New-York tribune., 1920-11-19
Drop in Price
OF Anthracite
Is Predicted
Domestic Hard Coal Report
ed ON Verge of Precipitous
Fall as Emergency Sup
ply Cost Shows Decrease
Mine at City's Disposal
Dealers in Pennsylvania
Will Be Asked to Limit
Deals to One Middleman

The price of domestic anthracite coal
is upon the edge of a precipitous fall.
This fact was forecast by several de-
velopments yesterday in connection
with the serious coal shortage now
facing the city.
In the first place the emergency an
thracitc for the needy that is being
rushed to this city by the hard coal
operators of Pennsylvania was reduced
in price yesterday to rs cents hun
dred pounds. This reduction followed
closely upon the action of William J.
Dalton, an Independent dealer of
Brooklyn. who offered the entire out
put of an Independent mine to Dis
trict Attorney Harry Z. Lewis at that
retail price.
Willett Martin, a whole saler of 143
Liberty Street, testifying before Mr..
Lewis. says the speculative coal mar
ket at the mines is apt to break any
day and fall 70 $40 a ton. The price
has been as high as SIG a ton.
Hunt for Profiteers
In Philadelphia the fair price COM
mittee Of the Anthracite Operators
Association announced its intention to
investigate every operator suspected of
profiteering. Operators also will be
asked to sign an agreement limiting
the handling Of coal to one middleman.
A Federal grand jury subpoena was
issued to compel the firm of Burns
Brothers to turn over to Armin ".
Riley head of the Department of Jus
rice flying squad, all books, accounts
and invoices. 1t is returnable this af-
ternoon. Robert c. Hill, vice-pre sident
of Madeira, Hill & Co., who also re-
fused information, changed his deci-
sion and agreed to produce the com
panys books.
ney Lewis into the 9,761 tons of anthra-
cite coal sold to a Brooklyn retail firm
in the first eighteen days OF October
took two peculiar turns yesterday. The
evidence produced tended to show that
at least 1900 tons of this coal passed
through the hands of three middle
men, all Of whom took profits.
In this connection Gustave W. Seller,
president of the Seller Coal Company,
of 80 West Street, one Of the middle
men, informed Mr.. Lewis that he could
not appear because he had to make a
trip to Maine. A grand jury subpoena
WIS promptly ISSUED 1Or MS appear
ance, together with II. E. Holtse, secre-
tary Of the company.
Profit so to rs Cents
MrS Martin, another of the middle
men figuring in this consignment, ap-
peared before MIR. Lewis. He testified
that he had received profit of 80 and
rs cents ton on the coal he supplied
During his testimony Mr Martin con-
tradicted K. r. Brevoort head of Fred
erick r. Potts e. Co., the final concern
TO sell to Ruhel Brothers,
Mr.. Brevoort previously had testified
that he had purchased about 1900 tons
from Martin at $3.50 for egg and stove
and SIG for chestnut. Martin declared
he was positive he had not charged the
latter prices, and that the price
charged Potts G. Co. was SLABS and
$1a.75, respectively.
Another interesting phase Of his tes-
timony was the declaration by Martin
that he did not want to divulge the
name Of the coal operators from whom
the coal was bought, on the ground
that the middlemen needed "the sup
port of the operators, or we simply 60
out of business" A similar reason was
given by Michael +. Burns, president
of Burns Brothers, for refusing infor-
nation to agents of the Department Of
Justice Mr.. Martin finally gave the
names of the operators.