The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-01-08
COAL DEALERS APPEAR
BEFORE THE SENATE
DISTRICT COMMITTEE
Delegation Responds to Re-
quest Of Senate.
CONSIDERED AS COMMAND
Local Traders Surprised at Action by
Congress Regarding Local Sit
uaILon.

When the Senate Committee on the
District of Columbia met this afternoon
at , O'Clock for the purpose Of investi-
eating the local coal situation Drac-
ticaIIy every one OF the local coal dealers
who had been invited was in attend
ance. While the request for their pres
ence was in the form OF a polite invita-
tion. it was generally locked upon as a
command and was graciousIy acquiesced
IN.
The action of the Senate yesterday in
directing the Committee on the District
Of Columbia 10 investigate the cause Of
the distress IN this city ocCasiOned by
the shortage OF the coal supply and the
excessive prices that are prevailing,
coming, as it did, Immediately upon the
allegation of one OF the local coal deal
ers that the existing prices were IN
warranted, caused something Of a sen
sation among a number of the local
dealers The promptness with which
the committee responded TO the instruc-
tions of the Senate, and Immediately
summoned a number of the dealers TO
appear before II this afternoon. was also
somewhat disconcerHng.
That some Of the local dealers have
sacrificed their own interests TO those
of the people appears to be true, but
that wholesale robbery Of the coal con
sumers Of the city has been practiced,
and that the price of coal has been run
Up 10 almost prohibitive figures is said
to be equally certain. Where the re
sponsibiIity for this condition rests re
mains for the Senate committee to de
termine. Either some OF the local deal
ers have been participating in the eX-
cessive profits. wrung from the public
OF else they. like the public. have been
robbed.
Cost Little Greater.
The cost Of mining and transporting
coal is little greater today than it was
a year ago. and vet in many instances
81 Is retailing at two or three times
the price that IT brought previously.
It is understood that an invitation viii
be extended to the members of the Citi-
zens' Coal Syndicate Committee, that
has so aggressively pursued the subject,
to be present before the Senate com
mittee to give them the benefit Of their
knowledge of the situation. Barry
BuIkley. the secretary OF the committee.
was today in conference with Senator
Stewart upon the subject, The intro
ductfon Of the resolution in the Senate
Yesterday was inspired not only by the
personal experiences OF the members OF
that august body in their endeavoT to
secure coal. but by the conditions which
were revealed by the Citizens Coal Syn
dicate Committee.
This committee has received assUT-
ances that coal can be bought IN the
bftuminous regions for $3.50 a ton. This
price is an advance OF $3.50 over that
which prevailed over a year ago From
all Of the mining regions OF West Viz
ginia the freight rate TO Washington is
81 50 which would make it cost $40
on the rails in this city With The cost
of hauling and fair profit added there
appears 10 be no reason why this coal
should not be sold at s., or 1926 at the
outside
Satisfactory Receipts Today.
Receipts Of coal this morning were
satisfactory. On the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad thirty-six cars Of coal
remained on the track over night. This
supply was increased this morning by
the receipt OF fifty cars Of hard coal
and thirty-six cars of soft ON the
Pennsylvania lines the condition was
equally satisfactory In taking into ac-
count The daily receipts OF coal it must.
however be borne IN mind that q large
proportion OF the receipts are con
signed direct TO Government depart
menJs or other large consumers
Prices today we're unchanged. The
furry OF snow caused an uneasinesz
among consumers whose coal bins are
nearly empty, but the dealers met the
demand as best they could. Il is with
difficulty that any Of the Reading or
Pennsylvania Railroad coal can be pro
cured, as practically none Of il is in the
open market, but fairly prompt deliv-
cries can be secured from number of
dealers at from SO to Sl2 ton for an
thracite, 50 for spIint, and from $3.50 TO