New-York tribune., 1920-11-12
Coal Price Cut
And Supply for
Poor Pied ged
Department of Justice Fly
ing Squadron Arrives in
the City to Hunt for Evi-
dence of Fuel Profteering
Rates Will Drop Further
Emergency Anthracite To
Be Sold in Ton Lots; Ped
dler Trade to Get Relief

Public rebellion against the high
price Of coal, coupled with the COVE. n
ment investigation into alleged profit
eering, produced two important results
Yesterday. There was a fall in specu-
lstive prices of 81 a ton, with further re-
ductions in sight, and the formation Of
a committee Of anthracite operators to
insure an adequate supply of coal at
moderate price to the city's poorer con-
sumers.
These Developments were coincident
with the announcement that a large
number of operatives of the Depart
ment of Justice flying squadron had
arrived in the city to investigate coal
prices under direction OF Armin W.
Riley.
The anthracite committee headed by
John F. Birmingham, Of the Delaware,
Lackawanna & Western Coal Company,
met yesterday, in cooperation with the
Department Of Justice agents, to formu-
late plan 20 supply coal on weekly
basis in one-ton lots to the poorer con-
sumner. According to a local govern
mcnt official, this is the answer of the
coal operators to the threat Of Federal
control made by Senator'S Calder and
Edge unless the coal men solved their
problems before December 6.
Plans for Distribution
The committee Will hold another
meeting to-day, when it is hoped the
plans of distribution through com
mittee from the Retail Dealers Assc-
citation can be arranged. Care will be
taken to prevent the possibility of any
purchaser obtaining more than one ton
at time. The coal thus supplied viii
be known as emergency coal, and spe-
cial pains will be taken to supply the
peddler trade that reaches the poorer
sections Of the city.
The coal will be sent to the com
mittee by the anthracite companies
operating in the Pcnnsy ylvania hard Goa
region At to-day's meeting complete
arrangements with the retailers VIII
be made. and statement announcing
plans will be issued William Nc
Murtrie Spcer, Special Assistant United
States Attorney General, is cooperating
in the work Of She committee.
Operatives who have been sent into
the city to Investigate coal prices undel
Armin W. Riley have been put to work
IN every borough. MIR. Riley said the
investigation would be conducted along
lines similar to that which was made
into the sugar situation. Special at
tention will be paid to the diversion
Of coal to the speculative market. In
quiry also Will be made as to whether
the coal companies lived up to the1
contracts. Another phase that viii be
investigated is the number OF times
that coal was resold within the trade
with each sale adding to the rctai
price.
While Mir. Riley is Investigating tho
wholesalers and retailers, any evidence
of profteering among The operators
that is uncovered will be turned ovel
to Mr.. Speer. where it concerns bitun.i-
nous coal. and to Special Assistant
United States Attorney General Uumes
where anthracite is involved. This
three Federal officials are to work ir
conjunction, along plans Land during q
recent conference with Attorney Gen
eral Palmer. Mr.. Riley SAID that he
would welcome information concerning
profiteering from housewives anC
others, but added that they should give
their names and addresses when com.
municating with his Office in the Fed
eral Building.
Coal Profteers Traced
District Attorney Harry Z. Lewis, o
Brooklyn, was Informed by one Goa
wholesaler that as result of the pub
Lefty speculative coal had already
fallen S. ton at the mines and woult
all further within few days. Nh
Lewis viii have the names on Monda,
Of those coal operators who have beel
prohteering in the anthracite region
He has requested one wholesaler t.
produce his books showing the price
OF Independent produced coal durin!
the last two wears