Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-12
CHARGES j. S. COAL
IS SOLD ABROAD
At HIGH PREMIUM
New York official Declares
Mines Never Have Any Coal
at domestic Price,"

NEW YORK, October 12-While
commissioner of Public Markets
O'Malley was warning Mayor Hylan
of possible s25-a-ton coal this winter
Public Service Commissioner Nixon
began an investigation of public util-
ity concerns, some of which he
charged with obtaining coal on fed
eral permits and then selling to job
bers.
Swedish and Canadian buyers are
paying premiums for American coal"
Commissioner O'Malley said. 'They
are taking all they can get at So
ton, while the highest authorized
price of legitimate companies for
American consumers is $50. The
mines have developed system of
never having any coal at $50, but
quote all the higher prices you want
to listen to-
Four million tons went to Canada
last summer. Commissioner OMa1ley
reported, and month ago, while
New York householders pleaded for
domestic supply 55,627 tons We're
shipped to Canada and the New York
market was consistently undership-
ped"
They are forcing us into cold
weather, when we will cry for pre-
MUM fuel, even at S25 tom, he
added.
Forced Up Coal Price.
Further light on the coal situation
and how the juggling of fuel has re-
tarded industry and caused incon-
venience along the Atlantic seaboard
is pointed out in the report of United
States Senator Calder's committee on
reconstruction and production made
public yesterday. The primary pur-
pose of the committee was to ascer-
tain why building materials were not
available for construction, but the
committee began to inquire into the
coal situation, says the report, when
it found that the Interstate Com
merce Commission had issued orders
that all fiat and open-top cars be
withheld from shippers of building
materials and used exclusively for
coal shipments.
These cars, it is declared in the re-
port. fell into the hands OF groups OF
spectators, who instead of allowing
them to be loaded with coal pur-
chased under contract by industrial
concerns. routed them to whatever
destination promised the greatest
profit. 1t is alleged that by this ma
fuel in transit became what is known
as spot coal" The committee found
that when coal in cars at tidal and
interior points should have been
around 81 a ton, the manipulatorS
forced the spot price to from $40 to
1923 a ton.
SCRANTON, Pa. October 1.-THE
decision of Attorney General Palmer
to gather evidence against anthracite
mine owners with a view to bringing
prosecutions for alleged profiteering
follows local agitation against the
high prices charged consumers in
Scranton and vicinity. So far, it is
said, the contemplated prosecutions
are only local in character, but may
spread to other jurisdictions.
1t is alleged that local consumers
whose homes are directly over coal
beds can obtain the fuel for do
mestic use only after they pay prices
that are almost equal to those charged
in New York and Philadelphia after
freight rates and other handling
charges have been added.
The federal grand jury for the mid
die Pennsylvania district will meet
October Is to consider evidence of al
legged profiteering.
Attorney General PaImer's present
intention is to lay the case of anthra-
cite coal profiteers before the grand jury
in Scanton, Pa, on the 18th of this
month. The Department of Justice has
thus far taken no definite steps toward
prosecution, but is making careful
investigation, it was learned at the
department today, and expects to lay
its finding before the grand jury when
1t meets on the 18th.
The attitude of the department is
said to be for vindication of the hard
coal trade if it can be proved innocent
or the charge of profiteering, and that
if found guilty it should be severely
punished. The coal men will be forced
to LAY their cards upon the table"