New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-05
COAL INQUIRY WILL
Be MADE EXHAUSTIVE
Merchants Association Names
Committee of Five to InveSti-
gate Entire Subject.
HENRY DALEY, CHAIRMAN
A. j. Elkus Will Act as Counsel,
and. if Facts Warrant 1t,
Complaint Will Be Made
to the Government.

President Henry R Towne of the Mer-
chants Association announced last night
the names of five members who have ac-
copied app ,intment to the committee of the
association which will Investigate the an
thracite grab. Henry Daley will he chair
man, the other members being Abram |.
Elkus. William Feilowes Morgan Edward
d. Page and Frederick h. De Berard. Mr..
De Berard is to act secretary of the
body.
These men will meet to organize i'm a 10y
or two and then plunge into their work "f
ascertaining just how much of a squeeze
the coal consumer of New York city is en-
during as the result Of the present rise OF
Is cents ton in the price of prepared sizes
of anthracite and it's forerunners
Mr.. Daley, the chairman, likes nothing
better than stiff fight for the sake Of
principle, to Judge from the record he mad
i'm the eight-year successful campaign Tor
the free entry of denatured alcohol INTO TINS
country. lie conducted that campaign
AGAINST the powerful stand-pat element
which then ruled Congress. Mr.. Daley
was formerly a member of bazel' DdleS
d Co, manufacturers of perfumer!' lie
has now retired from active business ana
is I'm a position TO give his entire urne u
the anthracite investigation.
Mr. Elkus is member OF the Ia" nrth Vi
James. Schell x Elkus. He is couhSeI lo'
the legislative commission when Is lhNeS'
tigating factory conditions throughout the
state and on many occasions mas acteu as
special counsel for the Merchants Assocla-
ton in relation to commercial legislation
and commercial law.
Mr. Morgan is president OF the tarrlsoii
Street Cold Storage Company anu secre-
,arv-trsasurer of the Brooklyn Bridge
Freezing and Cold Storage Company lie
is familiar with business condluohs Ill tlie
city in relation to coal supply ana price
He is lawyer by profession ana "uS-
Tee of Columbia University.
Edward d. Page has given much atleii-
ton to the study of economic questions anu
tho principles which underHe theill' ne
was until recently a member OF the nihl Vi
Faulkner Page & Co, commission hleI-
chants. He is no longer engaged III ac'Ne
business. and. like Mr.. Daley VIII DC aoio
to devote time to the inquiry.
Mr.. De Berard is the statistlcian OF the
Merchants Association of New YORK. anu
will act as secretary Of the committee
May Enlarge the Committee
II is not improbable other members WIZ
be added to the committee al It's own sorOi-
tation. once It has surveyed the task before
il and made it's plans in some detalI.
The board Of directors of the Merchants
Association. as a result of The Tribune's
omuhatic protest against the hiGh-handed
methods of the anthracite trust and the
int IF mo called
special meeting last Wednesday at which
they passed resolutions calling for the APP
pointment Of such a committee TO inyest-
,atc the whole subject. and, if facts war
rant il, complain to the proper government
al agency. The directors determined that
an impartial and thorough investigation
should be made Of the cost of producing
Transporting and distributing coal.
The investigation will cover not only the
present increase in the price of coal, but
the entire subject of the relation of the fuel
supply to the domestic needs and industrial
development Of the city. In accordance
With the breaGth OF its inquiry the commit
Zee will be known as the Committee on the
''ual Supply of New York
In his letter notifying the members OF
tic Committee Of their appointment, Mr..
we says.
The committee thus appointed will have
the opportunity of rendering great pubic
service The cost Of fuel is a factor Of
Fundamental importance to our industries
and commerce and To al our citizens. The
adjustment of wages paid for coal mining
Is q matter Of agreement between the coal
operators and IN" miners.
-, Heretofore che adjustment Of the prices
for anthracite coal in this market has
boon made by the coal operators without
. consultation with the other party in inter-
cet, namely. the coal consumers. The lat
tor have not only been without voice in
these adjustments. but 2lso without any
accuat. and complete understanding Of the
facts rGdcr'NUS thorl
viii Furnish the Facts.
Tho work Undertaken by our committee
VII remedy at least the latter deficiency.
b. furnsh;n. the public with reliable ana
Impartial knowledge Of the facts, it is
hcVCd HAT il may alsc establish. or point
cut. a va whereby in the future the con
su;nera f coal MAY he represented and
tbci, interests fairly prOteCtGd i'm the future