The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-12-08
GRAND JURY
WAITS WORD
OF PALMER
District Attorney Announces
That Action Against Oper-
ators and Miners for Con-
spiracy is Postponed.
WOULD PROBE BOTH
(By Associated Press)

UUUlU TnU0E DUH
fBy Associated Press)
INDIANAPOLIS. Dec. S.-The fed
eral grand Jury, summoned by United
States District Judge A. B. Anderson.
to investigate alleged violations Of
the Lever act and antitrust laws. by
operators, miner sand coal dealers. in
connection with the bituminous coal
strike. will not be empanneled today.
United States District Attorney E. Ert
Slack announced today. He said this
step had been postponed until 1O:OO
O'Clock tomorrow.
While announcing that the conven-
ing of the grand jury had been post
poned until tomorrow, Mr.. Slack
would not say that the jury would be
empanneled at that time. 1t was in
dicated that the calling together OF
the investigators would depend upon
conferences today with Attorney Gen
eral Palmer and others who were to
arrive here from Washington about
noon.
Action against the miners and op-
orators charging conspiracy to limit
the production of coal will be sought
under both the Lever and antitrust
acts, in case the strike is continued.
According to government attorneys,
they have evidence that the operators
have conspired with the miners in vio-
lation of government statutes and
have formed a combination to limit
the production of coal. A mass OF
evidence gathered in all parts of the
country by the department OF justice
will be made available to the grand
jury. 1t is expected the hearing will
continue for several weeks and that
every phase of the coal industry will
be under investigation.
According to officials Of the mine
work ers and government officials, no
details of the Washington proposal
have been received here. Pending re-
ceipt of the agreement none would
| venture an opinion as to the effect
the proposal would have on the con-
tempt proceedings scheduled for hear
| ing in federal court Tuesday morning.
! charging "a miners officials with vio-
lation of the federal court injunction
| against the strike. k,s..,. 49,.
The coal situation in the state is
increasing in gravity. Practically, AL
! industrial concerns throughout the
state were closed today. following the
instution of measures by the regional
director of the Allegheny region for
|
dustrial consumers classed as non-es-
sential. The few concerns which
continued to operate, were doing SO
on auxiliary power.
| WASHINGTON. Dec. Slope for
| the settlement tomorrow afternoon OF
| the controversy between the miners.
| the operators and the government
was expressed in formal statement
issued at the white house. The state
ment follows:
1T is hoped that there will be
settlement on Tuesday afternoon OF
the controversy between the miners.
| the operators and the government.
| through the acceptance by the miners
| of the plan for a definite settlement
proposed by the president, which pro-
posal was submitted to Acting Presi-
dent Lewis of the miners by Attorney
General Palmer Saturday night"
The utmost secrecy still surrounded
the presidents proposal. and Secre-
tary Tumulty and other officials re-
| fused to supplement the white house
statement 1t was learned, however.
that the proposal made to-the miners
was from the president himself and
was in the form of a memorandum
written by him.
| Reports today we're that the pres
ident's proposal was, that the min
presidents proposal was. that the min
ers accept for the present. the IA per-
cent wage advance proposed by Fuel
Administrator Garfield. and that the
| final adjustment OF wages and work
ling conditions be left to a commission
to be appointed by the president.
Some assurances are said to have
been given as to the personnel OF the
commission, the method Of obtaining
data which will be put before 1t and
other points which are reported to
have induced the miners to consider
their prospects more favorable than
they otherwise would be.
| CHICAGO, Dec. S. Hundreds Of
passenger trains were withdrawn from
service on the railroads of the coun-
try today, mostly in the middle west,
south and southwest, in accordance
with instructions issued last week by
the railroad administration, and hun
dreds of other trains had been ordered
annulled on next Wednesday, chiefly
in the east, as a result of the coal
miners strike.
! In New England alone orders were
out cancelling nearly 800 trains on
Wednesday. dozens are to be discon-
tinued in Pennsylvania and even Can
adian. railroads have felt the coal
shortage to such an extent IS addition
al passenger trains were taken on, In
cluding the crack transcontinental
limited of the Canadian Pacific. The
reduction of passenger service. In the
United States since the strike began.
Nov. amounts to approximately one
third of the total, and in Canada q
saving Of 324 900 train miles per month
has been effected. --~-=- SO. 81
Measures to conserve fuel supplies
went ahead in nearly every part Of the
country, despite the meeting at Indian
apolis tomorrow Of Attorney General
Palmer and other officials Of the de-
partment Of Justice with heads OF the
United Mine Workers Of America, in
an effort to bring about settlement
of the strike.
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