Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 83, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 January 1914 — ASKS NATIONAL MINES [ARTICLE]

ASKS NATIONAL MINES

SENATOR MAKES WEST VIRGINIA STRIKE REPORT. Martine Assails Employment of Armored Trains Against Men, Women and Children. Washington, Jan. 16.—Government ownership of coal mines is urged in the report which Senator Martine of New Jersey made to the senate committee which investigated the strike in the Cabin creek and Paint creek , districts of West Virginia. The report says government ownership is the only way to assure coal supply for future generations. The senator urges the passage of a bill making the private hiring of armed guards illegal. The report also states, “that the hiring of armed bodies of men by private mine owners and other corporations and the use of steel armored trains, machine guns and bloodhounds on defenseless men, women and children is only a little way removed from barbarism.” Senator Martine, as a member of the commlttep, took testimony in regard to charges that alien contract labor was being employed in the mines and there were attempts to suppress the delivery of the mails. He says the evidence failed to establish either of these charges. Arguments were begun before the interstate commerce commission in the Illinois coal rate cases which involve practically the entire rate fabric in the central west The case is that of the Auburn & Alton Coal company and others against a number of railroads. The complaint of the coal company is that the rates from its mines In the northern part of the Springfield rate group are too high because the group has been unduly extended.

The rates which axe assailed are those from its miaes to lowa, Missouri, southern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin points. The commission made two rulings. It dismissed the complain of the Ohio Iron & Metal company of Chicago, which attacked as unreasonable certain demurrage, drayage and switching charges made by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroad. 1 he commission also dismissed the complaint of the Ludowici-Celadon company of that city, but ordered the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad company I to modify a rule under which notice of was denied to persons not residing at the point of destination. I Philadelphia. Jan 16.-—Attorneys for i the interstate commerce commission inquired here into the alleged rate fix-, ing" between the anthracite coak carrying railroads and, the so-called rail-' road coak companies.