The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1918-12-03
GARFIELD ACCUSED OF
AIDING COAL DEALERS
SENATE COMMITTEE is MAKING
INVESTIGATION OF THE
FUEL SITUATION.
WANTS TO KNOW WHY DOC"
OPPOSED HYLAN'S INVENTORY
Also Would Like to Have Information
Why Culm Banks Were Not Sold.
Testimony of Numerous Witnesses
Decidedly Interesting.


Testimony of Numerous Witnesses
Decidedly Interesting.
Observation-Disclosures of coal
producing agencies to utilize culm
banks or waste coal to relieve the
fuel shortage, and Fuel Alministra-
tor Garfield's objection to Mayor Hy-
lan's inventory last month of New
York clty's coal supply, were sub
jects of inquiry today by the senate
committee investigating the fuel sit
uation.
Charges that corporations which
control the anthracite coal fields de
cline to permit the output to be
increased were made before the in
vestlgating committee by William
Wilhelm, lawyer of Pottsville, Pa
He also charged that no effort has
been made by the fuel administration
to increase production.
j. B. Neale, director of production
for the fuel administration, and own
er Of anthracite properties, told the
committee he knew of no alleged I'M
derstanding among mine owners to
keep culm off the market as means
of maintaining high prices. He attrib-
uted the failure of the owners of
culm banks to utilize fully that pro-
duce a shortage of labor and a de-
sire to prevent reduction of the out
put of fresh coal.
The New York Case.
DR.. Jonathan C. Day, commissioner
OF public works, of New York, an
other witness today, said the fuel ad-
ministration had refused to give its
approval for municipal coal yard in
New York, by which Mayor Hylan
and other officials hoped to increase
the coal supply and keep prices down.
The fuel administration objection,
DR., Day said, was based on the state
ment that such plan would interfere
with the administrator distribution
plans.
The committee asked that letters
of Fuel Administrator Garfield to
Mayor Hylan, Directing to New
York's inventory of its coal supply
be produced, and fuel administration
officials agreed to present them to-
morrow. The mayors letter to the
police commissioner ordering the sur
vey to determine whether favoritism
was being shown in the distribution of
| coal in New York was read into the
record by William P. Burr, corpora
ton counsel of New York. The may
or declared in his letter that while
there was a dangerous shortage of
coal in the city the securities of coal
producing agencies had increased in
value.
$40 Ton for Coal.
Discussing the situation in New
York, DIR. Day said the plan for the
city authorities there to establish
municipal coal yard would have saved
the people of that city 100000 in
their coal bills. He said that a plan
to obtain a supply of culm for New
York through the fuel administrator
of Lackawanna county, Pa, had been
disapproved by the fuel administra-
ton and certified that coal peddlers in
New York last winter frequently sold
coal at price equal to $40 ton to
the poor who purchased it in 100
pound lots. Replying to question
from Senator Kenyon, DR.. Day eX-
pressed the belief that the fuel ad-
ministration desired to keep the prof
its If the coal dealers up.
The committee was told by Nh.
Wilhelm that there are mines near
Pottsville which could yield a large
supply of coal, but he said the Read
ing company, the owners, will not
permit them to be worked because it
wants to keep production down. He
said he has written many letters to
Washington urging that steps be
taken to Sncrease anthracite produc-
ton, but the only replies received
were that his letters had been refer
red to Fuel Administrator Garfield.
Railroads Hold Properties.
Seventy-fve per cent of the an
thracite properties are owned by
railroad companies, Mr.. Neale told
the committee. In answer to Ques-
tions from Senator Reed as to wheth-
err the railroad owned mines engaged
in the price fixing which other mines
were compelled to meet Mr.. Neale
said there was no such understanding.
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