Perth Amboy evening news., 1921-10-14
STOPPED SELLING COAL,
PLANT HEAD DECLARES
CONTINUED from page ID

things created a better relationship
between the employer and employe.
He was asked If he did not think
it would be a great help If the plant
again furnished coal to the employees
and said that it would certainly be
a great help.
Senator Brown asked If the COM
pany had received any preference in
freight rates and Mr.. Clark replied
that it did not and that the freight
rates to the dealer and the plant
were the same.
Assemblyman Nelson was of the
opinion that the committee should
go on record as encouraging the sup
plying of the coal by the employer
to the employe.
Senator Brown was of the opin-
ion that the committee owed a debt
of gratitude to Mr.. Clark and also
mentioned C. c. Baldwin of the STAN
dard Underground Gable Works n
Mr.. Fowler, formerly connected with
the Barber Asphalt Company as do
ing similar work, which he charac-
terized as the work of good citizens.
MIR. Clark was then asked if he be-
lieyed that If he had continued to sell
the employees coal, the mines would
have stopped the supply of the plant.
He replied that the inference was 10
that effect, but there was no out
spoken word or threat of refusal to
supply the coal.
Upon further question, Mr.. Clark
stated that the company sold h coal
to no one but employees and thai
sometimes the amount was deducted
from their pay.
Theodore A. Leber, a coal dealer
of Port Reading, was the next wit
r ~. l. bod hnnn a dnalpr
for the past eighteen years and a
member Of the Central New Jersey
Coal Exchange for a period of two
years. Mr.. Leber proved to be a
very unsatisfactory witness and was
told by Counsel Mckee that he ap-
peared to be hiding something.
When he took the witness chair,
MIR. Leber presented a statement,
which he said had been made out by
his bookkeeper. showing the scondi-
ton of his business. He SAID that
the price of coal now is $3.50 apd
that last April the price was S14.15.
Irnon question from Mr.. Mckee, he
said that prior to 1919 he had had
considerable trouble in getting a
supply of coal, but hat conditions
were better at the present time. Mr..
Mckee tried to get Mr.. Leber 10
admit that he began to get his a
withou trouble after he had joined
the exchange.
From the questioning it was evil
dent that Mr.. Mckee desired to bring
out that Mr.. Leber's coal supply had
held UP so that he would become a
member of the exchange, but Mr..
Leber refused to admit this fact.
Mr.. Mckee asked Mr.. Leoer:
weren't you told there would be
no more trouble if you joined the
association" The answer was NO,
Pressed for the reason he joined.
MIR. Leber said for social reasons
and for the betterment or Things
When questioned as TO what ne meant
by the betterment OF Things, ne re-
piled that he had turned over TO the
association a fight he was carrying
nm with the railroad for a lower
freight rate. He would admit no
other reason for joining the associa
ton.
Asked if he personally reouceo
the price of coal, he replied that ne
did and would not admit tnat the
price was regulated by the assocla-
lion. He informed the
that last April the price was SI4:to
but now is $13.75, a reduction OF 81.
Asked what percentage he as
his profit he replied so cents per
ION. lnlOIIiltu Ny "t'
the statement he had submitted 70
the committee showed a gross pront
of s3.95. he was unable to explain
how he made up the difference OF
s34O. He was unable to ccou
for the difference between $lO.46
which the coal cost him per ton ana
the selling price of $3.50.
When questioned as to why ne
dropped the price of the coal 81, ne
said it was because his ~oVerheau
costs had been reduced. MIR. Mckee
reuirded him that he was paying
forty three cents more f-eight at the
present time than the other dealers
and then asked: -.
.Don't you think it strange that
Won dropped when the others dld
and YOU pay more freight and have
harder ~deliveries?" In answer Mr..
Iebe said, he didn't believe that
others are charging as much as ne
is. hod
Mr.. Mckee. then asked II he a
had DELAYS in receiving Goa from
the mines since he became a mem
her of the association. The reply
was that he has just about the same
trouble. Mr.. Mckee then reminded
him that in answer to this question
before he had said that he did not
ave trouble now. and asked MIN
wf.ich he desired h committee W
believe. The question was then re-
reated TO MIN and he replied that the
trouble is not so apparent at present
Questioned further as to the 40,
ings of the Association he informed
the committee that it collects bad
debts. Asked how much it had col
leeted for him. he said $50. Mt.
Mckee then asked if he thought II
good business to pay $50 a year 10
get SIS. He said that h associa-
ton not only collected bills but kept
him in touch with coal conditions
and the market price.
He was then asked as to what
happened at the meetings OF the
association after the secretary had
left the room. To this question he
replied that the coal men talked
about conditions. the price they have
to pay for coal and other similar
matters. and said that the price at
which the Goa was to be sold was
never discussed. He was asked II
he knew that if prices were talked