The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-09-25
COAL PROFITEERING
STIRS DEMAND FOR
f. FEDERAL CONTROL
Northwest Fears Shortage of
100000 TonS-lnduS-
tries Menaced.
BIG JUMPS IN PRICES.
Legislation for Permanent Reg.
ulation May Be Urged When
Congress Meets.
Especial From . staff Correspondent
Of the evening Worldly


WASHINGTON. sept 25.--lmpend-
Ing conditions in tho Northwest, due
20 moaEro fuel shipments as COM
pared 10 former years, were described
To-Day by Judge J. r. Mcuee ~ Min
neapoliB. former fuel administrator OF
Minnesota, who 10 In Washington try
ing 10 provide some measure Of re-
lief before navigation closes on the
lakes IN November.
The shipments OF cargo coal are
nearly 100000 tons behind as com
pared with normal years and the sit
uatlon Is 80 serious that necessity
for shutting down OF industries of
that region which viii be felt In all
parts Of the country is foroseen.
Seventy per cent Of all the iron ore
OF America Is produced In Minnesota.
and this constitutes about 40 per cent
OF all the iron ore produced in the
world" said Judge MCGEE. THE five
States affected by this situation nor
mally produce Is per cent. OF all food
stufs OF the United states II the
VIC ANNn hNN ANllAN hNWAt ANih ~
Ohio. Pennsylvania and the Middle
States will close.
'On Sept 20 the coal dumped az
Lake Erie ports for tho Northwest
since navigation opened last spring
amounted 20 is,5i3.62i TONS which 10
about 100000 tons behind our normal
requirements.
The whole situation, as I zee II, is
largely one Of transportation. and
am trying to impress our prodieament
on Washington"
Canada has come out much better
than tho Northwest States IN secur-
INA American COAL Il Is said, as the
Canadians got In the game early, and
have been willing 90 pay almost any
prices asked. OF all the coal dumped
at the lake ports up 70 Sept. /. Can
ada secured ~ per cent, as against an
average OF 20 per cent. In former
years.
II IS assorted that the Canadian
Government absorbs the difference
between what Canadian buyers have
20 pay and the current price in this
country, and in that way competition
has boen made very difficult for
American purchasers IN the lake
region.
The Northward situation Is only one
phase OF tho coal question which is
forcing itself upon tho attention Of
tho Government at this time. Be
tween car shortage, prOfitoering coal
men and labor troubles the uuthorl-
ties in Washinton have grown very
hpprehengiye OF fuel conditions this
winter.
In washington coal Is costing do
nestle consumers SO per ton, while
IN some other cities the cost runs as
high as SIT for domestic sizes. At
this time agents Of the Department OF
Justice are In the anthracite fields
making an investigation OF produce
ton costs and trying TO get an accu-
rate line on who ls doing the profit
eering The coal operators In some
sections blame the retailers for the
eXorbitant prices and say the dealers
are trying TO SHIFT the blame to the
operators.
Unless conditions improve there
10 certain 20 be a strong demand
when Congress convenes In De-
eember for Federal control OF the
coal industry, and many OF the
bio coal men fear an effort will be
made 20 make this permanent.
Many trade organs see the trend
and are urging the coal trade 10
save itself BY regulating profits
and BY correcting other abuses.
Since the war coal crises have be-
come such regular things each win
ter that there i8 a demand for the
Government 10 get az the bottom OF
the whole trouble. Prior 10 1914 coal
shortage was such "a rare thing that
no figures on domestic consumption
were kept By the Government. The
tremendous Increase IN the consump-
tion OF coal by Industries Is given a.
the principal reason for the changed
situation. Domestic coal In the Ole
days absorbed, II % estimated, 80 e
90 per cent. OF the output OF tn,
mines, while to-day Il is only abou
A. per cent
The industries formerly used abou
IS per cent Of the coal supply Will,
the latest figures collected by Gov
eminent statisticlans placed the In
duatril requirements al g. per cent
OF tho total output.
Department OF Justice agents arr
now making an investigation TO as
certain how many coal dealers arr
mulrting the public by adding on 4,
the price Of anthracite coal a margin
10 cover the award Of the Authmoit,
Wage Commission This increase il
production cost was anticipated b,
practically all OF tho coal cOmpaniei
last june, and 30 cents 10 81 at thl
mines was added 10 the price. Las
May the operators proposed 10 TN
dealers that the operators should no
raise the price. but would still soil a
tho old price, subject 10 additional
cost 10 be added on TO past shipment
when the wage award was made Tn
retailers took the position that the,
could not collect from their custom
ora the difference after thc coal wa
put in the bins II was then that th
operators advanced tho price at IN
mines 10 cover the anticipated wag
award, and the Anthracite Commis
eiong award makes this comment.
The award has not passed O grea
burden along 10 the consumer Of Goa
Any sharp advance ia the retail pr.c
Of coal could not be charged 10 In
operators. the miners or the award
This award. while providing i'm
proved conditions for The employed
offers no justification for any ad
vance IN the retail prices Of coal, bu
on the other hand, ID cOnBlstent Wltl
9 decline IN prices