The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-03-15
n. w. II. c. ID. A. Is a Nee
essary Thing They Say.
WITNESSES TELL STORY
But at That Mr.. Jackson Of St Cloud
Could Not Get His Supply
Of Coal.

st. Paul, March l2.-That the retail
dealer of coal is necessary to the bust
ness and that all the coal should g,
through his hands, is the aim of thu
Northwestern Retail Coal Dealers asso
citation, as explained by G. H. Reeves OF
Minneapolis, its secretary and treasurer
before the joint investigating committee
of which w. A. Nolan Is chairman. TC
this end the association furnishes infor
nation to dealers and coal shippers, but
it has no control over prices, does not
furnish price schedules to its members
nor does it try to prevent sales to actual
dealers who are not members of the as
ISOLATION.
Questioned by Representative J. A.
Dalzell of Morton, the witness stated
that the association embraces four states
Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Da-
kota. 1t includes about half the deal
crs i'll that territory. 1t does not accept
any except equipped and qualified deal
ers as members, and is not organized for
pecuniary profit to the association. Mr..
Reeves said the object of the association
is to disseminate information, but not
regarding prices. In fact, he said he does
not know the retail prices and only In
l,to bn -hnl 10
is no arrangement or understanding,
written or verbal, by which shippers are
hindered from selling to those who are
not bona -fide members of the assOcia-
ton. Non members have the same rights
and privileges and get coal at the same
price.
Referring to c. Z. jackson of St.
Cloud, who testified last week that he
tried to start in the coal business, but
could not get any coal from the ship
ping companies, and who said he was
told at each place to join the retailers
association, Mr.. Reeves said Mr.. jackson
came to his office last fall and advised
him he intended to 60 into the coal bust
ness and wanted to know where to get
coal. Mr.. Jackson was told that the as
ISOLATION does not sell coal. and he was
referred to the shippers. Mr.. Reev@
asked Mr.. jackson if he was equipped,
which he said he was not, and he was
told they would want him to be equip
ped before they would recognize him as
a dealer.
"Why was he directed to you? asked
Mr.. Dalzell.
Because the trade has recognized the
necessity of the retail coal dealer, and
shipping companies cannot consistently
sell to every one that somes along. II
the shipping company sold to the con.
sumner it would take chances OH losing
the orders of the dealer. Before the as
ISOLATION was formed the shipping COM
panies favored the dealers"
'Your object, then, is to establish the
fact as to who are bona-fide dealers and
prevent shipping companies from ship
ping to consumers"
1--WE gather information and give it to
the companies, but it is up to them if
they shall ship to the consumer. We dc
that all the time and there is no con-
cealment."
you 40 all you can to prevent sales
to consumers" asked Mr.. Nolan.
1--WE give them the facts and let t. -
use their own judgment"
But all you can do to prevent out
siders from getting coal strengthens the
associations?"
.'Yes, | think So"
DO you know whether the same price
is made to members and non members p
asked Dalzell.
Mr.. Reeves said that the same price
was made to members and non members
but he did not think the shipping com
panies all had the same price. But TIT
association has nothing to do with price
and does not advise on that subject. II,