The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-10-22
BIames Most Of the Evils
of the Coal Market on
Brokers
OPERATORS SINCERE
Federal Statutes Will
Reach All Who Do
Not Cooperate

Especial Dispatch West Virginian)
WHEELING, w. Va. Oct. %
District attorney Stuart w. Walk
ar Of the Northern judicial dis
trfct Of West Virginia, believes
that the federal statutes are broad
enolghtto cover what he deems IN
fair practices in coaldom and DC
ctared In connection with the DC
to5er term Of the federal court.
that he would convene the federal
grand jury in extra session and
that. the existing laws were there
not that hearty cooperation among
coal operators and coal brokers
that would result in making what
Isl known as the Northern West
Virginia plan" effective in reduc-
ing coal prices.
1.-THE Spirit with which the great
botysof coal operators OF Northern
West Virginia have entered into the
plan Voluntarily to reduce the
price OF coal is commendahle' de-
clareF Colonel Walker. The in
dtcations are that the efforts have
materially reduced tho price OF
coal and / have no doubt but that,
with the efforts being put fortn,
further reduction IN price Will
come about. have found the COM
n1ittee active and alert when q
complaint has come 70 me OF IN
diViduaI operators seeking % MAIN
tain high prices. have reported
srch cases to the Fair Practices
Committee OF the operators anu
Gl1ay have promptly endeavoTed 10
rectify the situation, and believe
the risk OF financially bad custom
~ have told the operators vety
frankly that in my opinion one Of
tie causes for the high cost OF coal
hero n Northern West Virginia
has been induced by the coal Drok'
or, who had become an attractive
factor to the operator because II
saved the operator the trouble ~
marketing coal and relieved him OF
the risk OF financially had custom
ers," continued Col, Walker. he
broker, by reason OF the great de-
mand foc coal in many instances.
took advantage OF the situation
and bid for coal at side tracks of
=
IN this way was able to great
degree 10 control the output OF
the mines. forcing the consumer to
nay exorbitant prices lGS coal.
ii have found a number Of in.
stances and ! think it had grown
TO be almost universal in this dis
4trfct (Northern West Virginia il.
dicial district for GlG consumer
5 os coal, instead of being able 20
buy 1t from some operator as mad
been. the practice heretofore, was
clly able to got coal from brokers
lii New York city Baltimore, Pitts.
8burgA and in some instances
Lynchburg, Va. The me-. state.
treut will show the evil effects OF
brokerage 81 Grating In this wa l
have been Jed to believe that IN
many instances brokers mad" moe
money than operators. Whilst |
haTe'not opposed to the broker
kuch as has been burC lp IN the
coal business to the very recent
cost and unless these brokers con
duct. their business In handling
.oai 70. Northern West Vi:gmi;t IN
fair business basis. frCrl which
1 mean taking n. rcaSOnab." pro-
at, 4 shall convene n grand jury
In this district and where war
anteG. institute prosecution
II believe that the federal stat
utes are broad enough to reach
this whole situation" concluded
Mr.. Walker, land unless there Is
cooperation on the part OF opera
tors and honest effort both b.
operators and brokers to handle
coal at a fair profit basis shall
investigate and prosecute, where
warranted"