The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1916-11-09
ANOTHER PROBE
into HIGH COSTS.
COAL OPERATORS MAY BE PROS
ECUTED BY u. S. DEPART
MENT OF JUSTICE.

L
MENT OF JUSTICE.
Washington, November AT
torney General Gregory has autor-
lied the following formal announce
ment:
The department of justice is in
vestigating the recent abnormal and
suspicious increases in the prices of
various necessities of life. especially
coal.
Whenever any such increase is
found to have been due to conspir-
acy or other unlawful action. the
department will invoke Sgainst the
offenders the severest penalties
which the law prescribes.'
Three separate Investigations into
the abnormally high price OF COM
modities, it was said at the depart
ment, are in progress. with a view
of criminal prosecution of persons or
corporations responsible for the in
creases in the prices of milk. bread
and coal. The interstate commerce
commission is also conducting an in
ouiry into the alleged shortage of
coal cars which middlemen claim is
responsible for the rise in the price
of coal.
1t was said in high administra-
ton quarter that facts have been
uncovered which indicate conspir-
acy on the part of coal operators and
the coal-carrying railroads to force
up arbitrarily the price of coal.
In substantiation of this belief. it
was pointed out. the weather con-
ditions have been excellent. so there
could be no shortage of coal cars due
to congestion or blockade. The rail-
roads claim they cannot handle the
coal output of the mines on account
of the car shortage, but at both the
department of justice and the inter-
state commerce commission it was
declared no condition exists which
would cause a natural shortage of
cars. 1t was added that coal cars
were built especially for the purpose
of transporting coal, and that they
cannot be we'll used for any other
purpose except by structural changes.
It was said the number Of coal cars
on the various railroads was large
enough to take care of the needs of
the country.
In further support of the charge
that a conspiracy exists, it was said
that all sections of the country are
suffering equally, although there
would be no cause for distant points
to be affected seriously because long
hauls are favored. If the allegation
of a real car shortage were true, 1t
was declared. only those places i'm
mediately affected, which would be
the shorter hauls, would suffer, and
then for only a short time.
1t is expected that the interstate
commerce commissions inquiry will
develop evidence concerning the car
situation which will warrant action
by the department of justice. 1t is
understood the department will have
representatives at the hearings to
be conducted by the commission.
From all parts of the country COM
plants have been received by the de-
partment of justice, and considerable
data has been gathered bearing on
the situation, both from private per-
sons and from the Offices of district
attorneys. All sections of the coun-
try have demanded federal action.
and during the past month the de-
partment has become canvinced that
the coal situation is acute. 1t was
hinted that unless relief is obtained
Immediately Congress may be called
upon to pass extraordinary legisia-
tion for the welfare of the country.
The coal operators are understood
.;nto:n tbot thev cannot afford