Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-07-17
GOODRICH COAL
BOARD MEASURE
PASSES HOUSE
Provides for Commission of
Three to Fix Prices in
State.
ONLY s VOTE AGAINST 1T

Steam roller tactics were put into act
tion today when the Goodrich administra-
ton bill for establishing a coal com
mission for fixing the price OF coal in
Indiana was passed by the house under
suspended rules by vote of 6S to 8.
Representative Johnson of Grant coun-
~. chairman of the committee on rights
and privileges, TO which the bill had
been referred by Speaker Eschbach, re-
ported that the committee was unanimous
for the passage Of the bill, with lengthy
amendments.
The bill with it's amendments referred
to by Chairman Johnson as the sub
stitutIon blll' provides for the establish
ment of the Indiana coal commission"
the duties OF which are to investigate
all coal conditions, Ak prices for which
coal may be sold. conduct hearings when
coal prohteering Is suspected, and take
over mines for operation by the state If
deemed necessary.
THKEE MEMBERS
ON COMMISSION.
Three members viii compose the COM
mission, it IS provided
One member win be named by the gov
crnor. one by the lieutenant governor,
and the third by the speaker of the
house OF representatives.
The member appointed by the gov
eTnor will act as chairman OF the COM
mission.
Not more thsn two of the members
composing the commission shall belong
to the same political party.
In event of the taking over of a mine
by the state, the operating and work
ing conditions and wages paid the men
will be the same as the scale paid by
other mines.
Convict labor viii not be used.
The commission will serve until March
81. 1921. at which time it will go out
Of existence unless continued by subse-
quent legislation.
BY the appointment of a commission
by the three men it will avoid the un-
popularity of a commission appointed
solely by the governor, according to Rep
resentative johnson, chairman OF the COM
mittee of rights and privileges.
BILL CARRIES
PENALTY CLAUSE.
Further provisions are made in the pro-
posed measure for the placing of n fine or
Imprisonment, or both, upon coal opera
tors who refuse to show their books TO
the commission on an order from such
body.
The salaries of the members Of the
commission are to be hxed at $4,000
year each, with salary of $1,000 year
for a secretary to the commission.
All assistants. experts and other repre-
sentatives of the coal commission will
be appointed by the members Of the com
mission, and their salaries determined by
the three members.
A bond of $4,000 will be furnished by
the members.
The substitution bill was presented
by the committee on rights and privl-
leges after conference with Attorney
General Ele Stansbury, at the request or
the house.
The report of the committee was unan-
imousy adopted by the lower house.
MOTION TO SUSPEND
RULES PASSES. 81 TO IS.
Representative Smiths motion to sus-
pend the rules was passed by vote of
67 to 13. after a struggle in which Speak
er Eschbach was forced to order the
absentees brought into the house.
Representative Phelps amendment pro-
vided that the commission also investi-
gate the high cost of food products and
protiteering, boarding and destroying of
food products by wholesalers, retailers
Continued ON Page Nine)