New-York tribune., 1920-11-24
Lewis Going to
Bottom of Coal
Price Juggling
Brooklyn District Attorney
to Call Biggest Dealers
in Inquiry Into Output
and Control of Companies
Riley Also to Investigate
J.F. Birmingham and Broth
er To Be Questioned;
Oyster Bay Firm Assailed

The production, distribution and
financing of anthracite coal are to he
thoroughly investigated by Harry E.
Lewis, District Attorney of BROOKLYN,
according to an announcement made by
him yesterday. He said that If neces-
sary he would subpoena J. P. Morgan
and George f. Baker to appear before
him.
Lewis said he is determined to sift
to the bottom the charges of alleged
favoritism on the part of the big an
thracite operators in supplying coal
to dealers. He also will investigate
the question of the control of virgin
coal lands Of Pennsylvania.
Complaints were made yesterday to
Mr.. Lewis and to Armin w. Riley, head
of the Department Of Justice flying
squad, that coal concern of Oyster
Bay was charging SIT for ton Of coal
and was the only company in it's section
able to obtain coal. The complaints
also alleged that John F. Birmingham
president of the Delaware, Lackawanna
and Western Coal Company, was inter
ested in the company. Officials of the
company denied this.
Riley Also Investigating
Mr.. Birmingham is the chairman OF
committee appointed by the anthra.
cite operators of Pennsylvania to super,
wise the distribution Of the so-called
emergency coal in this city. He is g
director in the North Shore Bank OF
Oyster Bay. Both Mr.. Lewis and Mr.
Riley are investigating the complaints
This is the second time that com.
plants have been made against the
Oyster Bay concern. In August, 1918
the Long Island Coal Dealers Associa-
tion lodged a complaint with D. W
Cook, Fuel Administrator Of New York
State, asserting that the company had
been granted an unfair advantage anc
that other dealers we're being driver
out of business through their inability
TO get coal. The COMPLAINT alleged Gun
fair and unjust pract ces which ap
parently are receiving the support OF
the Fuel Administrator of NASSAU
County,"
Mr.. Lewis ANNOUNCED yesterday tina,
he had requested L. V. Birmingham
brother of the president Of the D., L. &
W. Coal Company, to appear before him
on Friday. lie will be asked what
agreement, if any, exists between the
St. George Coal Company, of 148 Broad
treasurer, and the company or railroad
controlled anthracite operators. Clar.
ence B. Sturges, of IT Battery Place
mine agent for certain independent op.
orators, also will be called on that date
J. f. Birmingham To Be Quizzed
John F. Birmingham is to be re
quested TO appear before Mr.. Lewis or
Monday, as will George Baker St
George, president of the St. George
Coal Company. Mr.. St. George will bs
asked whether there are any business
agreements between his firm and the
big operators, or between his company
and the Morgan interests. Similar
questions will be asked Of John F
Birmingham.
Mr.. Lewis also said that he woult
make a thorough investigation into the
emergency coal now being shipped t.
the city by the big operators, and dis
trbuted through Mr.. BERN ingham. HI
said he will inquire why the price TO,
this coal should be rs cents per hun
dredwcight, or SIS ton, when the
figures of Burns Brothers, obtained by
Armin w. Riley, showed the highesN
price for the best grades o. domestic
anthracite, including delivery, was only
$13.75 ton.
All of the witnesses will be asked tc
tell what they know about the measures
of financing the anthracite industry
The information obtained by the inves
tigation will be placed at the disposal