South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-14
MINE COMMISSION
GIVES RULING IN
ANTHRACITE CASE
Say They Are Without Juris-
diction to Admit
Exhibits.
BY Associated Press


SCRANTON. Pa. July i3.-Ad-
hitting the public interest in the
question OF monopolistic control and
prohteering and their vital import
ance TO public welfare. the anthra-
cite mine commission ruled Tuesday
that il was without Jurisdiction TO
admit exhibits offered by the mine
workers tending 10 prove charges
that the anthracite industry was be
ing exploited at the expense OF the
employees and the public.
After detailing tho. manner in
which the commission was named
and the powers given it. the decision
says:
The commission is Of the opinion
and rules now that the seven eXhib-
its purporting 10 set out the relation
between wages and wholesale and
retail Irices; the situation as 10
freight rates; the operation and
financing of anthracite railroads and
other exhibits, are not germane 10
the matters in dispute and the issues
before this commission as outlined
and defined by the is demands.
Public Interest.
The commission fully recognizes
the public interest in these questions
and their vital importance 70 the
public welfare. The commission.
however. recognizes the limits of its
own authority and therefore rules
that these exhibits 10 which Objec-
ton has been raised offer no contri-
buttons TO the solution Of the issues
pending and will not be admitted as
part Of the evidence in the case"
Following the decision John T.
Dempsey and Thomas Kennedy, dis
trict presidents Of the miners union.
presented additional evidence rela-
;ive 10 wage rates of mine workers
and increased cost of living in the
anthracite field.
Then came the answer OF the oper-
ators in which they declared their
opposition TO virtually every demand
of the mine workers, including those
for increased wages and the closed
shop.
The plan of the operators was
described by the resolution adopted
as assuring ample coal for all parts
of the country" including the full
fillment of contracts in the north
western states.
Drastic Action
In a statement Pres't Wentz an
nouncad that ne had informed Mr..
Willard that drastic action in con-
nectiOn with the railroads Ia relieve
the coal shortage" would be pro-
posed at the New York meeting. AL
though declining to elaborate OF
this, L was understood that the op-
orators committee was considering
filing of a complaint with the Inter
state Commerce commission, charg-
ing the railroads with violating its
original priority car service order
General complaint was made by the
operators at their closed conference
that the order was not being obeyed
either in tact or spirit by the car
rierS.
The operators also adopted reso-
luton recommending that the Inter
state Commerce commission limit
the reconsignment of coal to the
greatest extent possible in order to
eliminate existing abuses"
Embargo Order
The commissions order requiring
the embargo against cOnsignee fail
ing 10 unload within twenty four
hours named street and interurban
railways, electric power and light
plants, gas plants, ice plants, water
and sewer works, hospitals, schools
and other public Institutions as
those 10 be cared for by car assign
ment. This emergency coal, the
order declared, should be for cur
rent use only and not for storage.
The commissions order was issued
too late for formal consid Grafton at
the conference. Informally the oD-
orators held different opinions Of it's
effect, Pres't. Wentz regarding it as
helpful TO the coal situation. while
a. VI. Ogle, an Indiana operator de-
clared in itself the changes made by
the new order would not affect the
situation. IL was generally agreed
however, that the thirty day extern
sion would aid the coal movements