The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-20
Probe Begun Today Will BE
Carried Thru to Finish.
Operators VIII Be Required To
Produce Their Records.
TAKE SWORN TESTIMONY
That Is Plan Outlined by the
Attorney General.
Evidence Showing Antitrust
Violations To Be Sought.

The state is going to the mat with
the coal operators. Following the
first round of a stormy session IN the
coal probe, S. NJ. Brewster. attorney
General. declared he would continue
the Investigation by legal eXamlha-
+ions Operators and dealers Will be
called to Topeka to produce their
hooks and give sworn testimony. Evil
dence will be taken not only with
view of the state taking over the Kan
sas mine operation put OF proVlulhs
for antitrust prosecutions
Brewster will compel operators 10
reiterate today's statements unoer
oath. George Walker of the Jackson
walker coal interests, told Governor
rapper and General Brewster To-Day
that a recent cost sheet showed MS
conpany was earning a profit OF less
Than , cents a ton on its gross pro-
duction The company is providing a
million tons of coal a year in Kansas
rs per cent under railroad and indus
trial contracts. Walker told the state
officials that the. company had never
earned a dollar in Topeka
Operators Are Willing.
AL f. williams, prominent Columbus
attorney, is in Topeka representing the
coal operat tors at today's hearing. He
stated that the operators would vel
come the state investigation by the
attorney general and would SladlN
produce their books.
Il anticipated that the attorney
general would probably ask the OPP
orators to appear and testify under
oath" said Williams. 1T is perfectly
oil right with us. We can show that
we are not earning the profits many
people claim and that in many IN
stances we are losing money We Will
gladly produce our books and all pos
sible information"
Carry Probe to Finish.
Bookless. recordless and with state
ments that were neither specific nor
definite as to detail. thirty representa-
tiVes of coal mining interests in Kan
sas attended today's coal investigation
in Governor Capper's office. 1t was
explained to state officials that no
tice of today's meeting came too late
to permit the operators to prepare de
tailed information. Brewster's state
ment during the noon recess, tho,
made clear that the state does not
propose to stop at this stage of the
game. He declared the state is in
the probe to the finish. Before the
end of today's session it will be made
clear that formal testimony is to be
taken. The operators will be sum-
mOned To come with thelr DOCKS ana
to testify under oath.
Walker was the most obstinate
operator before the state officials az
the opening session. He came to town
with a crouch concerning the Usage
county strike and he told Governor
Capper Topeka newspapers were max
ing a serious situation worse thru
their publication of coal stories.
Selling conditions in Topeka also
proved a tender spot with the pOrtly
coal Chieftain
Costs Money TO Sell Coal
You people don't stop to think
that it costs a lot of money for re-
tail" said Walker. That cost is cas-
lily $3.50 a ton. Retail is a six months
business In that time you must earn
your years profit My books are open
to you We never made a dollar here
in Topeka and we are not making a
profit now. We lost money here last
year"
THE retail cost was figured before
these increases just as it is now?"
Continued ~ Page TwoI