Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-06-27
COAL OPERATORS HEARD
ON FEDERAL PRICE FIXING

Hearings before the Senate interstate
commerce committee on bills propos
arbitrary prices for coal and railroad
supplies were resumed today, with coal
operators from Ohio and western Penn.
sylvania as witnesses.
Representatives Of the city Of Cleve.
land Also appeared to protest against
the high price of fuel in that city.
From information gained through the
hearings. which will take into consid.
Grafton the production. distribution an6
transportation of fuel. the committee
the food bill now being debated in the
Senate looking to governmental regu-
lation Of basic commodities.
Denies Operators Raised Prices.
W. s. Boyle Of Chicago, a coal operator
having mining interests in Indiana, de-
MED that the operators are responsible
for the advance in coal, but declared that
the buyers have dictated the price
He said one thing the operators could
do to affect the price would be to restrict
was being done.
Twenty-Five mines have been estab-
lished in the last year in Indiana, he
declared. and every effort is being
demand. II the coal men get to the
point Of asking unreasonable prices, he
said. he believed the government
should nix the price. Mr.. Boyle said
the price OF coal in Indiana has been
year. but this is less than was asked
in other districts.
Makes Profit Of so Cents a Ton.
He said his firm had made a profit
Of about so cents a ton recently. which
no thought was reasonable. but added
he thought operators should receive a
profit Of about 81 a ton.
Replying to questions asked by SEN
ator Pomerene. Mr.. Boyle said the con-
sumers bid against each other to get
possession of coal and the operators
took advantage of the situation He
added. however. that the operators
are patriotic. and when the govern
ment asks them to reduce their prices
they are going to do it willingly.
Mr.. Boyle said the railroad situation
was hadicapping the coal industry. az
the transportation demands. Labor
shortage Is also affecting the industry
In Indiana. he declared
Senator Cummins asked II he thought
advantage Of the situation to make up
losses suffered during the past ten
years by the coal operators.
Eyes. do" Mr.. Boyle answered. II
think we are entitled to make ali we
can"
II. B. Willard a Witness.
H. B. Willard Of Cleveland, repre-
senting the United States Coal Com
pany, testified regarding the cost of
coal. He said the average cost to pro-
duce was from 31.1zA to 31.15 a ton,
and last month II amounted to SLIT.
The average price received by his
company last year was $1.15. with the
highest price ranging from 1920 to
s135. This year the price has ranged
from S1s5 to $3.50 a ton. while the
average profit has been about rs cents
a ton.
Charges that the Pennsylvania rail-
road closed his mind because he re-
fused to furnish that railroad with coal
were made by Mr.. Willard.
Give us the cars. compel the railroad
to put the cars into the mines and your
problem will be solved" he declared.
He said that instead OF coal cars being
furnished to the opsaat they ara
$50 the people can joy ride around the
country
MI. willard charged that hysteria
was mainly responsible for the situa-
ton.