Evening star., 1922-12-12
J. Maury Dove, Principal Wit
ness Today, Asks Leave to
Refer to Books.
MARSHALL SPOKESMAN
FOR BOARD AT INQUIRY
Prices Here Advanced so Cents Per
Ton Since December l, Wit
ness Says.

Dealers representing the retail coal
industry in Washington today began
giving testimony before the federal
fact-finding coal commission at the
first Of a series of hearings tha-
promised to last more than two full
days. The men who appeared today
came before the commission in re-
sponse to subpoenas issued last nigh.
from the Office of United States Mar
shal L. c. Snyder. at the request OF
the coal commission.
The commission. it was explained
by former Vice President Marshall, a
member of the body. requested is
suance Of the subpoenas in order 80
find out why coal prices in Washing
ton were advanced"
Washingtonians Summoned.
Representatives of the following
retail coal dealers were asked to ap
pear: Allegheny Coal Company.
Blick Bros. & Co., Inc: the j. Maury
Dove Co. w. ". Grifilth Coal Com
pany. William King & Son. the L. f.
White Coal Company, Frazier & Co.
of Anacostia, d. c.: the Charles F.
Miller Company of Bethesda, Nd. and
the T. W. Perry Company OF Chevy
Chase Lake. Md.
Mr.. Marshall. acting as spokesman
for the commission at the hearing to-
day. announced that none of the coal
men indicted by the grand jury lasi
Washington would be required to
testify until after the commission had
conferred with the district attorney
regarding the propriety Of such ap-
pearanSe in advance Of trial on the
indictment. Only two OF the indicted
men, both connected with the Will
liam L. King Company. appeared al
the hearing today.
Marshal Explains Subpoenas.
The commission. Mr.. Marshall said.
had not known OF the indictments
when the subpoenas were issued yes
| terday, and did not wish to embarass
the district attorney or the indicted
men by their appearance before the
federal fact-hnding body. DR.. George
Otis Smith, . member Of the commits
sion, said the hearings begun today
were instituted on the commi ssion's
own motion as part Of its fact-dnding
duties.
J. Maury Dove. tr.. representing the
J. Maury Dove Coal Company. was
the principal witness at the hearing
today. The final witness before to-
days hearing was w. B. Swindell.
representing Blick Bros. Inc.
Dove IL Questioned.
Mr.. Dove was questioned at great
length and in detail, by all the six
members of the commission sitting
today, with Mr.. Marshall acting as
spokesman. DR.. Charles p. Neill, a
member. asked Mr.. Dove to submit
before the commission tomorrow
many detailed statements as to the
business Of the Dove company. which
Mr. Dove said he could not remember
without referring to the books OF tho
company. Among the facts asked by
DR.. Neill were statements Of the tons
Of coal received by the company each
day from September is up to tomor..
row morning. from whom purchased
and the fob. price per car at the
mine. DR.. Neill also asked for the
selling price of each size Of anthracite
from September Is up to tomorrow
each size sold from March l TO Sep
tember Is and the price charged by
the Dove company.
Mr.. Dove said two experts OF the
coal commission are now engaged in
examining the books Of the company
and would give further detailed in
formation for the commission.
Mr.. Dove, questioned by Mr.. Mar
shall. said it was true that anthracite
coal prices in Washington had ad-
vanced so cents per ton since Decem-
ber /. He said the reasons for the
advance were that prices at the mine
have advanced and that in order that
local dealers may keep safe margin
Of profit above expenses. they also
were forced to increase the price OF
mitted. under examination. that his
company has two sets of prices. one
set for the small domestic consumer
and one for the large purchaser. to
whom coal is delivered In large lots.
He pointed out, however. the dis
dump makes a difference in price to
the consumer.
Says He Lost Business.
MIR. Dove asserted that establish
ment of the government fuel yards
in Washington had taken away from
his company approximately 10000
tons of coal business per year. He
declared that if this business were
returned he would cut the price Of
all coal to the consumer Immediately
so cents per ton. The business done
by the fuel yards. if he had it back.
he explained. would reduce the cost
of overhead in his business by keep
ing men and trucks going during the
summer.
Thirty-five c~nts of the recent 80
cent increase in anthracite coal goes
to the mine operator, or company
selling the coal. the witness added,
while about Is cents goes to the deal
er. Mr. Dove intimated that the coal
strike last spring and summer cost
his company in the neighborhood OF
$4,000, through inability to get COAL
while overhead costs. he said. went
on as IL business was at 100 per cent
He added that he remembered one
month in which the Dove Company
lost $4,000, and said IL the strike had
ended June l, as dealers hoped. his
company would not have lost money.
He will be satisfied. he said. IL the
Dove Company breaks even during
the present coal year. and added that
it is not the policy OF the company to
see how much money can be obtained
for coal, but how prices can be kept
as low as possible commensurate
with the service rendered.
Mr.. Dove said the company loses
money on its business in bituminous
coal, which, he said, comprised about
IS per cent Of its entire business. Hs