The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-16
COAL MEN OFFER
TO AID OFFICIALS
Wholesalers Would Like to Be
Represented on Nixon's
Special Committee.
EDISON CHIEF Is BARRED
Trade Surprised That Head of
Indicted Concern Should
BE Selected.

DC pCICCtcu.
Charles S. Allen, secretary OF the
Wholesale Coal Trade Association OF
New York. which comprises in fits MEM
bership all the big local wholesalers.
wrote yesterday TO Lewis Nixon. Public
Service Commissioner. suggesting that
practical coal man be included in the
committee OF the local utility corpora
tons appointed by him on Thursday to
supervise coal shipments from the mines
to the local bins The object OF appoint
ing the committee was to guard against
such abuses of priority permits as have
been revealed in connection with recent
Federal indictments and to prevent
other irregularities IN connection with
fuel destined for important public utility
corporations Mr.. Aliens letter reads:
"To-day's papers carry the announce
Inent that you have appointed a COM
mittee of representatives Of public utill-
ties to supervise the shipment of coal
under the Interstate Commerce Com
mission service orders giving priority
to utility company requirements
II you care to have the advice and
cooperation OF practical coal men. who
have spent considerable time on this
problem. and whose initial work would
be necessarily duplicated by your COM
mittee, as members of the committee.
this association will be glad to suggest
names of coal men whose recent CO.
operative work with the Department of
Justice has won them the Governments
praise. from which you may make
selection.
please feel free to command me IL
I can serve you. That the coal trade
may know OF my action 1 take the lib
erty OF making this letter public"
The committee named by Commits
sioner Nixon was composed of NJ. S.
Sloan, president Of the Brooklyn Edi-
son Company; John w Lieb. vice-pres-
ident and general manager of the New
York Edison Company, and Frank
Hedley. president Of the marlborough
Rapid Transit Company.
Among members of the wholesale coal
trade no little surprise was expressed
at Mr. NiXon's selection for a place on
the committee OF the chief executive
OF the Brooklyn Edison Company. a
corporation which is now under indict-
ment and under q postponement OF
pleading TO charges involving alleged
violations of the Lever law, though 1t
is conceded that the indictment does
not directly involve Mr.. Sloan per-
sonally
Retail prices OF anthracite coal re-
main high with little immediate prospect
OF abatement for the household con-
sumner. Arthur Il. Rice, secretary OF the
Retail Coal Dealers Association, says
n plan is being worked out by that or
ganization whereby it is hoped New
York may be saved from the hardships
Of an excessive coal shortage during No
vember and December. According to Mr..
Rice. the dealers themselves. unable 20
get supplies OF anthracite to fill their
| customers orders, are making plans
| whereby the limited stocks on hand will
be distributed equitably in lots large
! enough 20 prevent acute suffering In any
particular quarter.
The association, Mr.. Rice says, is
working In close cooperation with the
Board Of Health. Reports concerning
| the families which seem to be in greatest
need Will be prepared and an effort will
be made to relieve their wants first. II
/ will not be possible TO supply in ad-
vance to all individual consumers full
coal bins for the winter. but It In be-
4
actual privation can be averted until
after December /. when the expiration
| Of the Northwestern priority order will
release thousands OF cars daily and the
I Eastern seaboard VIII receive from tho
mines a more generous supply.
Coal Enough for Real Needs.
'I believe the situation will clear up"
| said NJ. j.. Burns OF Burns Brothers,
"and / do not see any reason why re-
| tail anthracite prices should soar to a
| higher level than at present. We be-
lieve we can supply anybody who is
| short OF coal. but we are not assisting
| anybody TO hoard" Mr. Burns said hard
coal prices changed every fortnight and
that Il was impossible to predict what
the scale might be two weeks from the
present He did not think the blame
rested wholly upon the shoulders OF the
producers and the dealers for high
prices, He had uncovered many in
l stances, Mr.. Burns said. where the con-
suners we're attempting TO duplicate
| orders, impelled by a panicky fear lest
the cold weather might find them fuel
less.
Protest against extortionate profiteer-
ing has taken the form in some Of the
| suburban sections of public demonstra-
| tons In f'ar kOCkaWays WneTe coal has
been retailing at from SIT to $50 n ton
and sometimes at figures in excess oil
that. n protest parade marched through
the main streets of the town Thursday
night and indignant citizens carried
torches and transparencies. After The
procession there was an open air meet.
Ing at which II was decided to petition
the Federal authorities 10 begin an IN.
vestigation similar 20 that now under
way In New York and in many other
sections Of the country. II was sug
gested that any community which con
sidered itself the victim OF proflteerinf
take similar action 60 invite relief.
IN many Long Island towns petltioni
20 that effect now are being circulated b,
the public school children. Tho Boards
| Of Trade OF Lewrence. Cedarhurst ant
Rockaway Beach already have fled petit
lions 20 the Federal authorities. The
business men OF Far Rockaway viii TAX,
their complaint and appeal directly e
! Attorney General Palmer I'm washington