New-York tribune., 1920-11-16
Direct Evidence
Of,PrOfiteerino
In Coal Found
District Attorney Lewis
Says Price Scared as
the Result of Reselling
Between Mid dlemen
Calder Outlines Plan
Wants Federal Board to
: Fix Cost All the WAY
From Mines to Public

Direct evidence Of profteerine BY
means Of reseling anthracite coal at
the mines from one middleman to an
, other was obtained yesterday by Dis
, trict Attorney Harry f. Lewis, Of
Brooklyn, during his investigation into
the exorbitant price OF coal. This was
but one of four important develop
monts in the serious situation arising
out Of the coal shortage that is grip
ping greater New York and nearby
cities. The others were:
Senator Calder in an interview in
Chicago outlined his plan for govern
mont control of the entire coal indus
try, which viii be introduced in Con-
Sress next month unless there is an
immediate reduction in the price of
coal to the consumer,
The Department. Of uea,tn. working
in cooperation with the Anthracite Dis
tribution Committee, yesterday catab-
lished the first Of 4 series Of coal STA
'tions from whici, emergency coal will
be sold in small lots to the needy.
The situation in Jersey City is so
serious that the City Commissioners
yesterday decided to appoint a fuel
investigator Immediately. with full
powers to make a complete ,nvestiga-
ton Of alleged profitcering and ~e
selling of coal
Catders Statement
Senator Calder, in his interview a..
cElcngo with representative Of The
Black Diamond. coal TRACE publica-
ton, said: "If coal prices do not dron
and drop to sane level in a very
short time I shall introduce bin In
Congress which, if passed, will author
ilc the appointment OF what might be
termed National Coal Commission.
ihls commission would be cmpow-
cred to fix and regulate coal prices.
not at the mines alone. but in every
step taken in the distribution of coal
up until it is placed in the bins Of
consumers. This commission would
also be empowered to regulate the
transportation of coal and in general
TO dictate all those matters which enter
INTO the marketing OF the nations fue
SUPPLY
The evidence obtained by Distric.
Attorney Lewis yesterday vas in CON
rection with the supply to large
Brooklyn retailer. This showed that
more than fifty per cent Of the coal
he sold had TO be purchased through
New York middleman. This middle
man bought it in the anthracite re-
gions from other middlemcn, and was
compelled to pay an average price of
5lo.o0 tor. at he same time that the
railroad controlled mines were selling
at an average of $50 a ton for the
same grades Of coal.
DR.. Royal S. Copeland, Commissions
cr Of Health, yesterday announced his
department would cooperate in the dis
trlbutlon of the so-callcd emergency
coal that is being rushed to this city
by anthracite operators in conjunction
with the committee headed by John T.
Birmingham, of 120 Broadway, who
was appointed by The operators to
supervise tho distribution.
so Cents for lC0 Pounds
For this purpose, Dr.. Copeland said.
arrangements had been made with the
STOKES Coal Company, at Thirty
fourth Street and Ninth Avenue, TO
handle the emergency coal there for
the surrounding districts This coal
Will be supplied in lots from 100
pounds to ton to those who arc in
urgent need. For 100 pound lots the
price will be eighty cents Compared
with the prices charged last year for
small lots, this is said to be a reason
able charge. The price Of onc-ton lots
has not yet been determined
John r. Berm.ngham, chairman of
the committee, yesterday said that the
first shipments Of the emergency coal
reached the city Saturday, and that it
would come forward steadilv NOW