Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-06
COAL SPECTATORS
FLAYED IN SENATE
Prosecutions Under Sherman
Act Are Hinted at in
Significant Remarks.
PRICE BOOSTER ARRAIGNED

1t looks as II they had Old King Coal
on the run in Congress and in the 1nves-
tigating and prosecuting departments of
the government. Another despot bids fair
to bite the dust
The londg-suffering consumer Is appar-
emily coming into his own as the prices
Of coal fall. following the exposure in Off
cial quarters Of the nefarious practices Of
coal spectators and dealers who have
taken advantage of the public to their
own vast pecuniary benefit.
And the beauty of 1t all is that the
present tumble in prices promises to be
only a beginning, with lower prices to
the small-bin housekeeper yet to come.
In several directions all signs are now
pointing to this consummation most de-
voutly to be wished.
More than that. prosecutions under the
ture Of the situation calculated to dis
courage repetition of the extortion during
the winter. Highly significant was the
guarded remark made in the Senate yes
terday by Senator Pomerene. a member
Of the Senate committee on interstate
commerce, that is now investigating the
COAL pTOuuctlOH anu PRICES ne CduliouS-
ly admitted that there had been investi-
CATION of the question whether the Sher-
man act had been and Is being violated,
intimating that there is something
doing" in the direction Of cognizance by
the prosecuting branch of this phase.
The federal trade commission expects
to complete within two weeks a further
investigation Of the coal situation and to
make public a report on the output, prices
and transportation problems. This report
%N he hHy he
government and the public. and 1t is fore
casted that following it there will be a
further lowering Of prices on soft coal and
presumably also on anthracite
Running Down Paid Emissaries.
Touching anthracite. the govern
ment's secret agents are at work in
the Pennsylvania fields running down
suspected paid emissaries of the Ger
man government, who are working
through the I. W. W. to foment strikes
and curtail production. The United
States district attorney at Scranton has
already arrested one Organiser Of the
l. W. W. and charged him with being
an agent of the German government.
Prussian kultur in the coal fields is to
be discouraged.
Yesterday was a bad day in the Sem
ate for the coal spectators, price
blazing family hearth-or rather fur
nace-for they had a showing up that
was merciless. Senator Pomerene
started the ball rolling and senators
and coast added their testimony to the
evidence and strengthened the indict-
ment against the coal price holsters.
Instances were cited showing amaz-
ing conditions Of speculation, swollen
profits and brazen extortion, practiced
In he In fa he
internal revenue bureau can get a line
on the coal dealers thus exposed Uncle
Sam ought to make rich haul under
the excess profits section of the new
war tax bill. 1t is suggested.
Holding Back Ladened Cars.
The cold figures of the price of coal
at the mouth of the mine and the prices
paid by the consumers were produced
and compared, while the profits of the
intermediary dealers were estimated
Such playful little antics as holding
long lines of ladened cars in the out
bid each other for the few tons in
sight. supposedly indicating a coal
scarcity. was the mildest OF the prac-
tices of the spectators. To be sure
the holding of the cars, but as was
shown in one case cited. the demurrage
was but $500 and the SPECTATORS profit
$500.
Senator Pomerene estimated that in
the past six months the coal barons had
made a profit which would amount to
s1.200.000.00 a year II allowed to con-
tinue. The only excuse offered by the
coal men. according to Senator Pom
creme. was I'VE have played in hard
luck Tor several years: we ought to be
permitted to recoup our losses covering
a period of years gone by"
Rapacity the Principal Reason.
THE principal reason" continued
Senator Pomerene. land 1 say It with
out any mental reservation whatever.
the principal reason for the increase of
these prices is the rapacity of the peo-
Pile who are selling the coal Up until
this time. when this subject was given
some publicity here in the halls OF
Congress. all the coal operators were
talking about the prices of coal going
| upward. Now. since legislation is
threatened. they are talking about
prices being reduced"
Senator Smith of Michigan pointed
out that last year the West Virginia
mines turned out 2o.000.000 tons more
than the preceding year. and Senator
Shafroth showed that. according to a
geological survey report of several
years ago, the price Of West Virginia
| coal at the mine mouth was 30 cents a
ton. Much of Washington's soft coal
| supply comes from West Virginia, it is
| said.
! Some senator's wanted to hang the
! coal spectators. out Of hand but took
| comfort from the suggestion that the
| Department of Justice Is on their track
| and that coal prices are coming down
| with the alacrity of Davy Crockett's
| coon.
TO REPORT IN TWO WEEKS