The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-01-21
HAD PACT TO KEEP
FUEL PRICES Up
Federal Pr(bsr Names Phild-
de.ph.a Concern.
LARGE PROFITS ALLEGED
New York Wholesale Coal Dealers
Association Opposes Prosecutions
For Profiteering.

Washington, Jan. 21-Testifying
tee. which Is considering the Calder
bill for regulation of the coal indus,
try. \. w. Riley, special inyes!i@H.
tor of the department of Justice,
charged that anthracite producers
during October and November were
taking as much as $13 TO SIS a ton
for coal at mine mouths
He said fuel iniSt:ation prices
in 1918, plus later wage increases,
would be around Sc a ton on this
coal.
Reading from extracts. the witness
said sales agents agreed rot TO sell
at figures under those fixed by the
producers; to withhold deliveries in
case prices should break AMI TO take
commissions Of 10 per cent on the
value OF coal handled when II was
sod at the base price fixed by the
producers, but % per cent Of the
amount received In advance of such
figures.
Mr.. Riley named Madeira. Hill &
Co, of Philadelphia and New York
as one of those having an agency
contract form Of the kind he descrih-
ed. The agency was owned he add
ed, by the same men who owned the
producing company.
Eve found that this company was
actually receiving 50 n ton for coal
at its mines, and at the same time
sailing tho tn or f.n,
in the same location at S14 ton" he
said. MIR. Madeira is chairman of
the fair practices committee of the
anthracite producers
THE facts are, then, that the chair
man of this so-called fair practices
committee has the worst record of all
the anthracite producers?" Senator
Walsh asked.
well, 1 think So" Mr.. Riley re
sponded
San agent Of the department of jus
tice sat in with the fair practices
committee" Mr.. Riley said, and the
anthracite producers later took the po-
sition that they had been given what
amounted to an immunity bath to pre-,
vent prOSecuClOH.
Mr.. Riley gave no other corporation
names.
Charges that the New York Whole
sale Coal Dealers Association was
"placing every obstacle possible" in
the way of federal Investigations and
prosecutions in coal profiteering also
were made by Mr.. Riley.
Charles F. Allen, secretary Of the
association, and Gibbs L. Baker, its
counsel, were named by Mr.. Riley in
connection with his charges The
committee went into executive session
and Mr. Riley presented a number of
Cancelled checks, letters and other
charges.
The executive session was held ia
.isiatass. - 6etsils aftsI u BE. SD
their disclosure in open session would
hamper grand jury proceedings now IN
progress i'll New York.
Chairman Thompson, of the federal
trade commission, told the committee
that the United States will be driven
TO naturalization of mines unless some
system is found to keep competition
alive In the industry. He added that
this was a thing he did not want to
see.
The Calder bill was described by the
witness as ''prophylactic legislation
preventive, not parental" Congress
has constitutional powers to enact such
1oriclotion Mr. ThOmnS1n said
"Ry this BILL" the witness contin-
ued, "the trade commission can de-
monstrate to the consumer when he is
called upon to pay such prices as $1s
ton, as the shipping board was last
wear. the cost Of coal. Then there Will
have to be some explaining done before
transactions are made