The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-06-10
CONGRESSIONAL
INVESTIGATION
Of COAL PRICE

Washington, June 9.--CongressionaI
investigation OF prices charged by
bituminous coal operators and re
tailers was promised tonight by Sena
tor Borah of Idaho, chairman of the
senate labor committee, at confer
once with Secretary Hoover OF the
department Of commerce. II the basic
! price scale established at conferences
! between Mr.. Hoover with committees
OF producing operators are made the
basis for profiteering.
! Washington, June 9.-Administra
tive and legislative views II the exist
! ing bituminous coal price situation
! were EXCHANGED tonight at confer
! ence OF Secretary Hoover with Sena'
tor Borah. Republican. Idaho, ar
ranged it was understood al the in
stance of the commerce secretary.
Seek Understanding.
The cabinet member and the Idaho
senator were understood TO be seeking
mutual understanding of the present
level Of coal prices and the erect
upon charges 10 householdcrs OF Mr.
Hoover's agreements with producing
operators, estab lishing maximum
levels.
Attention also was understood to be
given to the lack Of any governmental!
means, other than moral suasion, tor
meeting the problem Of preventing
runaway coal prices.
Another exchange Of letters took
place today between Mr.. Hoover and
the National Retail Coal Merchants
association over the question OF ad
vance in the price OF bituminous coal
TO the householder resulting from the
agreement with operators, affecting
run Of mine coal.
Coal Dealers Oppose.
Rodsrick Stevens OF New YORK.
chairman Of the governmental rela-
tons committee of thea ssociation, de-
clared II would be "a waste Of time to
continue the discussion" in view OF
Mr.. Hoover's intention to evade the
issue. He charged the commerce sec
rotary with attempting to confuse the
question at issue. in that by claiming
q have prevented an advance In the
price Of bituminous coal he had
failed 10 consider the intent OF sub
stantial proportion OF consuming pub
lie" such as apartment houses
Mr.. Hoover in reply stated that he
noted the letter from Mr.. Stevens did
not reply to his suggestions, made
public yesterday, as TO how retail
coal dealers could play fine part IN
this emergency" and added; u again
repeat that | should be glad TO know
whether your association will or VIII
not undertake to protect the con
sumer by cooperation in the above
particulars, or what alterations In the
above you would consider fair.
Table Of Prices.
Tables giving thea verage price OF
bituminous coke. representative or W
per cent OF the country's output, COM
piled BY Coal Age. showed that on
March 81 thea verage spot price was
given as sos a ton. rising to 1857 on
May 90. then falling to 1885 on May
80, and averaging S3.6S on June o.
after the agreements on maximum
prices at the mines had been reached.
Comparing prices on June 3, the
tables gave for Chicago S3.l5 per ton
for household sizes OF lump coal. and
$3.50 for run OF mine steam sizes:
Cincinnati. 1926 for West Nirginn
and southeast Kentucky lump, and
S275 for West Virginia run Of mine
and s2S5 for southeast Kentucky;
New York. $500 for run OF mine, all
prices I. o. b. mines.