New-York tribune., 1920-11-06
Calder and Edge Serve
Notice on Operators
to Cut Prices Before
Congress Reconvenes
Charge Tumulty
Played Politics
|. C.. e. Orders Influenced
for Coal Spectators,
New York Man Asserts

Notice was served on the coal trade
OF the country yesterday by United
States Senators William NJ. Calder and
Walter r. Edge that unless the price
of coal to the consumer was materially
reduced before December 6, next, they
would recommend to the United States
Senate that the government take over
control OF the coal industry.
This announcement was made in the
form of joint statement by the two
Senators after q conference over the
disclosures produced the previous day
at the hearing before the Senate Re-
construction Committee, of which Sen
ator Calder is chairman. 1t took the
following form:
eve think the time has cone for
the committee to perform public
service without the necessity OF go
ing to the extent Of resolving itself
into court and jury to determine
guilt. The plain fact is that coal has
not been reduced IN price, despite
promises. The price Of coal is away
beycnd what it should be, and has been
50 admitted Dy the men who control
tbc industry.
Sufficient Evidence of Guilt
I'VE say that we have sufficient evi-
dence as result Of the committees S
investigation TO warrant us i'll recon-
mending in an advance report at the
very commencement of Congress that
the entire control Of the industry be
taken over by the government unless
the prices to the consumer are ma
terially reduced before December &.
eve are both strongly opposed to
any form OF government control. but
the practical admissions Of prominent
coal men show that there is guilt
the men somewhere who have
the power TO regulate the price OF the
commodity. Now it up to the industry
eliminate the unfair and Illegal prac
tises 1t is up to them to solve this
problem for themselves, but if they
TAIL to do SO the Congress must"
The statement was issued after a
conference in the Offices of the COM
mittec in the Engineering Societies
Building, on West Thirty-ninth Street
Both Senators made it plain that thcy
were determined 10 see that justice
was done to the public in the prices of
coal, even though it meant advocating
government control. Before the ar
rival of Senator Edge. Senator Calder
chairman OF the committee, issued the
following statement III connection with
the coal situations:
"Thc time has come for the coal
operators TO live up to their contracts
and stop trying to divert fuel to the
speculative spot market by connivance
with public officials.
with 46,000.000 more tons OF coal
produced so far in 1920 than over the
same period in 1919, there is no reason
for high prices ard coal shortage.
Went Daily to White House
Day by day Colonel Wenz, praa,-
dent of the National Coal Association.
has gone to the White House to keep
Secretary Tumulty advised as to VIII
was being done.
"Coloncl Wenz is quoted as having
stated before the executive committee
Of the National Coal Association that,
'Mr. Alvord, Nh Tumulty's assistant.
has rendered the officials and officers
OF the National Coal Association great
assistance in arranging to meet the
pollNcal situations as they arose in
different parts Of the country in rela-
tion to the coal industry
From these statements Of Colonel
Wenz it might be reasonably inferred
that the White House, working through
Mr.. Tumulty, had been handling the
coal situation by influencing the issu-
ancc of Interstate Commerce Commits
sion orders.
TIE usual coal contract provides
for the contingency OF Interstate Com
merce Commission Interruption At a
meeting of the Executive Committee of
the National Coal Association Colone!
Wenz is quoted as having said in sub
stance that the Interstate Commerce
Commission at an informal hearing
with representatives of the coal opera
tors, railroads. gas and electric COM
panies, agreed to rewritc its service
order in connection with assigned cars
for public service.
The priority orders had the effect
OF abrogatlng contracts which had been
placed with operators at prices lower
than the spot market, and of diverting
to speculative purposes millions of tons
OF coal which should have been used
for contract fulfillment.
"lhe frank statement of Colonel
W enz at the Cleveland meeting of the
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