The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-12-22
ASK COAL DEALERS
TO LET c. Of c.
d
FIX PRICE HERE
Agreement To Be Placed Be-
froe Them at DiStriCt-At-
torney'S Office Monday
Afternoon.

fair and reasonable price at which
coal shall be sold by the retail dealers
Of Memphis to local consumers viii be
determined by committee to be ap-
pointed by w. H. FitzHugh, president
OF the Memphis Chamber OF Commerce,
u a request made Monday morning by
w. d. k2ser United States district at.
toFney, is carried out The retail coal
ueaierS OF Memphis will meet at the
price OF the district attorney during
Monday Afternoon. at which time they
VII be asked TO sign an agreement
whereby they will abide by the de-
eislon reached by the price fixing COM
mittee OF the Chamber Of Commerce.
Mr. kyser Monday morning addressed
the Following letter to Mr. FitzHugh:
II received late Saturday the follow
ing telegram from Judge e. b. Ames,
assistant to the attorney general of the
United Stats, who is in charge of
prosecutions under the Lever act:
have said to Messrs. W. r. C.
Berlin and Phil Canale that If the mayor
or Chamber of Commerce will appoint
n committee to investigate the price of
coal that we will not prosecute them
for charging that price
'Inasmuch as there is no fuel admin
istration in this district to pass upon
and fix a fair and reasonable price to
appointed as soon as possible a commit
tee to fix a fair and reasonable price at
which coal should be sold to the Mem
phis consumers by the Memphis deal
ers?"
Many Raise Price.
w. II. FitzHugh, president of the
Chamber Of Commerce, stated Monday
that he would not take the initiative in
the matter Of appointing committee,
but that II he were requested to do so
4 by the government he would immedl-
lately call a meeting of the board of
4 directors and submit the matter to them
Il for approval. This statement was made
zprior to the receipt of the letter from
sthe district attorney.
Mr.. Kyser and Mr. FtzIIugh con-
#erred Sunday in reference to the mat
or and tentative agreement was
8eached at that time whereby the com
*nittee would be appointed upon the re-
guest OF the government,
III Messrs Berlin and Canale were ex-
injected to reach Memphis from Wash
9lngton soma time Monday,
IN sasFrtt n cement wiz be- l1T1Sa ed,
III the ds ierS and they viii be asked
to sign tllis agreement that they Will
sbide by the price determined upon BY
/ the Chamber of Commerce committee
Memphis dealers have declared that
Sthey could not sell coal at the price
4 fixed by the government and during last
week a number of them raised their
Eprioe TO the consumer. Messrs. Berlin
and Canale were sent to Washington
bS the dealers association to secure re-
lief IL possible.
u The decision of Judge Ames to leave
the matter in the hands Of a committee
appointed by the Chamber Of Commerce
was the result of their work while In
Washington.
u. S. Welcomes News.
Mr.. Kyser welcomed the turn Of af-
fairs Saturday and stated that he would
be very glad to have the matter decided
hy q committee. Upon the instructions
contained in Judge Ames, telegram to
Mr.. Kyser he is authorized to prosecute
any coal dealer who charges a price
above that determined upon by the
committee. The prosecutions would be
based uron the Lever act, which pro-
hibits an unreasonable profit on any
necessity
Every effort will be made by the dis
slfIct attorney to have the committee
get to work at the earliest possible mo-
Illent in order that their decision may
be made known to the public. Whether
or not the price to be fixed by the COM
nittee would be retroactive to Dec. l.,
could not be determined Monday morn
ing. - .s ,o,
dealers was made, they stated, because
OF the fact that any increase IN price
I granted mine operators under the gov
ernment arbitration plan would be re-
troactive and effective as of Dec !,
Should the committee decide that the
increase asked was not warranted the
coal dealers will doubtless be asked to
refund the excess to their customers.