Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-27
WILL ACT TO ELIMINATE
UNREASONABLE CHARGES
|Bituminous Producers Declare
They Will Eradicate Objec-
tionable Trade Practices.
TO NAME LOCAL COMMITTEES
icsolution Adopted States Produ-
GERS Arc in sympathy With
palmcr's Program.
TBy Associated Press,

| CLEVELAND, OHIO. oct, 2G.-At
an open meeting here today OF ap-
|pro1imatcly 1000 coal operators. re-
presenting more than 1000 soft coal
operators In the country. and three
1!ourths of the total production. n
|r!edG!ns their support TO Attorney
General Palmer to eliminate unreas-
|onable high prices and unw!sc prac-
1ticcs. where such exist.
This action was taken following
he receipt of n message today from
3thc Attorney General requesting the
'bituminous coal operators Of the
"untry to cooperate with the De-
Ipartmcnt Of Justice in bringing about
Elimination Of unreasonably high
[i.rices for coal.
Today's general meeting was called
81 hy Colonel ID. B. Wentz, presiden; OF
the National Coal Association. to con-
der "a telegram sen: by the Attor.
4 Hrey General TO the association last
week, urging steps be taken TO ciimi-
nate eNorbitant prices for soft coal,
All Coal Operators Invited.
\ meeting OF the association mem
rers 20 consider Ia. general coal sit
|ustion had been called previously to
lihc receipt Of the message from tho
Attorney yGenerai. Colonel Wcntz
Halter requested every b!tuminous coal
operator In the country, whether
members OF tho association or not.
)to attend today's meeting.
r Members of the National Coal As
|sociation held meeting this morn
fng and considered the Attorney
Iionerars request and the soft coal
Situation in general and voted 10
maintain their fixed policy against
baking any action touching upon coal
Grriccs. bccausc OF restrictions In
Zthcir charter. The association voted
H. refer tho communication from the
attorney General to second meet
nE. comprising individual! coal opera
tors from all parts OF the country,
both in and out OF the association.
Pledge Their support.
| This general open meeting was
lcallcd to order Immediately upon ad
|iournmcnt OF the association meet
Iing, and. after a short adjour nmcnt
Ito give committee OF nine time to
Iprcpare a suitable resolution pledg-
Ing the Attorney General their cup
port in eliminating unreasonably
high prices and unwisc practices,
where such exist, the following reso-
|luiion was unanimously adopted. a
Iccpy Of which was wired to the At
ID iorncy-Gcnera!:
'Whereas. an abnormal condition
|for some time past has existed in
|,hc h!tuminous coal industry OF this
country, due TO inadequate transpor-
|tation facilities, labor difficulties and
|shortaGc. and other causes beyond
|,hc control o. the bituminou5 coal
|opcrators of the country, and.
Whereas. the Attorney Genera
|has requested the bituminous coal
Operators of the country TO cooper
late with the Department OF Justice
in bringing about elimination OF un-
Reasonably high prices for coal where
such exist. and.
Whereas, II Is the sense of the
|bituminous Goa! operators OF the
country that unreasonably high prices
land unwisc practices. where such ex-
ist in the industry. be eliminated.
therefore, be IL. resolved, That
the oltQmlnOuS coal operators OF the
country refuse to ask or receive un-
reasonably high prices for bitumi-
nous coal and. further. that all ur-
wise practices in the industry, where
my such exist. be condemned and
eliminated.
VIII Name Co-OnerntinE Bodies.
"I,e 1t further resolves. That il
be recommended to each bituminous
coal district in the United states that
Il, Immediately establish a committee
|in lis district, and that such commit
tee so established will use every cf-
Sort to cooperate fully with the De-
partmenL of Justice and the Federal
district attorney in such districts to
bring about an elimination of unrea :
sonably high prices and unwisc prac-
,iccs, where such exist, in order that
|thc purpose and the object sought by
the Attorney General throughout the
|whole country. may be accomplished
During the discussion OF the coal
situation at the open meeting many
ma intained that 'bi;uminous operators
|ecncraily were only receiving rea-
sonablc profits. and that tho large
majority strongly condemned prof
,ecring In coal prices, which. IL 1t
existed, was the exception, rather than