Evening star., 1922-12-16
ASKS COAL COST
PROBE AT MINES
Col. Keller Urges Fedora!
Commission to Investigate
High Prices.

The federal fact-hndinE commis-
sion should at this time investigate
coal prices at the mines rather than
in Washington. In the opinion of Col.
Keller. chairman Of the Public Utili-
ties Commission.
The colonel voiced his belief in q
letter to Dr. George Otis Smith. mem
Der Of the commission. made public
at the District building today.
Correspondence also was made pub
lie to show. that the local commission
has been endeavoring to have the
Pennsylvania fuel commission check
up on prices local dealers say they
have paid for coal at the mines. -.
Blanes Cest ah Source.
Col. Keller states in his letter to
DR.. Smith that many local dealers
are receiving only \ small percentage
which has made 1t necessary for them
to purchase higher-priced fuel from
any source.
Referring to certain information
which Walter c. Allen, secretary to
the local commission. gave the fed
response to \ telephone request. Col.
Keller states:
Il wish to confirm the statements 5
which Mr.. Allen made that the in
vestigations by this commission into
the prices charged by local dealers
excessive profits are being made;
also to confirm his statement that the
high prices which some OF the local
dealers are charging seem due en-
tirely to the high prices prevailing
in many Of the mines from which
coal is obtained for the District
Would Probe Source.
The efforts OF our commission have
not been productive Of sstisfaotory
gestion. I think the efforts Of your
commission should be directed to an
investigation At the source of supply
rather than At this time to the local
price question.
Hearings before the commission in
tail price of coal in Washington were
postponed today and will be resumed
next Thursday. II the commission by
that time has reached an agreement
with the district attorney regarding
the propriety OF the local coal men
indicted more than year ago testify
ing before the commission. More than
a dozen coal men were at the hearing
in the Interior Department today. ana
at least three OF them were prepared
to testify.
J: Maury Dove. tr.. of the J. Maury
Dove Company. who was the prin-
cipal witness at the initial hearing
last Tuesday. asked the commission
to leave out Of the hearings any ref
erence to the word indictment in so
far as possible. The latter firm was
not indicted. Mr.. Dove explained that
he I'M
coal dealers was returned from ex
parte evidence. He said that the
wrong impression is popularity con-
veyed by use in newspapers OF the
word indictment. and indicated that a
reflection has been cast on local deal
indictment. In explanation Of his
statement Mr.. Dove said his opinion
was that the public generally regards
the indicted men in any case as
guilty.
He added that to his own knowl-
edge and belief the men In this case
were not guilty.
Await lnAictment Clear-Cp.
Replying to Mr.. Dove. former Vice
President Marshall. now q member of
the commission. said the commission
has no opinion as to the innocence or
guilt OF any one. Mr.. Marshall ex-
planned that the commission follows
the long-established theory in Ameri-
can law that every man Is innocent
until proved guilty. Mr.. Marshall
added. however, that the dealers call
ed to appear before the commission
must consider the subpoena binding
until next Thursday. II by that time
the commission has not reached an
agreement with the district attorney.
Mr.. Marshall said. the men summon
ed to appear would be communicated
with and a later date set for their ap-
pearance.
Mr. Marshall made it clear that the
commission will not go ahead with
the hearings on local coal prices until
has been cleared up with the District
attorney.
The United States coal commission
has not decided what will be its
course OF action at the conclusion
Of the investigation being conducted
ington, Chairman John Hays Ham
mond said. Mr.. Hammond made 1t
plain that the commission is not en-
powered to intervene between coal
retailers and wholesalers and the
consuming public. in the matter of
price. and has no power arbitrarily to
suggest or recommend q fair price for
coal
The investigation under way into
the local coal situation, Mr.. Ham
mond said. will give the commission
q groundwork on which 1t can base
questions to coal operators. While
agents of tho commission are ex-
amintnE the books Of local dealers
other field agents are going into
the books Of other retail dealers in other
cities. Mr.. Hammond said the COM
mission had not decided whether in
veetigations into the retail price of
coal would be made in other cities.