Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-22

agreement was reached on the commits
slons report.
This last faint hope was blasted, how
ever, when United States Marshal Mark
Storen began to make arrests last week
Coal men are now convinced that the
prosecutions will be carried on to q
fnish in the federal court and many
interesting predictions as to the future
coal outlook are being made.
Coal operators express the opinion that
If a conspiracy under the Lever act can
ne construed from the joint wage con-
ferences, all wage negotiations in the
future will be greatly hampered and that
this may cause another serious shortage
of coal next year. Miners also fear this
point more than any other said TO be
included in the indictment as the prac.
tice Of collective bargaining is the basis
of the United Mine Workers of America.
Wage negotiations between operators
and miners are now pending TO be con-
summated April 1. If joint conferences
are considered Illegal and in violation of
the law, coal men say that such a confer
ence to consummate the April agreement
must necessarily be postponed indefinite
~, which may result in a serious reduc-
ton Of production and a grave shortage
Of fuel next winter.
According to a statement issued by At
torney General Palmer, President Wilson
is now, urging operators and miners to
work out their contracts for the new
year beginning on April 1. This state
ment, coupled with the reported allega-
tions that wage contracts are unlawful,
has placed coal men in a quandary ana
they are at loss as to the proper course
of procedure. Practically all those ar
rested under the indictment are refusing
to discuss the case publicly on account of
a lack OF knowledge as to what the
charges made include.
A report that the exchange of price
quotations also figures in the indictment
has led to an expression Of the opinion
that coal trade organizations similar to
the Indiana Coal Trade bureau are con-
sidered illegal in practice and may come
in for an airing in federal court.
The Indiana Coal Trade Bureau, with
headquarters in Terre Haute is said to
be practically a new organization and
only of minor Importance to the general
coal industry. 1t was organized a few
years ago for the reported purpose of
obtaining Z fair distribution of railroad
cars. The bureau receives a report each
day from mines within It's organization,
giving price quotations, the cost of pro-
duction and the amount of wages paid
ont, with the amount of coal hoisted.
This information is in turn released to
each member of the bureau and in that
manner price quotations are distributed.
c. e. Hall, manager of the Walter Bled-
soc coal offices in Terre Haute was for
merly secretary of the Coal Trade Bu-
reau, but resigned about a year ago.
Jonas Waffle, formerly connected with
the Chicago, Milwaukee & Gary railroad,
is now secretary of the organization. 1t
is said that similar trade bureaus are
being operated in various coal centers
Of the country.
MAY THROW LIGHT
ON STATE CONTRACTS.
The check-off system of paying miners
union dues is considered Of minor i'm
portance in the general agreement be-
tween operators and miners, and was
said to have been instituted more as
matter of convenience than anything else
II is predicted that some interesting
information as to the manner Of handling
contracts TO furnish state institutions
with coal will come to light during the
trial of the indicted men. 1t is known
that the grand jury went into this mat
ter and IL is said that incidents were
discovered wherein the state was re-
quired to pay more for coal than the
price at the various mines
The trial Of indicted men will not be
held until next November, in federal
court. All viii be arraigned on May 4,
and it is said that the contents of the
indictment may be kept secret until that
date.
Arrests Of the hfty-two Indiana men
probably will be completed within the
next few weeks, and il is expected that
seventy-three others, living in different
states, will be placed under bond within
a short time.
ssANY OF INDICTED
LIKELY TO SURRENDER
There will be no undue haste in max
ing arrests in Indiana, according to
Marshal Storen, as there is plenty OF
time in which to serve the capIasas be-
fore arraignment day. It is thought
; that many Of those indicted win sur,
8render themselves to the marshal. as
n is generally known just about who
q sill be under charges.
N It. was expected that deputies from
zzle marshafs Office would today visis
- ere Haute, whore some eighteen or
& wenty coal men are said to be wanted
s. n the indictment. Those living in the
southern part of the state probably will
be arrested by a deputy marshal sta
toned at Evansville and in the northern
part by deputy stationed at Hammond
according to SIR. Storen