Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-10-23


coal needed in this state.
Approximately 225 coal operating
In a statement accompanying the or
der Jesse E. Eschbach, chairman of the
commission. points out his authority in
the coal control law for issuing this
drastic order
4 Mr.. Eschbaeh says:
The commission fixed the prices for coal
at all the mines in Indiana and not one
operator has appealed to the courts.
Since the order fixing the price of coal
lat the mines was made the operators
4 generally throughout the State of Indi-
ana have had better running time than
& for many months preceding, and the
prices will yield every one Of them at
We had hopeG that all of the operators
would make their own distributions and
would be entirely fair with the Indiana
public and give TO Indiana the share Of
4 their coal which Indiana normally takes
and to which it is fairly entitled.
Some operators have done this and
nave eooperated with the commission. but
1t has developed that many of the Oper-
ators have seen fit to withhold their coal
from the Indiana market, and 1t became
Hnecessary for the commission to take
scognizance Of this fact and act as best
1s can to remedy the situation
Under the Special Coal and Food Com
HNts t4CEt are Two DrOFlSlOIIS
Mich We have considered in this con
Section 9 Of the act gives the commits
: sion the power to make it its duty TO
Lequlre al operators in Indiana to pro-
duce and, sell, or offer for sale. IN In
1lana, sufficient quantity of coal to
supply domestic demands and DermfrS
tne commission to order each operator
20 oner Tor sale In Indiana a fair proper
tlon OF the total amount necessarv fo
supply domestic demands.
Seetlon 70 OF the act provides that in
Ease OF emergency, the commission may
craer the different operators to deliver
certain quantities of coal m cert.ir,
named users OF coal in tba Stots
An order upon all operators TO offer
SAFE IN Indiana a certain tonnage
aas seemed more fair to the Commission
slIa snan an order upon certain operators TO
, supply certain named consumers. and the
new order just issued by the commission
Is Dased upon section
Onoer order No. s, just issued, every
operator IN the State is required to mine
enough coal over and above his inter
state and railroad requirements to per-
NIT him to sell, or offer for sale in this
state, certain specified number of tons
which we have endeayOred 10 fix upon
fair basis as between the different oper-
ators.
1t is now uD to the retailers and other
consumers OF coal to get their orders into
the operators hands so that when the
operators offer for sale in this State the
coal specified there viii be buyers for it.
In order TO avoid confusion and the
placing of too many orders with some
operators and too few with others, the
commission has suggested to the different
retailers the operators with whom they
should at once place orders for coal and
we have endeavOred to arrange these sug-
gestions In such manner as to send or
ders to all mines in proportion to the
amounts which we have required they
offer for sale in Indiana.
We have taken into consideration the
distances all coal must be shipped and
have tried to place the orders from the
most distant consumers and retailers with
the group on mines which carry the low
est cost at the mines, thus the higher
freight rates will he attached to the
cheaper coal and make all coal bear an
average cost at its point of destination.
We believe the increased freight rates
will result in a very marked increase in
the consumption of Indiana coal within
the State of Indiana, so We have sug-
gested to each retailer who has had
business connections and purchased coal
of Indiana operators in the past that he
at once renew those relations. and we
believe many new business connections
between retailers and operators will be
established which will continue perma-
nently into the future and give our op-
orators increased business within our own
State.
We are urging retailers everywhere to
increase the market for Indiana coal in
their communities and in this movement
We hope to aid in every way possible.
Under the law, operators refusing to
offer for sale in Indiana coal required,
will have their licenses revoked unless.
after notice and hearing, they can show
adequate grounds for their failure.
If we find 1t necessary to revoke the
license Of any operator, in justice to In
diana consumers we will be obliged to
o take every step necessary and exhaust
the powers of the State to see rnst such
operator discontinues business, but at
the same time will attempt to see that
such mine continues operation under re-
ceivership or otherwise and the coal from
such mine made available to the people
of Indiana
We still hope that no emergency will
arise which will make it necessary for
the commission to issue orders under
section 20 of the act for any operator
to supply any named consumer of coal.
The commission and consumers have
been patient, we have pleaded for friend
u cooperation and we still plead for such,
but the Special Coal and Food COmmis-
sion act is the law Of the State of In
diana and a great State must and will
see that its laws are obeyed.
There is no reason why a large part
of one class of our citizens may wilfully
dlsobey the law of the land, while all
others must yield strict obedience
LIE NOIR MINE
NAMED IN ORDER.
The lie Noir Coal Company, in which
Governor Goodrich's son Is interested,
was ordered by the commission, of
which he is member, to produce and
offer for sale not less than $50 tons per
week.
The amounts of coal ordered to be pro-
duced by the commission range from
fC0nfinuad On Pa0a TroA