The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-12-22
GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS CHARGED
WITH HAVING JOINED IN COAL
PROFVTEERNC DURING SHORTAGE
Manager Of Wholesale Coal AS
ISOLATION Testifies Before
senate Committee.
NAMES HIGH OFFICIALS
Railroad and Army Officers Also
Alleged % Have Been In
on Deal.

WksufNgToN Dee et-CharEes
.fhat government officials Joined In
Feaal prohiecrinR durlng the period ~
sheFtage last summer were made hy
Geefgf ~ Cushine managing director
r the American Wholesale Coal as
a8eiatlon. tewtifving under oath today
hefbre ! senate luvesiisatinx commit
tee m an executive session the com-
miiiee. according % senator calder
ltanuhllean. NnsS York lts chairman
wa furnished Is Mr Gushing with
fhe name 0f one man. said l0 have
nfsn q principal IN an operation By
wnlrh ! eFoup - men IN government
service obtained is0000o0 tons of
eoa which they sold later az a profit
"a M00Uo nailroad officials and one
army man also participated In thC
front makinw. Nr Cushing was said
IS Cbatrman calder o. have chergcd
This phase 81 Mr. Cnshlngs tesii-
many nvershAaawsd The rest - his
atalrment which was ta the effect
That ne coal SHORTAGE last summer wa
8ne % .panlcs and largely caused By
statements ~ the interstate commerce
eammlsa IN, the GEOLOGICAL survey. tht
rsiiroad administration and the sen
alf Interstate commerce cUmmittci
lellinR the consuming public about
enal #hortn@e THIS winter
81 A. n Morrow. Vice president of
ne Nafional Coal association, an orga-
asaaiion nf upsrainrs, the Office rec-
af,la ~ which wnre examined last
Neek 81 me sHuate committee. tOok
she stand late II the day and began q
asnlal ~ ihc panic theory advanced
Ia ltahlnE 10 explain the shortage.
~ Morrow vas excused until To-
narruw. when the committee took
Mf. Cushing into executive session.
Chairman Caller. a. the close of thee
exeeutlye session rec0unted part ~
". CushinTs statement saying mat
10 names would De made public BY
ne committee until Investigation u
~ rhargen was completed Certain oi
laa officials were abie ~ secure tn
formation a. 20 communities where
saurtaRe conditions were feared and
pnAafHMasl Information a. 40 the effect
r priorltf 0nlers On the furnishing Of
aosl ears These officials also were
Aan A. have obtained information a.
rs coat "a transit and - have been
hle ~ obtain supplies which could
- diverted A. utoee lucrative markets
tsne spoolr meaii0ncd b. Cushing
senator Calder said Involved AJoWA
Iuas. whlle other operations were said
ID have been minated The govern
nenf aniclai named by Cushine Nas
snld ~ the Witness 20 have resiEned
some time ago.
Nr. Cuehins. ia the open session. said
ihat railroad officials had Joined tn the
prnnl making ny diyerting shipments
rogng over their own rails 20 new des-
Hnatloas. bias refused % give ths
names except ~ confidence. "beeauss
my muck .raAinN days are over.
O. fhe subject ~ the shortage last
stlmmpf the witness said it "had re-
lgastd she worst elements In public
nature"
A. ~ the condition today, he con
tended that "anyhody can buy coal al
most at MS own price" and remarked
that elf the railroads bold up. and
there isna any resumption of world
war. Americans can forget they have
4 coal problem FOR q years" Produc
ton would exceed AL known records
- snld. II maintained AZ the present
Fate untll April l, when the coal year
ends.