Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-03-11
Cool Probe Ended; Report to Be Submitted
GRAND JURY'S
FINDINGS READY
FOR u. S. COURT
Long Standing Investigation
OutgrOwth of Nations
Wage Trouble.
INDICTMENTS QUESTION

Methods by which the bituminous
coal industry of the country is con
Quoted will be laid before the public
by the federal grand jury which has
been investigating for three months,
it was reported at the Federal build
ing today.
Government attorneys refused to
confirm reports that indictments
against both operators and miners
would be returned.
The grand jury finished it's work
several days ago and has been marking
time while its records were being put
in shape for the report 10 Judge A B.
Anderson. The jurors were recalled this
afternoon and were to make their pres
entation before dismissal by the court
today.
y mass Of evidence has been sifted by
the grand jury under the direction of
Dan ". Simms and L. Ert Slack. special
United States district attorneys. and
Frederick NauNuys. who became district
attorney after the investigation was IN
der way
Both operators and officials have been
eagerly looking forward to the report Of
the grand jury. which may have an i'm
pOrt4ut bearing on the settlement Of
disputes between the United Mine Work
ers Of America and the operators The
investigation was the outgrowth Of the
nationwide coal strike of bituminous
coal miners last fall.
CALLED DEC.
TO PROBE CONSPIRACY"
The grand jury was first called into
session on Dec. 5 as "a result Of infor-
nation charging operators and miners
with having conspired to violate the
Lever act, filed in federal court by Mr..
Simms and Mr. Slack.
Since that time an extensive investi-
cation, including operations in sixteen
coal producing states, has been con
ducted, but the jury centered its at
tentiohs on the coal industry Ia the
central competitive field. II is said.
The selling of coal under contracts
with the state of Indiana Is said 10 have
come In for much attention during the
activities Of the grand jury. II. Is known
that mines in which Gov. Goodrich was
formerly interested have been selling coal
20 state Institutions through the Frank
fort Ice and Coal Company in Frank
fort, Ind, and the Aetna Coal Company
OF indianapolis. The greater amount of
this coal was provided by the Calora
Coal Company Of Terre Haute OF which
Gov Goodrich was formerly president.
In the information filed previous 10 the
convening of the grand jury il was
charged that coal operators were in a
conspiracy to violate the Lever act and
antitrust laws. IT was also said that the
operators were engaged in a conspiracy
with the miners to violate the law, ac-
cording TO a statement made by Attorney
Slack.
Charges that the operators were in a
league with miners to violate the law. as
we'll as in a conspiracy themselves to vio-
late the antitrust laws, were also made.
It was said that the Lever act was
being grossly, openly and dehantly vio-
lated"
"A most thorough, sweeping and
searching investigation viii be made by
this grand jury, and all violators. wheth-
er they be miners, mine officers, operators
or dealers will be brought to the book, ..
said Attorney Simms in a statement made
prior to the conveying Of the jury.
RETAILERS INCLUDED
IN INVESTIGATION.
The Investigations are said TO have not
only included operators and miners, but
retail dealers and others concerned with
the coal industry as well.
The probe was based on evidence fur
nished by the department Of justice.
Operatives from the department began
an investigation Of the coal industry in
1917 in reference to charges Of a con
spracy on the part of operators. This
first investigation was mostly confined
to the central competitive field. includ-
ing four states.
Operatives from the department were
assigned to investigate the coal industry
as n result Of charges made during the
war During the coal strike of last
Continued on Page Two)