The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-19
MADEIRA FIRM YIELDS
Profiteering Seekers in
Brooklyn Get Some
Likely Leads.
TESTIMONY CONFLICTING
City Sales Stations VIII Dis
pose Of Fuel at IS Cents
q 100 Pounds.

Armin W. Riley or the Govern
ments Flying Squadron" made good
his threat yesterday against two of
the largest OF metropolitan coal dis
tributers who had forbidden the At
torney- Generals men access To their
books. \ Federal Grand Jury subpoena
was issued for Burns Bros. 1t is re-
turnable az o'clock to-day. 1t calls
for the production of virtually all the
books and for an official or represent"
ative OF the firm to explain entire.
therein
In the case Of Madeira. Hill & Co.
no subpoena was necessary. When
Percy c. Madeira, In Philadelphia.
heard OF the threatened action he had
been sitting as chairman of the new
fair price committee OF the organiza-
ton OF anthracite coal operators. 1t
was holding it's first session for for
muiating plans TO cooperate with the
ATTORNEY General in his crusade
against extortion.
Mr. Madeira was indignant. He called
M Riley by telephone from Philadel-
phia and suggested that the Flying
Squadron chief was "impnging upon
the authority of Assistant Attorney-Gen-
eral = Lowry Humes. who as represent
alive OF the Department OF Justice has
been In session with our Fair Price Com
mittee."
Mr. Riley replied In substance. he says.
thai ne would attend TO his duties as an
agent Of the Department OF Justice, and
be advised that Mr.. Madeira look after
his coal business. Mr.. Madeira then
called up Robert c. Hin. vice-president
OF the company, who is the New York
partner. and instructed Mr.. Hill TO lose
no time IN surrendering TO the Govern
ment every book or document II de-
manded. Mr. Hill called In person upon
Mr.. Riley and obeyed his partners be-
hest.
Profitcering Is Not Charged.
Neither Arm stands accused Of profit
eering or OF any other offence as yet
except that OF having refused to agents
OF the Attorney General access 70 their
books
Harry f. Lewis, District Attorney of
Kings county. continued in Brooklyn his
hunt for profiteering coal mddlemen
His examination of Wilett Martin,
wholesaler Of 143 Liberty street. de-
veloped a conflict in testimony with that
suggested that somebody has not been
telling the truth and that somebody has
been taking big profits.
Rubel Brothers, retailers. OF East New
York. who Had been selling at from $l1
20 $40 ton. were summoned several
days ago by Mr.. Lewis. Their defence
IN part was that they had been com
PEELED 20 charge those prices because OF
The hlgh cost Of coal they bought from
a. xrhplaaalara of
l43 Liberty street The latter Arm re-
vealed It's affairs In turn 10 the District
Attorney Potts q Co. Il appeared,
bought their coal from four wholesalers,
two OF whom were the Seller Coal Conn
pany OF 90 West street and Willett
Martin According 20 the data given to
Mr. Lewis by the Potts concern, Il had
bought from Martin for the Rubel &C
count in October 1900 tons paying
ais for chestnut
when District Attorney Lewis had
wnlctt Martin under examination yes
tenday this colioGuy ensued
q Ia October YOU sold Frederic Potts
a Co a quantity OF coal?
a Yes
8. The price was $3.50 and fis per
ton a. you remember
A II was not The prices were ,i4 %
and 81 AfNtN was NNNt aNlA ~
sl5 60 and gie. ] am positive
The head ~ tho firm % Frederic A.
Potts a Co in E VI Rrevoort one ~ the
sitrce members % tho anthracite whole
raiers' fair price committee. whose rec
concentrations were adopted IN the
wNltshnn club meeting ~ wednesday.
restricting wholesalers 90 maximum
Groaa margin ~ proaf ~ ten per cent
az cost - coal az place ~ sale
Harlem Protest 90 Wa.hinEten.
Isaac Hyman. president ~ ths Harlem
Properly Owners AHHoc iatiun, has ad-
dressed b better O. enc bureau q Service.
Interstate Commerce Commission, IN
Wamhinrton. in which De says in part
'sTTsefr q no earthly reason why coal
sfouia either b. srHrrn or az such q
hlRh rrice N vou ard the proper au-
thorities perform their dutiea No Tor.
etgn shipments should have been per-
united and 10 priority orders should
havt hern issued Your officious FUN
bling created n serious coal situation
ana me rifv % New N0rk % new suffer
inn % Ca ar outrage tnnt fDf taKraB ~
% deprived - ha C1af fuufiF Oh far
ora reasonable rfief Don't rnu rFallaf
thnf thr huraen 20 tAr hlHh rrice uf coa'
must b. placed unun ftt shoulders "a fhs
tenants nr1 fnaf the landlords hfo hnv.
fnW their hands ful ln srfeaNurinr "a
maintain their property rrurtfiy
John u ucrwinEhnrn. head ~ ere ioca
errrrreurv coal fNigf COMMITTEE au
fhrrirnH thn wfMfnwlnrt that tNr arnfi