Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-16
SET NO DATE
INCONTEMPT
PROCEEDINGS
Only Howatt Of Kansa.
. Miners Ordered to Ap-
pear and Answer.

Indianapolis, Ind, Dec. 1s.-
Charges OF contempt OF court
against "a officials Of the United
Mine Workers Of America. with one
exception, were continued this
morning by United States District
Judge A. b. Anderson, until such
q date as 1t is deemed advisable to
bring the cases again before the
court. Tho exception is the charge
against Alexander Howat, presi-
dent Of the Kansas district Of the
Mine Workers. who IL charged with
continued violation Of the courts,
injunction against furtherance of
the strike.
Supports Local Strikes.
Attorneys for Howat, who is
under $4,000 bond, were instructed
to have him appear In court next
Monday morning. Dec. %. Govern
ment attorneys charge that since
the agreement reached by the min
ers last week to end the strike on
the basis suggested by President
Wilson. Howat has been instru-
mental in ending the strike in the
Kansas region insofar as It affected
men called out on Oct. 81. but has
succeeded In keeping out men who
were on q local strike prior to the
general strike.
Others Talked, Too.
Pittsburgh, Kan. Dec. 16.-"I
know Of no reason why I should be
asked to appear and the others are
not SO ordered" Alexander Howat,
president of the Kansas miners
said today. when told of The Asso-
.ciated Press dispatch from Indian
apolis stating that he had been
ordered to appear Monday TO an
'swer to Q contempt charge before
Judge A. B. Anderson. II have re-
ceived no word that I might be
singled out"
President Howat said that some
remarks he had made about Andcr-
son and Attorney General Palmer
at Indianapolis in the conference Of
the miners last week may be be-
hind the action taken in his case.
But l did not say any more than
several Of the others did," Howat
said.
Condition Normal.
..xWashington. Dec. 16.-Virtually
dXOrmal conditions in the distribu:
tlon of coal have been restored.
The railroad administration today
began delivering all coal as billed
except in some few emergency
cases where diversion will be nee
essary. The order reducing by Is
per cent the amount OF coal per-
mitted to be coked also was re-
scinded.
Appointment Of the commission
to investigate wages and prices in
the coal mining in iustry will not
be made before Thursday, 1t was
said today at the White house. At
torney General Palm o Is in I'LL
nois attending q high-cost-of-livin
conference and the commission will
not be named until after his return
to Washington.
Production Grows.
4 Chicago, Dec. 16.-Production OF
bituminous coal today rapidly ap-
Aroached normal. Throughout the
IAuntry reports indicated from 80
to IS per cent Of the miners were
at work. In only few instances
were locals reported as still idle
waiting for a further adjustment of
wages.
Virtually all restrictions on use
Of fuel made necessary by the 40.
day strike had been relaxed today.
While other cities resumed norma,
business hours and factories began
full time work, Spokane, Washing
ton. and Boise, Idaho, found it nee
essary. however, to maintain the
fuel saving orders.
On 6.hOur Basis.
Spokane went on q 6-hour busi-
ness day with no immediate pros
pect Of relief. Zero weather with
resultant interference with railroad
traflic and operation Of Canadian
mines that supplied that section
was the court ascribed for the fuel
shortage. Storms in the mountains
delayed the replenishment Of the
Boise coal supply.
Severely cold weather. moderat-
ing. however, still. prevailed over
most of the middle west, south and
northwest.
In the middle west shipments ol
coal from the mines today were
made on express train schedule
After 9 O'Clock this morning ever
passenger trains gave way to the
.ush Of coal-filled gondolas.