The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-31
TINE TO FIND out.
Coal Inquiry Instigated by the
Mayor May Throw Light on
Speculation.
The Regular Retail Dealers Promise
to Cooperate Heartily in the
i. Investigation.

Z If "the operators can prevent sscalpers
from handling coal when it is necessary
to keep, prices up, why can't they adopt
a. similar course when it is advisable and
humane to keep prices down? Sz.,.-.
This is the problem which the state OF
Minnesota and the city of Minneapolis
have separately undertaken to solve.
Three seasons ago. the sliding scale Of
anthracite prices was introduced. A fiat
rate was announced early in the summer
and a fixed amount was added each
month till the maximum was reached in
September. There was great grumbling
among consumers over this evidence of
mnnopolistlcs domination. The local deal
ers shrugged their shoulders and said:
What can we do? We are IN the same
boat. Its the operators. If we don't
stick to the schedule, we get no coal. )"
ing their orders SO as to buy several car
loads Of anthracite, learned that such a
course had been fOreseen and fOrestalled
by these same operators. No orders for
coal for local delivery would be taken by
any mining Or dock company except for
delivery through recognized retailers and
at the regular schedule price: In return
for the dealers fidelity. they were assured
that scalpers would be abolished and they
were. -. $500, :
Now, however, the scalper has reap
peared. AS detailed in T h e Journa l
yesterday; anthracite was being SOLD at
$40 a. ton from Lumber Exchange Office.
Regular dealers wash their hands of the
affair and explain that this speculator has
undoubtedly bought his coal through Chi
cago from the independent operators,
who have broken away from the big
show. The local men say this coal cost
the scalper not more than $3.50 a ton on
track in Minneapolis. Buyers were ap-
parently glad to get the coal at the stiff
price Of $780, When one customer wanted
a half ton for $40, he was told that he
would have to pay for the hauling. '1''
This dealer explained that he expected
to have several more cars here to-day and
that he could get all the coal he wanted
in Chicago provided he was willing to
pay $40 or Sill.
More Speculation In Sight.
Other large dealers still insist that it
Is impossible to get coal in Chicago. but
that when they can purchase any, they
will retail it at SO. One large dealer pre-
dicted that Minneapolis would be flooded
next week with speculative coal, while
local dealers would still be without it. 1t
will be governed by Chicago prices.
In view Of this development, the letter
of Mayor Haynes to the council last night
calling for All investigation Of the fuel
situation, is peculiarly timely. The mayor
said this morning:
1T Is generally admitted that the coal
supply is absolutely under the control Of
interests which. If they desire, can pre-
vent spectators from getting any sup
plies whatsoever: The fact that specu-
lators are now operating is a strong 1ndi-
cation that there is an agreement between
them and the operators or interests very
close to them. I hope that the Mime
apolis council committee can discover the
facts in the local situation and show just
who is responsible"
Asked what powers the council COM
mittee would have, the mayor said il
would be an informal inquiry, and that
the attendance Of witnesses could only
be requested.
s.But if they don't come added the
mayor, II think the public viii eonstr,1e
Fit as an admission and draw it's own con-
illusions.
The manager of one of the large com
panies said this morning that all the rep
utable coal concerns, or their northwest
ern representatives, would welcome
thorough investigation such as Mayor
Haynes has proposed. . Il
1t is clear from the attitude of these
men that they will gladly give testimony
at the meetings Of the committee.
One Of the coal company managers said
that the attitude of the mysterious Lun1-
Der Exchange man who had Scalped a cal
of coal was reprehensible in the extreme
when he took advantage Of the need OF
the people, especially on a cold day like
Yesterday, in Offering to them at $50 tor
what was to some an actual necessity.