Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-12-22
COAL PROF|TEER|NG
. BY FEDERAL GROUP
. Barred IN INQUIRY
One United States Official
Alone Made 100000,
Says Witness.
DECLARES FUEL "PANIC"
DUE TO u. S. BUREAUS
Also Denies There Is Any
Shortage This
Winter.
SENATE TO PUSH PROB IL
Investigating Committee to Resume
Hearings Today and Bring On
Other Witnesses.
DECLARES FUEL "PANIC"
DUE TO u. S. BUREAUS
SENATE TO PUSH PROBE
Investigating Committee to Resume
Hearings Today and Bring On
Other Witnesses.
lBy Associated press.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2I.-Charges
that government officials Joined IN
coal proftccring during the
period OF shortage last summer were
made By George ". Cushing. manag-
ing director OF the American Whole
sale Coal Association, testity;nG un-
der oath today before Senate inves-
tsating committee.
IN an executive session. the com
rnittec. according to Senator Calder.
k9p...!c.n. New York. it's chairman,
Was furnished by Mr. Cushing with
the name OF one man. said to nave
been principal in an operation by
which group OF men in government
service obtained $4,000 tons of coal,
which they sold later at "A prom, OF
100000
Railroad officials and one army OH
Ger also participated IN the profit
making. Mr.. Gushing was said by
Chairman Calder 20 have charged
This phase OF Mr.. Cushing's testi-
mony before the committee over
shadowcd the rest of his statement,
which was to the effect that the coal
shortage last summer ~as due TO
panic" and largely caused by state
ments OF the Interstate Commerce
Commission. the Geological Survey.
the railroad Administrators and the
Senate Interstate Commerce commit
tee telling the consuming public
about coal shortage this winter.
Denies Panic Theory.
j. y. ID. Morrow. yice-president OF
gan!zation OF operators. the office rec
ords o: which were examined last
week by the Senate committee, took
the stand latc in the day and began a
denial o. the panic" theory advanced
by Gushing TO explain the shortage.
Mr. Morrow was excused until tomor-
row morning. when the committee
took Mr.. Cushing into executive ses-
sion.
Chairman Calder ut the close OF the
executive session, rccounted a part OF
MT. Cash!ng's statement. saying that
no names would be made public by
the committee until investigation OF
the chargcs1 was completed. Certain
officials. IL was said Cushing testified.
were able to secure information as
10 communities where shortage con-
ditions were particularly feared and
possessed Information as to the effect
OF priority orders on the furnishing
OF coal cars
These officials also were said to
have obtained Information as 10 coal
in transit and to have been abl.. 10
obtain supplies which could be iii
verted to more lucrative markets
The governPent official named by
Cushing was said by the witness to
have resigned some time ago
Mr.. Cushing in the open session
said that railroad officials had Joined
in the profit-making by "dlvertinE
shipments going over their own rails
TO new destinations" but refused to
give the names except in confidence"
because my muck -rakng days are
over"
Worst Elements Work.
On the subject of the shortage las
summer. the witness said, 1t had re-
leased the worst elements in human
nature. The statements of public
officials OF impending fuel famine
this winter. ne said. did not cause
the high prices. but gave the op-
portunity for them.
AS to the condition today, he con
tended, that anybody can buy-coal
almost at his own price, and re-
marked that ''if the railroads hold
up, and there isn't any resumption ot
the world war, Americans can forget
they have a coal problem for twenty
five years.
Production would exceed all rec
ords, he said. IL maintained st tho
present rate until April /, when tho
coal year ends.
Mr.. Morrow told the committee
there was an actual shortage of co.
100000 tons in actual tonnage last
spring, arising from the coal strike
Of 1919 and the strikes on the rail
roads" Senator Edge. Republican.
New Jersey. proceeded to correct the
assertion, but 1t was left for final
settlement tomorrow.