Evening star., 1921-02-10
WITNESSES TELL
Of COAL COMBINE
Senate Committee Informed
Of Price-Fixing by D. c.
Association.

Testimony in support oil the cnaFSe
Of John G. l.. Ritter that combina-
tion exists in Washington to fix the
prices of coal sold to consumers was
given before the Senate manufac-
turers' committee yesterday after
noon by several men who have en-
gagged in the coal business here.
l.. NJ. Van Ness told the commit
tee that he was formerly a coal deal
er and that his coal supply had been
cut off because he sold coal at prices
below those fixed by the Washington
Coal Dealers Association. He teS-
titled that in April. 1919, l.. f. White.
from whom he had purchased coal.
wrote that he couldn't deliver any
more coal to Van Ness at the trestle.
but that he would sell him coal at
the retail price.
Is Told Of "Dcvelopmcnts."
The witness said that White in
formed him there had been develop
ments which prevented the sale of
any more coal at the trestle. MIR. Van
Ness said that he tried several other
dealers here. but could not buy coal
from them except at the retail
prices. He added. however. that he
had had an agreement with White
at one time to sell coal at prices
charged by White. and that if he
shaved the price he was not to let
W mite Know about it.
Van Ness said that he went to the
Johnson Coal Company. but found
that ii had been taken over by the
Standard Coal Company Senator
La Toilette read LIST of coal deal
ers who were identified as directors
Of the Standard Company
They told me-" said Van Ness.
that couldn't get coal unless l
had a yard and scale. and l had
neither
The witness said that later White
had told him he was sorry. but that
sell coal to Van Ness. He added
that White said Ritter was the man
they had to get"
George W. Rue Testife..
. George w. Rue, the next witness.
said that he was in the coal business
for himself in April, 1919, and con-
tinued until June 2. 1920. when he
he is In the employ of Chapman. a
coal dealer. He testified that ]. r
zimmerman. secretary of the Coal
Dealers Association. called on him
In December. 1919. and asked what
he was getting for coal sold to Ward
man Park Hotel.
Il told him 1 was getting $7.65 a
ton" said Mr. Rue. He continued
that zimmerman had said that was
all right-that he. Rue. was a Begin
he should get the profit allowed by
the Fuel Administration
Later. Rue said. Chapman. a vice
president of the coal association,
came to him and said he had heard Rue
was planning to sell coal cheap to the
laundries.
Il told him that the rumor was
wrong" said Rue. land that / would
go before the next meeting of the
association and say 30" He said he
ON fN IN NJ 1,1 1~,1
directors in MARCH, 1920. and tell them
he was not planning to sell at low
prices.
A member Of the committee asked IL
he had been reprimanded.
NO" said Senator La Toilette. "he
pleaded not guilty"
The witness said that he was selling
coal to a church at prices below the
prevailing prices, and that thinner
man called on him again and brought
UP the question of prices.
The association seemed to be much
interested in your welfare" suggested
senator La Toilette.
Rue said that when coal got scarce
in the spring Of 1920 he could get no
only with Chapman to buy coal. He
is now manager of branch yard for
Cha pman.
REQUIRED to Raise Price.
+, Lester. L. Charlton. who told the
committee he had been In the coal
business for eight years and has for a
number Of years been a member Of the
coal association. was asked il he had
advertised in the newspapers to sell
coal At prices below the prices prevail
ing.
The last three days of April" said
Charlton. II advertised coal at so cents
. ton of. On the third day the ad-
vertisement was to run Zimmerman
met me at the ball park after he had
been to my Office. He said different
dealers had called him up and COM
planned OF my advertisement and ask
ed IL he'd see me about it and ask me
TO discontinue.
any more and would put prices back
as soon as possible"