New-York tribune., 1920-11-17
Coal Men to
Stop Resales,
Limit Profits
Anthracite Industry Chiefs
to Set Maximum Margin
of 10 p. C.. and Abolish
Brokers' Deals at Mines
75.Cent Fuel for Poor
Brooklyn Retailer Offers
Independent Operators
Output to City Officials

Two important steps designed to elm
mate unfair practices and profteering
in connection with the production and
distribution of anthracite coal were an
rounced yesterday by representatives
OF operators and wholesalers. They
consist of a series If agreements to
be signed by different concerns engaged
in the anthracite industry and, in
general, they have received the sane
tion Of the Department Of Justice. Sim
liar agreements in the bituminous coal
fields recently resulted in the reduction
Sc at the mines.
The plan: if generally adopted, will
result in the abolition of resales of
coal in the mine region, thus eliminat-
ing any possibility of pyramidng the
price to the consumer by adding the
profit of each transaction to the price
the consumer must pay, and in the es-
Enlistment of a general agreement not
to take more than 10 per cent profit.
Brooklyn Dealers Offer
Another important development In
the serious local situation, caused by
the shortage of domestic Coal, was the
offer of large Brooklyn dealer to
place the entire output of one large
independent operator at the disposal of
District Attorney Harry E. Lewis for
sale to the poorer consumers in lots
ranging from fifty pounds to one ton
at price Of rs conts for 100 pounds.
This offer has oeen accepted and the
coal VIII be distributed as soon as
stations can be established in vacant
lots in the congested sections of the
borough.
In statement issued yesterday the
Wholesale Coal Trade Association. of
80 West Street, announced the Fair
Practices Committee, headed by W. H.
Lewis, of 120 Broadway, would make
its report this afternoon at the White
hall Club. 1t was announced the re-
port would recommend the two follow
ing resolutions:
"That resales of coal shall be re-
stricted to two wholesalers. For the
purpose of this agreement, any mine
agent shall be considered a whole
saer
"That the gross maximum profit to
the wholesaler shall not exceed 10 per
cent on the price at any place of pur-
chase"
Charles s. Allen, secretary of the
association, said yesterday that the
largest amount he knew of in commits
sions had been rs cents a ton. When
he was told that 10 per cent would oe
greater amount than this, he said
that 10 per cent had been agreed upon
as a maximum figure with the Depart
ment of Justice He stated that com
petition would compel wholesalers to
take much less than this. Vhe 10 per
cent figure had been accepted so tha.
any dealer charging more could be pro-
ceeded against as a profiteer. Gibbs L.
Baker. general counsel of the associa-
tlon, concurred in this.
Philadc hia Resolutions
John f. Birmingham, president of
the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western
Coal Company, Yesterday issued a set
OF resolutions recently adopted by the
anthracite operators in Philadelphia
These resolutions have been sent TO
the independent operators for sigma
ture and will be returned at a meet
ing to-day in Philadelphia The De-
partment Of Justice will be informed
of the names of all operators who re-
fuse to agree to them.
The resolution pledges the signers
to refuse to sell to brokers, or whole
salers, who have no established
clientele, or, in the absence of an
agreement, that the coal is not to be
sold 10 othe~ brokers, or wholesalers
They promise that local REQUIRE
ments will be protected and that
fair price committee in cooperation
with the Department of Justice, shall
SuperyiSc all transactions