The New York herald., 1922-07-28
GOMPERS ASSAILS
MINE OPERATORS
Says Balky Employers Alone
Are Responsible for the
Fuel Famine.
PRICES UP TO S25 A TON
Shortage of Stove and Egg
Sizes Appears to Be.
General in City.

Samuel Gompers said here yesterday
that the refusal Of the coal operators to
talk with the miners was the sole cause
for the tieup in the coal industry and
the resulting fuel famine. Speaking at
Webster Halt to the International Ladies'
Garment Workers Union he went on:
II realize as well as any one else the
necessity for coal In our homes and in
industry during the coming winter. But
I say that 1t is better \that we shall
suffer want rather than that the mine
workers shall be forced into slavery"
Local dealers saw coal at $25 ton
for domestic use and little to be had at
that price. The supply of larger sizes OF
anthracite is virtually exhaused. said
dealers, and only the Immediate require
ments of customers are being met.
lie Roy T. Harkness of the Transit
Commission sent a telegram to Clyde B.
Aitchison of the Interstate Commerce
Commission in Washington In reply to
one inQuiring II the Federal authorities
could count on the Transit Comnission's
cooperation in the crisis. Commissioners
Harkness said:
'Your telegram to-day received. You
can rely on the New York Transit Com
mission exercising to the best Of its
ability all functions necessary in the
emergency"
The local coal committee appointed, at
the request OF Gov. Miller consists OF
William A. Prendergast, chairman OF
the Public Service Commission; J! w.
Lieb, vice-president and general man.
ager of the New York Edison Company,
and Commissioner Hardness.
A few attempts at profiteering already
have been reported Al official Of the
Brooklyn Edison Company said: I'VE
have coal on hand to supply us for three
months and are not worrying. We have
been spending lot of money to keep
up our coal reserves. Recently we have
been offered large quantities Of coal at
prices-coal that is normally
worth Sc or 81 a ton has been offered
to US at $12 and $14. Needless to say
we refused"
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit Company
reported that 1t had two or possibly
three weeks supply on hand and large
supply on order, subject, however. to
interference with delivery
In Manhattan and Brooklyn there
appeared to be a grave shortage Of egg
and stove coal and the retail price Of
buckwheat which seldom can be used
by the householder has gone UP 80 cents
a ton in the last two weeks.
Gov. Edwards Of New Jersey tele-
graphed to Secretary of Commerce
Hoover In Washington:
I'm response to your telegram of to-
night relative to the distribution of:
coal supplies. you may inform Presi-
dent Harding that New Jersey is ready
and willing to cooperate promptly with
the Federal Government In any emer-
gency. I will proceed at once with the
formation Of a State organization to
cooperate with your Presidential COM
mittee, advise you as to details and
await your further communications"
Gov. Edwards also announced that he
probably will announce the personnel
Of the State commission to-day, and
that the number will be five or seven
with powers similar to those exercised
by similar body during the war.
Gov. Lake of Connecticut also an
nounced that he had received a tele-
gram from Secretary Hoover asking
cooperation in the crisis, and that he
would give every possible assistance.