Perth Amboy evening news., 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 & Son, was the only coal
firm representative 10 be subpoe-
naed to appear before the hearing
even in view of the fact that repre-.
sentatives of other firms were seer
about The streets of the city and
attended public functions, seems L
have started something, for within
a half hour before the sessions cE
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
LalSa 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 hall before the hearing be-
gan. Mr. Peterson 1t was learned
by the Evening News today. is at
the coal mines in Pennsylvania and
will not return until 9 O'Clock to-
morrow morning. Mr.. Peterson has
been at III. miRes for week
John W. Olsen, who was present
in the council chamber OF the city
hall. where the hearing is beine
held, was served with a subpoena
at 1920 o'clock for the hearinS
1
o'clock.
AS is usual in most hearings Of
this kind, il did not start at the
hour scheduled. Although Senator
Mackay and Senator Brown were
present they were powerless TO (be-
gin the hearing as a quorum vast no.
present. At 11:45 the two senators
were waiting for other members OF
the committee 10 arrive so that the
probe might begin.
The George Chamra & Sons coal
firm Of Roosevelt was the first firm
called 10 the witness chair. This
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 S 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
S3,3O0.75 freight on this coal. The
statement showed that the coal had
been sold for S10.1s 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 Assocsa
tion, known as the Central New Jer-
sey Coal Exchange. According TO
the witness the cost of membership
is $50 and the dues SIS per year
The firm Joined the exchange about
two years ago on invitation. which
was sent TO the firm about three
months after the exchange had been
formed.
The present price at which coal
is sold, according 70 the witness. i
S13.75 for nut and stove coal and
S11.75 for pea coal This price Is
charged those who desire credit. bur
those who pay cash are allowed a
/ discount of twenty-five cents
He admitted that the dealer is now
making from twenty-three TO TWEEN
ty-four cents a ton more on coal
than when it was selling for s1o-1s.
During the hearing OF this wits
ness. he was requested TO speak
louder. and upon the suggestion oI
Senator Brown he was asked 70
, move his chair back further from
the table at which the COMMITTEES
sat so that all could hear him.
Upon further questioning. he ad-
mitted that when the price Of coal
was reduced last spring from S14.75
to $13.75 the price had been retuced
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