Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-06


criminal prosecution Of persons or cor
porations responsible for the increases
In the prices OF milk. bread and coal.
The Interstate Commerce Commission
also is conducting an inquiry into the
alleged shortage Of coal cars. which
middlemen claim is responsible for the
rise In the price OF coal.
FACTS UNCOVERED WHICH
INDICATE CONSPIRACY
II was said in Il high administration
quarter to-day that facts have been
uncovered which indicate conspiracy
on the part OF coal operators and the
coal-carry!ng railroads To force up ar
bitrarily the price OF coal.
In substantIat!on Of this belief. Il
was pointed out the weather condi-
ilons have been "Ncclleni. so there
could be no shortage OF coal cars due
to congestion or blockade The rail
roads claim they cannot handle tho
coal output o: tho mines on account Of
the car shortage, but at both the De
partmcnt of Justice and the Interstate
Commerce Commission IL was declared
no condition exists which would cause
natural shortage of cars 1t was
added that coal cars are built especi-
ally FOR the pGrposc OF transporting
coal, and that they caunot he we'll
used for any other purpose. except by
structural changes. II was said the
number of coal ears on the various
railroads was large enough TO take
cars OF the needs OF the country
ALL SECTIONS OF COUNTRY
ARE SUFFERING EQUALLY
In further support OF the charge that
conspiracy exists, It was said that
"a nF
Ing equally. although there would be
no cause for distant points to be af.
fccted seriously because long hauls are
favored. II the allegation of a real car
shortage were true. ii was declared
only those places immediately affected
which would be the shorter hauls
would suffer. and then for only n short
time.
1T Is expected that the Interstate
Commerce Commissions inquiry will
develop evidence concerning the car
situation which will warrant action bv
the Department OF Justice 1t is un-
derstood the department will have rcp-
resentativcs at the hearings to be con-
Quoted by the commission.
From all parts or the country COM
plants have been received by the De-
partment of Justice. ard considerable
the situation. both from private per-
sons and from the offices Of district
attorneys All sections of the country
have demanded Federal action and
during the past month the department
mas become convinced that the coal
situation Is acute. 1t was hintcd that
unless relief Is obtained Immediately
Congress may be called upon to pass
extraordinary legislation for the well
fare OF the country.
CANNOT AFFORD To MINE COAL
THAT RAILROADS CAN'T HAUL
The coal operators are understood to
maintain they cannot afford to mine
more coal than the railroads can han
die. and that the facilities of transport
tation now arc such that it would be
financially disastrous for them TO in
crease their output. There Is a charge
against the middlemcn also. that be-
cause Of the scarcity OF coal they for
speculative motives, are withholding
from the market the supplies piled up
in their yards. selling il onlv at ex-
orbltant prices.
What the Department OF Justice
must prove, to establish its case is n
conspiracy for restraint OF traffic on
the part of the railroads: n conspiracy
OF Increasing the price of Goa, on the
part of the operators. and. going to
the bottom conspiracy to withhold
4 coal from the market for the purpose
OF raising the price on the part of the
mlddlcmen.
Evidence of such n conspiracy as
the last-describcd would be the fact
1t was said. that retailers have piled
up and are holding an unusual amount
of coal.
MILK INVESTIGATION
CENTERS AT BOSTON
The principal Federal inquiry into
the high price of milk centers at Bos-
ton. although Investigations are under
way In New York. Philadelphia. Wash
ington and other cities. District At
torney Anderson. OF Boston, who Is
directing the milk inquiry, has made
. three visits to Washington recently to
confer with Department Of Justice Of
flcials.