The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-05
High Prices The Past Winter
Due 10 These Organizations.
AGAINST PUB &c POLICY.
The Massachusetts, Investigating Committee
Finds q DepiorahIs State Of
Affairs.

Boston. May 5-While recognizing that
the primary cause of the high price OF
coal last winter was the strike, and the
ern markets by the Independent operators
the legislative coal investigating COM
mittee, which iied it's report yesterday.
flnds that in many cases local dealers
took advantage OF the situation to exact
from the public the highest prices OBJ
tainsble. without reference to the quest
ion Of whether or not they were Obtain
ing fair profit.
The committee also finds that the OPP
portunity for this action by the local
dealers wac greatly facilitated by the
general existence throughout the COM
monwealth OF coal clubs. so-called.
The committee finds that the high ship
ping rates were due TO inability of ship
pers to get cargoes.
The bulk OF the report deals with the
coal clubs. which are severely criticised.
especially the Boston Coal club and the
New England Retail Coal Dealers asso-
ciatton.
The committee recommends a bill pre-
venting such monopolies, as we'll as a
bill for the public weighing OF coal. and
In conclusion recommends that the testi-
mony be referred to the attorney general.
evidence OF violation of existing laws he
institute prosecutions.
The committee states that II found in
every city where Investigation was made.
with one exception, namely, the city OF
Lawrence. there existed a coal club or as
sociation. They found two leading ones
TO be the Coal club OF Boston and vici-
nifty and the New England Retail Coal
Dealers association, the former having
Ia Att
embracing practically all the coal deal
ers In Greater Boston. and the latter
newly formed. It's am being TO include
all OF the all-rail coal dealers in the New
England states. Both have regular offl-
GERS and printed bylaws, and attempt to
enforce compliance with the same py
means of n system OF fines.
The committee says In brief that the
Coal club of Boston numbers among its
members practically all persons in Dos-
ton and vicinity. who control toe facill-
ties for the distribution OF coal, and that
In so far as It's members adhere to the
recommendations OF It's executive COM
mittee an absolute monopoly Of the coai
business In Boston and vicinity is Sc.
cured.
There can be no question, Il says, but
that the object of this club IS u arbi-
trarily control the prices and conditions
under which coal shall be sold and daiv-
cred In Boston and vicinity. BY "arbl-
trarily" Is meant simply without refer
ence TO competition and the laws o. sup
ply and demand.
The committee thinks the operations
OF this club and such organizations tend
TO create an absolute monop1ly OF a me-
cecsity OF life without any attendant
public supervision or contfol. AMI are,
to say the least, against good public poll
icy and destructive OF that competition
which In the only assurance to the com
sumer OF reasonable price. The com
mittee believes that the existence OF these
clubs was responsible TO n certain extent,
although, Of course. not exclusively, fer
the conditions which have pr " iiled DIR
ing the past winter.
The committee recommends that the
testimony taken by IL at the various
hearings be referred to the attorney gem
eral. with the request that he examine
the same, and IL he finds that there IL
sufficient evidence of violation OF tyist-
ing law ne will institute prosecutions.