The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-06-28
RAILROADS BLAMED
FOR PRICES
CONTINUED from page one.)
dustries are bidding this high or high
er for labor.
The Soft Coal Trust

uuS LIN al . UAuoAlA5 eAAS hA6AA ~ NAAS~~
er for labor.
The Soft Coal Trust.
NEW YORK, June 2S-Evidence
tending to show that the so called
soft coal trust, whose members are
now on trial in federal court here,
conspired to fix war prices to the
British admiralty, was introduced to-
day. An extract of letter from one
of the alleged trusts operators agent
was read into the. record which sug-
gested it would be better to close the
coaling stations at Hampton Roads
than cut prices.
These facts developed in the courts
probe of the bunker coal situation.
Bunker coal is ship coal used in the
American and British navies. Chair
man w. w. Willett, of the bunker
coal committee Of the alleged trust,
testified that at conference here
November II. 1916, gentlemen's
agreement was made to raise the
price Of bunker coal from $3.50 a ton
to SIS, for foreign trade, including the
British admiralty and British mef-
chant shipping. Evidence tending TO
show that agreement relative to the
price to the British admiralty in VIC
lation of the Sherman antitrust act,
was entered into at this meeting, was
introduced in the form of a letter
from J. A. Renehan, an operator. to
Lambert Bros. Ltd, of London. The
letter said in part:
II have cabled you that the price
of bunker next year will be SIS, trim
mings additional as usual.
at has simply reached the point
where standard q. S. admiralty coal
shippers have got to come together
and not pay any attention to the vel
low dog.
ut would be better to close the
coaling station at Hampton Roads
than to cut prices"
The yellow dogs is supposed to
refer to Independent operators who
cut prices.
A mass Of corrobratory correspond
ence and cables was introduced in
connection with this situation, tend
ing to show that the operator arbi-
trarily fixed prices to suit them
selves and forced their agent to put
through the advances.
Fixing the Price.
WASHINGTON. June %. = Coal
operators and members Of the advis-
DRY commission of the council of ma
tional defense today reported an
agreement to fix maximum price
for coal, effective July /. A price
will be submitted by the operators,
but the maximum price will be fixed
finally by the secretary of the in
terror, the federal trade commission
and committee of the council of ma
tional defense, according to the plan
agreed to. However, the federal
trade commission which has not TAX
en- part in the operators and councils
meetings still must agree to the plan.
At meeting of several coal oper-
ators here today, presided over by
F. S. Peabody, chairman Of the de-
Tense council coal committee, resolu-
lions were adopted for appointment
for committee Of seven for each
coal producing state and an addition
al committee Of seven appointed by
the representatives of the anthracite
industry in attendance at the con,
vention. These committees will con-
fer with the secretary of the interior,
trade. commission and the defense
councils coal committee to stimulate
production and distribution. Com
mittees of coal operators, it was re-
solved further, will report conditions
and regarding cost of production of
coal in each district, the operators
SoAhi&iiIttS VIII Dt CIOlueQ DY TeSOlu-
ton with discretionary authority to
consent to such maximum prices,
coal f. o. b., cars at mines in the
various districts as may be named by
the secretary of interior, the trade
commission and the defense councils
coal committee.
1t was ALSO resolved that the sever
al states represented at the conven.
ton, present to the government sug-
gestions as to the price to be fixed. !
The committee authorized govern
ment representatives named forth |
with to issue a statement fixing a |
tentative maximum price at which |
coal shall be sold after July /, and !
until fair and reasonable price is |
fixed by the government.
Mines In Dancer