The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-03-04
GRAND JURY |ND|CTS
PRODUCERS OF COAL
OPERATORS AND MINERS OF SIX
STATES ACCUSED or VIOLA.
TON SHERMAN LAW
ZIG DEFENDANTS ARE NAMED
Indictment Covers Specifically Last
Three Years IN Coal Industry and
Follows lengthy Investigation
BY Department Of Justice


Indianapolis Feb. a6.-~co-opera,ion
between coal operators aud miners in
six states "a force high prices for soft
coal by restricting pro,lmeilon was
charged yesterday by u federal grand
jury indictment returned In court here
Two hundred and twenty,sfx defend
ants. Including ut operators and min
ers and 30 operators associations or
companies, were accused 81 conspiracy
90 violate the sherman antitrust law.
The defendants live In Missouri, hi.
nois, Indiana. Kentucky. Ohio and
Pennsylvania.
Judge A. II. Anderson set May q
for arrangement aud In issuing capia.
ers for arrest of the defendants he
fixed The bond of ench al $4,000.
Names "f all defendants except IL
were made public.
Prominent operators, Including Thos.
4. Brewster. Edward C. Searls. Jack.
son berine, Phil renna and William
n. knvunaugh and high officials OF
the United Mine Workers union IN.
Guiding IT'S president. John l.. Lewis.
and Secretary VIM Hreen. Mere among
the defendants. The National Coal
association wns among the corporate
defendants.
The Indictment covers specifically
the last three years in the conl indus
try and follows nm Investigation con
Quoted almost continuously the last ~
months BY agents Of The federal de-
pnrtment of justice. The charge Is
made Ivy the indictments that nj VAR
ious conferences the miners and oper-
ators agreed 20 be partners In mining
and distributing coal. and that they
would aid one another In plans 10 in
crease wages, increase prices. create
4 schedule and otherwise limit produc-
zion and distribution. Creation Of flc-
titlous grievances WAS charged Most
Of the persons Indicted as individuals
In the new hill were among those nam.
eel as defendants In the indictment re-
turned some time ago charging viola.
ton 81 the Lever food and fuel control
act by an alleged conspiracy to curtail
production and force higher prices.
During the three-ycar period covered
q detailed history Ii given of methods
by which II IN charged the operators
and miners worked together To restrict
the production and distribution of hltu-
minnns coal. Tho charge IL made that
III. agreements entered into between
the operators and miners provided that
coal shonid not I've sold AT any time
for n price that did not Yield u profit
Ia the operator; that Increases OF
wages 10 miners should he added Il
the Price Of eoai: that competition
among the operators should he elm
mated. that ne eani should he sold
below the cost Of production and thai
the means uf increasing cost aud pro
dnc,lon In the price of coal should b.
by closing aud keeping Idle the mines
The operators established Il uniform
cost accounting system for the opera
tion 81 the mines. II Is charged and b,
agreement employed "A greater number
OF miners than was reasonably neees
sars IA operate the mines properly
Creation of 'hlah and fictitious prices
for esal was brought ahou, by the op
erRtors. according Ia the indictments
by an agreement following suspensio,
Of the national fuel regulations In Feb
ruar. tnia. not Ia contract for the IA
ture delivery of coal and M, Ia 80,
coal unless they were able To obtain ,
prie. equal to or above the price tha
had he.n fixed by the national fuel al
nainistra,Inn,
Regarding the activities Of the Nh
tianal s'nal association the indletmen
ehargss this organization j. engages
IN marking eui Eaurs into which Goa
may h. shpped aud that reports 81
production aud prices ia eaeh rene en
shls eievraivr~ to govern the suppl
and pflre II fuel