Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1921-10-13

Piled you are the only in this city"
according to Mr.. Dorsey.
The story in yesterdays Evening
News. which brought to light the
fact that Frank Dorsey, of E. J..
Dorsey e Son, was the only coal
firm representative to be subpoe-
naed to appear before the hearing.
even in view of the fact that repre-
sentatives of other firms were seen
about the streets of the city and
attended public functions. seems to
have started something. for within
a half hour before the sessions of
the committee was scheduled. to
start at l S'clock, subpoena servers
were busy rounding up the dealers
who had not been served.
That there was little chance of
the other dealers escaping the
probe when the process servers got
busy, is shown by the fact that Earl
LaJe of the Lake Coal Company
was served with two subpoenaes
within a period of fifteen minutes.
John Biting, the manager of the
c. NJ. Peterson Coal Company was
served at 10:45 o'clock, which gave
him just fifteen minutes to get to
the city nall before the hearing be-
gan. Mr.. Peterson it was learned
by the Evening News today. is at
the coal mines in Pennsylvania and
will not return until o'clock to-
morrow morning. Mr.. Peterson has
been at thS mines for week
John w. Olsen, who was present
in the council chamber OF the city
hall, where the hearing is being
held, was served with a subpoena
at 11:20 o'clock for the hearing
which was scheduled to begin at II
o'clock.
AS is usual in most hearings of
this kind, it did not start at the
hour scheduled. Although Senator
Mackay and Senator Brown were
present they were powerless to be-
gin the hearing as quorum was no.
present. At 11:45 the two senators
were waiting for other members of
the committee TO arrive so that the
probe might begin.
The George Chamra & Sons coal
firm of Roosevelt was the first firm
called TO the witness chair. The
firm was represented by one of the
sons who throughout the questioning
of Senator Mackay. failed to give di-
rect answers in many Instances. He
said that the firm had received the
subpoena last Tuesday and present
ed to Senator Mackay a statement of
the firms business for the year 1920.
This statement which had been pre-
pared by an accountant, showed that
the firm purchased coal to the
amount of S9.944. 46. There was
s3.300.75 freight on this coal. The
statement showed that the coal had
been sold for s10.1S a ton for nut
coal and s9.S5 for pea coal. The
coal was purchased by the gross
ton and sold by the net ton.
The witness said that the firm is
a member of the Elizabeth Associa
ton, known as the Central New Jer-
sey Coal Exchange. According to
the witness the cost of membership
is $50 and the dues s25 per year.
The firm Joined the exchange about
two years ago on invitation. which
was sent to the firm about three
after the exchange had been
termed.
The present price at which coal
Is sold. according to the witness. is
S13.75 for nut and stove coal and
s11.75 for pea coal. This price is
those who desire credit. but
those who pay cash are allowed a
discount of twenty-five cents
He admitted that the dealer is now
from twenty-three to twen-
ty-four cents a ton more on coal
than when it was selling for s10.1S.
During the hearing of this wit
ness, he was requested to speak
louder. and upon the suggestion of
Senator Brown he was asked TO
move his chair back further from
the table at which the committee
sat so that all could hear him.
Upon further questioning. he ad-
mitted that when the price of coal
was reduced last spring from $14.75
10 s13.75 the price had been reduced
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