South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-10-14
BL4NES STUDEBAKERS
FOR PRICES OF COAL

1CtlNIINC ED F,ROM PAGE ONE
document asked Mr.. Patton if he
did not tell an examiner for the
commission that he operated in 1920
for $1.95 a ton He denied this
saying that he thought he had told
the examiner the figure was 1881
and that that was only approximate
as he did not take the figure from
his books A. l. Donaldson, chief
accountant for the board Of &C
counts, who visited Mr.. Patton S
firm testified that he made no eX-
animation OF the books but that as
he remembered it Mr.. Patton had
told him the cost per ton was $1.95
but had added that his books were
not I'm shape and he rould not give
an accurate statement.
Lafayette Man on stand.
Elbert Schneibel OF the Schneibel
Coal company of Lafayette. said the
cost per ton Of his firm from April
/ 20 October 1. was S2.51 a ton. He
said the hills in Lafayette made the
cost IF hauling heavier than il
otherwise would be. He said he had
found it impossible 10 get any Indi-
ana coal during the last week. Mark
Brown Of J. NJ. Leach ManufaCtur-
ing company Of Kokomo. created a
diversion for the officials and audi
ence when on taking the stand he
said that he thought he had had
more hell than coal" during the last
year. He was replying 10 a ques-
ton whether or not his firm dis
tributed coal.
Mr.. Brown presented two reports
one Of which ne said was a hurried
audit by an accounting firm and the
~ nnr - 40
first report showed "A cost Of S2.54
per ton and the latter a cost of
S3.41 a ton. His FIRMS costs last
year he said. were S2.77 and they
lost $4,000 on the coal business Mr..
Brown submitted in evidence an ad-
verrisement in Kokomo paper
showing he had tried 70 sell coal
at the margin allowed by the com
mission.
Ernest Ellis Of Ellis brothers OF
Kokomo, presented an audit by a
firm of public accountants showing
his costs from January l 10 August
u 10 be $3.50 a ton. w. .. Bassett
of the Bassett Fuel company of Ko-
komo. testified that his cost per ton
at present was S2.54. No allowance
was made for small amount Of
building material he handles he
said
Muncie Man Testifes.
BENJAMIN D. GlaSscock Of the J
W and =. D. GIasscock company Of
Muucie. testified that there was a
labor shortage in Muncie and that
the average cost for handling a ton
Of coaT during the period from
January / 1929, 10 October 9. 1920.
was $3.26 a ton. His figures sub
mitted 10 the commission showed
an item of $500 given 20 an em-
ployc whose salary ordinarily il S2J
"a week.
This was questioned by Attorney
I Young for the commission and Mr.
GIasscock asserted that il was mere
lv bonus for an employe who had
worked hard. He said that the
item was larger than IL should have
been but he had made a mistake Of
about $500 in this calculation OF
what they should give the man IN
question and had refused 10 back
| down after promising him the ST.
I 500
J.. G. Newcomer, president Of the
I Klefoth- Newcomer Co. Of Rich
mond. testified that the cost per ton
Of handling coal by his irm from
October I. 1919. 20 October L. 1920
was So.5qs He said that under the
/ federal fuel ministration they
were allowed margin OF $50 d
ton and were paying labor SEQ "a
$3.50 a day At present he said
labor is paid S45O "a day. He said
! that his firm had obtained delivery
/ on about eighty percent Of IS nor
mai tonnage. 10 date, fcr tIl fiscal
year from April I 10 A -.