New-York tribune., 1921-01-07
Calder Committee viii
Call All Involved in Big
Profits and Give Facts to
Department of Justice
Wentz Refuses to
Explain Prices
Senator Kenyon Advises
Dealer Fuel Industry
May Face U. S. Control

fTof'. f"e 1rt6nre'S Washington Bnrsda
WASHINGTON, Jan. Coal compa
nies charged with profiteering at the
expense of the War Department will
not only be called before the Calder
committee of the Senate to explain, but
the facts will be turned over to the
Department Of Justice. This vas made
plain in the course of the committee
hearings to-day when it was brought
out that the Watkins Coal Company, a
central Pennsylvania concern, had sold
coal to the War Department through
the Wentz Company of Philadelphia
for 1925 a ton which had cost it 1925.
Colonel D. B. Wentz, of Philadelphia,
president Of the National Coal Associ-
alton, was before the committee. and
he was quizzed about the margin of S6
between costs and the price paid by
the War Department in the case of the
Watkins company and similar mar
gin whicN seemed to have existed in
other Caps. Colonel Wentz said he
couldn't account for it and suggested
that officials of the Watkins company
be called.
eve will call them: and anticipate
the Department Of Justice will call
them also,' said Senator Kenyon.
Wentz Demands Specific Figures
lhe revelations as to the margin ir
the case of the Watkins company came
TINS afternoon after the committee had
utilized much of the day trying to get
\ Cc1c
where the profits went in coal sold to
the War Department. Colonel Wentz
repeatedly insisted that specific figures
TO show the cost at the specific mine
from which purchase was made first
must be known and that deductions
could not be drawn from the average
Of costs at the mine.
Senator Kenyon called the attention
OF Colonel Wentz to the fact that the
commuters figures on the cost of soft
CO. At the mine indicated an average
h"r@ft by the Wcntz company for the
War Department was $3.50.
Colonel Wentz said the Wentz COM
pany bought coal for the War Depart
ment in central Pennsylvania, and this
was in high cost district
Senator Kenyon then showed that
the average cost in the central Penn
sylvania district was 1926, and he
cited from figures in the possession of
The committee that the cost of the
Watkins Coal Company mines was
paid 1926 1or coal it obtained from
that company.
Figures Of National Association
That's according to your figures"
said Colonel Wentz
mo, that's according to your fig
what became cam Of this difference ssr' 'S0"' ,"
Colonel Wentz then said he could
not account for IT, ~ w,uldn't feel
like having nv companies take such q
profit" he said
The committee believes it will find
margins similar to those in the Wat
kins transactions in the cases of many
other companies from which the Wentz
company bought coal for the War De-
partment.
"If these prices are to 80 on" oh
of the hearing, you'll be met with the
question of government regulation
just as the railroads are" He added
the committee would recommend a
measure for complete publcitv in the
COZ husinees
Colonel Wentz and Franklin r. NIL
Ter, counsel for the committee clashe.l
in tie course of TIE afternoon because
OF questions Mr. Miller put to the wit
ness. Senator Calder settled the mat
ter by telling them to settle their quar-
rels outside the committee room.
Wentz Denies Price Fixing
Colonel Wentz denied price fixing by
the National Coal Association, and also
denied that priority orders sent prices
soaring. Earlier in the day A. j. Gaut-
helm. appearing for the American Rail
way Association. charged prices were
raised by priority orders.
Colonel Wcntz was on the stand TO-
day. at his own request to defend h,
course rs purchasing agent of the War
Dcpartm ent Ee declared coal opera
tors had not conspred with labor lead
ers to promote strikes and hold down
production.
Senator Kenyon raised the question
in the course of discussion of the
fcnntnuod m mana fhree)