Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-23
Coal Association
(conttnusd from Pare ons)

The examination Of the two officials
of the association was enlivened from
time to time AZ Senators produced
correspondence from teh organizations
files during an unannounced search of
its Offices in Washington last Saturday
ana Sunday, and questioned sharply
the purpose and public interest OF the
steps taken by the associations and
government agencies alike.
| Mr.. .Wentz declared that his. pur-
efases of coal for the war department
had beer made over protest and agreed
to a suggestion OF Senator Calder that
IL, was Tad business for the govern
ment and increased the difficulty for
the public" J, -
"A representative of the war depart
nent came. to me ana said that the
department had ordered all its coal for
the winter bought Immediately during
September" Mr.. Wehtz said. II said
that the department should buy lit
tie then. a little later on. and not go
into the market for the full amount.
because it could all be obtained later
for much less money, but / was in
formed that the order was to buy inn
mediatcly. The story got was that
the secretary Of war felt the step
neces sary"
Mr.. Wentz said be received COM
missions amounting to $4,000 on the
purchases. Senator Calder. producing
a sheet CT figures. said that millions
of tone" had been obtained for the
army by other buyers during Septem-
Der and october, prices ranging from
$500 to sis. Another report. from
the Shipping Board. saying that bunker
coal at Hampton Roads during the
summer and fall had cost the Shipping
board $3.50 a ton, in quantities. Mr..
Morrow treated by saying that 1t was
as "inexcusable an example of govern
ment ;nefflciency as 1 ever saw"
Chiefly the examination touched the
actions relative to coal shortage taken
by the government agencies. presum-
ably in the interest OF consumers at
large. Senator Kenyon. armed with
| minutes OF the associations executive
COMMITTEES meeting. read a resolution
| which authorized the drafting OF an
Interstate Commerce Commission or
der to make mines immune from dam
ages" for failing to fulfill contracts
to furnish coal.
Did YOU draft that order?" Senator
Kenyon asked MIR. Morrow.
We did and the commission issued
it. with some changes" the witness
told him
And its general effect was to free
mines from their liability to furnish
| coal they had contracted to deliver %"
Senator Kenyon continued
Only insofar as the release was in
public interest and neces sary to get
| supplies to keep people in the north
west and New England states from
freezing this winter" MT Morrow re-
turned. He said that the contract
breaking allowed the coal to move to
| the Great Lakes during the summer.
Senator Kenyon developed that the ma
tional association had agreed to "go
! into the courts ana defend the order"
| in case any operators brought injunc-
ton proceedings against it, that a
number of the association members
| dissented from the policy and that a
Colorado loan association withdrew as
a body because Of it.
The payments to the Geological
Survey for getting out coal production
| figures. Mr.. Morrow said. allowed the
maintenance of a practice started dur
ing the war for which Congress later
reinstated appropriations. 1t cost the
association $4,000 up until last July
| and he said that furnishing the money
had net allowed the association to
| control the compilation. Senator Ken
yon CHALLENGED this and produced sew
eral letters passing through associa-
ton channels concerning the weekly
statements as to how compilations
should be arranged and for what pur-
poses tie figures could be used.