The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-11-01
TEXT OF FEDERAL
I COAL MINE BRIEF
Bill of Complaint Tells His
tory of Troubles of Men
and Owners.
AGREEMENTS ARE CITED
Unusual Demands Following
Last Convention of Work
ers Are Described.

II By sfa6 Correspondent Of THE Sun.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, Oct. 31.-The text
OF the Government bill in equity which
asked for an injunction against the
leaders OF the striking coal miners fol-
lows:
This bill OF complaint is brought to
restrain the said DEFENDANTS and other
persons whose names are unknown to
plaintiff. from further engaging and
carrying out a conspiracy. combination.
agreement and arrangement tA) to re-
strict the supply and distribution
3ftroughout the United States OF nee
IL ssary within the meaning of the Act
~ Congress Of August 10, 1917, entitled
IAN Act to provide further for the
Nnational security and defence by en-
Ecouraging the production, conserving
Ethe supply and controlling the distribu-
Ition Of food products and fuer-namely,
bituminous coal-and OBJ to restrict
the distribution of such coal in inter-
i utate commerce throughout the United
States. and (C) to restrict the operation
by the United States Of the railroads
Of the country by means OF the con-
| sumption OF such coal.
"Bituminous coal Is the most impor-
tant fuel consumed In the United States.
1t Is used throughout the United States
In the generation of steam and cleo
tricity for motive power In the opera
ton of railroads, steamboats,, lighting
and power plants, street car lines, fac
tories and industrial plants of all kinds,
and in the generation of heat in hotels,
once buildings. apartment houses and
n private dwellings for the purpose of pro-
II lection against cold. It is mined and
i produced from the ground to the extent
l of approximately 500,000.o0o net tons
L annually in the aggregate in the States
Il of Alabama. Arkansas, Colorado,
1 Georgia. Illinois. Indiana, Iowa, Kan
X sas Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan
II Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North
4 Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania
4 Tennessee, Texas, Utah. Virginia, Wash
Il frgton, West Virginia and Wyoming In
i varying amounts. however, the largest
n production being in the States of Penn
sylvania, Illinois and West Virginia.
LII Shipped to All states.
II at is mined from the ground by hu
4 man labor in the aforesaid States. par
u ticuarly in the three last mentioned
n states, and is shipped and distributed
a from the mines, in interstate commerce
into all the States Of the United Statei
4 for the above described uses In the gen
GRAFTON of heat and power. including thu
VI operation of the railroads Of the country
n Approximately $4,000 miners ant
~ mine workers are engaged in the Unite'
States in the production of bituminou
/ coal. of whom upward Of 100000 ar
members of local trade unions and o
i district unions and OF the international
j Union United Mine Workers Of America
an organization of all the members o
the aforesaid unions and of certain loca
and district unions of bituminous Goa
III; miners and mine workers In Canada.
IN "The said act of Congress of Angus
N o. 1917, as originally enacted on tina
NJ ate and as amended by the act o
p ongress Of October 20, 1919. antitle
en- act to amend an act entitled IA
: to provide further for the nationa
2urity and defence by encouraging tn
TX sduction. conserving the supply an
trolling the distribution of foo
iucts and fuel" approved August II
Y, and to regulate rents in the dis
of Columbia provides as follows
That by reason of the existence c
Ae of war 1t is essential to the ma
security and defence, for the sue
ii prosecution of the war and fo
hrpport and maintenance of the arm
~ llavy. to assure an adequate SUI
n nd equitable distribution and I
ate the movement of foods. feed
including fuel oil and natural ga
ertilizer and fertilizer Ingredient
rs utensils. implements. machiner
~ Equipment required for the actu;
At Htion of foods, feeds and fue
ter in this act called acce
~.
~ Conspiracies Unlawful.
81 no as follows:
Sec. 4.-That It is hereby made III
ul for any person to conspire, cor
IN, agree. or arrange with any 9th
person (A) to limit the facilities f
transporting. producing. harvestin
manufacturing. supplying. storing.
III dealing in any necessities; (B) to T
~ strict the supply of any necessaries; e
TO restrict distribution of any niece
earies,' &C.
x "And as follows:
~ "'Sec 24-That the provisions of II
act shall cease to be in effect when I
existing state of war between the Unit
States and Germany shall have termi
4 ated, and the fact and date OF su
K termination shall be ascertained and pr
5 claimed by the President
For the purpose of carrying o
IL other provisions of the said act of Co
gress of August 10. 1917. there W
II subsequently established by the Pre-
~ dent of the United States and recognize
si by Presidential proclamation an adm
istrative body known as the Unit
n States Fuel Administration, at Was
ington, in the District of Colurnb
II. which body pursuant to the author
NJ of such proclamation exercised a lar
n measure OF control and supervision o,
the production and distribution of
luminous coal throughout the Unit
4 J States.
a Agreement Was Made.
/. with the official approval and sa
"a II ton OF the United States Fuel Admin
4 tration there was entered into at Wa
4 ington In the District of Columbia
october 6. 1917. a supplemental agr
ment (the so-called Washington WI
agreement) between the operators
/, the union miners and mine workers
the so-called central competitive fie
n Imposed Of Western PennsylvaI
Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. for an
;rease in the production of bitumin
y col and an increase in wages to
II miners and mine workers over the 4
/ existing scale of compensation
n said agreement provided for an adva
III of 10 cents per ton to miners and
j advances ranging from rs cents to s.
a per day to laborers, and for an adva
of 10 per cent. for yardage and de
\ work, resulting In an increase TO mir
III 4 of so per cent and to the best
pa iaborers of rs PSF cent. over the wa
y III 0flApril ]. 1914.
t,t '.The said agreement also provided
EN the establishment of automatic penal
u 20 be imposed upon miners for work
q Il.