Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-12-29
.MACKAY URGES
COAL CONTROL
Recommendations for New
Law to be Made by Probe
Committee
HEARINGS NOT COMPLETE
Provides for Drastic Action
Such as Adjustment of
Coal Pockets, Etc.

TRENTON, Dec. 29.-Authorita-
tive information. indicating that a
sweeping program of legislation 10
control the coal business of New
Jersey will be recommended by the
Mackay Legislative Coal Probe Com
mittee for passage by the incoming
legislature, was obtained here today.
The committees hearings are not yet
completed, but the tentative plan, it
Is understood, provides for such
drastic action as the abolishment OF
coal pocket" companies, subsidiary
companies owned by the mine COM
paEies, and which are said to receive
the coal after paying a profit on the
turnover to the owners; the inaugu-
ration of comprehensive weight in
Ispection by the weights and measures
department; and the giving OF au-
thority to the department TO inspect
coal as 1t comes into the state and
reject shipments of inferior quality.
The proposed legislation aimesl
at "coal pockets" it was explained
to the writer, is intended to reduce
the price of coal to the consumer
or at least to prevent concealment
of large profits. The railroads. it is
declared, usually own the mines,
which, in turn, own the companies
operating pockets" from whom
the retailer gets his coal. Every
time a lot of coal goes from the
mine TO the consumer. it appears, a
profit is slapped on by each COM
pany. The pockets being owned by
the mining companies, these are
enabled to collect TWO profits, while
on paper they appear to make only
one. The idea is that by doing away
with the subsidiary company it will
appear just how much the miners
are really making in profits before
the coal reaches the retailer.
The committee also plans. it is
understood, to recommend legisla-
tion complying with the request OF
the weights and measures depart
ment, that someone be given au-
1hority TO control the quality OF
coal being admitted to the state.
Under present plans, the authority
TO inspect all coal coming into the
state will be given to the weights
and measures office. Coal which
contains slate and other refuse. and
does not measure up to standard
will be turned back. Mining and
coal experts will be stationed al
Phillipsburg and Trenton. it is un-
derstood, where most of the coal
enters the state
In order to prevent making the
consumer pay for coal he never gets
the committee will recommend, il
is understood, that the weights ard
measures department be required
TO weigh every carload of coal as il
comes from the mines and is dump
ed in the state. To see that no shorI
weight is put over when the coal i
delivered by retailers. it is planned
to give the department a corps OF
inspectors with power to stop trucks
carrying coal on the street and have
them weighed. With the possibility
of an inspector stopping his wagons
alter they leave the coal yard and
taking il around to be weighed. load
ana all. it is thought that only the
very daring coal retailer would have
the nerve to send them out with
less than the tonnage ordered.
Another recommendation, it l.
understood, Will the adoption of q
standard ton OF 2,240 pounds
II the proposed program is finely
cdopted by the legislature, it will
raean considerable expansion on the
Part of the weights and measures de-
Tartment in order 10 carry out its
provisions. The committee, how
ever. has not gone into the details
OF the scheme. and, ii is understood
will leave the carrying out of It's
ideas to the department and the leg
isiature.