The scene in the
royal robing room of the House Of
Lords recalled the days of the Span
ish Inquisition and almost was q parel-
lei to that enacted at Versailles, only
here the heads of the richest and old
est titled families in England sat in
the place of the Germans.
There was the same horseshoe, the
coal commissioners being seated
around a semi-circular table, while the
land owners sat at small table at
the foot. Crowded into the inadequate
space of the robng room were all
manner of curious witnesses, many of
them of the proletariat, rejoicing in
the spectacle of their discounted ene-
mics.
Smillie Chief Investigator
At the head of the horseshoe sat
Commissioner Sankey; at his right Sir
Leo Chiozza Money, twitching nervous
ly in his chair and occasionally asking
q question of witness. At Sankey's
left was Robert Smllie, president of
the Miners Federation, "the most
powerful man in England to-day" i'm
maculate in light tweeds. Smillie was
the principal inquisitor.
Lords Durham. Dynevor and Dun
raven, three of the most powerful coal
barons, looked i'll at ease. Baron Dyne-
vor wasn't sure where he got the right
to his land or how much the output
of coal was, but he admitted that ma
tionalization had once been put in
practice when Henry VIII beheaded
Lord Dynevor's ancestor and seized the
lands.
Lord Dunraven also was uncertain on
many points of his testimony. He ad-
mitted he hadn't probed into antiquity
to find his right to work the mines on
certain public lands
Lord Durham was extremely alert,
but apparently met his match in
Smillie. The miners president didn't
play the role of free eater expected of
him. He didn't leap to his feet ha-
ranguing. Rather he met the earl at his
Blackstone and Dibble to prove that
Lord Durham had no right to own the
land. The earl retorted angrily.
HOusipU COndifionS D;ScucooJ
The inquiry developed into an inves-
tigation of the housing condition of
the Durham tenants, the earl assert
ing they were comfortable and happy.
He gave figures showing that the roy
altles on his coal, together with rent
for shafts, railways, etc, amounted to
approximately s300,000 in 1918 and
100000 in 1918. The royalty and
rents in 1913 approximated IL cents q
ton more than in 1918, but heavy taxes
cut down the profits.
Lord Dunraven confessed his ina
biiity even to pronounce the names Of
many of his buildings.
The hearing reached its most inter
esting stage when several dukes gave
evidence. The Duke of Northumber-
land and Smillie had battle royal.
The Duke scored most a dialetical
success, but he made admissions that
0ScihCu III Slil1lie IdVOr. For IN
stance, he admitted, in reply to a
question by Sir Leo Chiozza Money,
that as coal mine owner he per-
formed no service to the community. A
statement of his possessions showed he
owns 10000 acres and has mineral
rights over 244,000 acres. Last year.
after deducting all taxes and duties. he
drew nearly S120,000 in royalties.
Northumberland Retires
Smiliie put series of searching
questions, answers to which showed
Northumberland's ignorance Of housing
conditions and general inattention to
the welfare of his tenants. The duke.
icy and unperturbed, indicated he had
a small opinion of the commission. He
took the frmest stand on the question
OF naturalization, saying he regarded d
1t only as a step toward q general
socialization of industry. He finally
became restless under the attacks Of
Smillie and retired -
Inc next peer, the Marquis Of Lon.
S.-
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