Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-15
COAL OPERATOR
REGISTERS KICK
TO GOV. PINCHOT

d., NOV. lt.~I0dIHucl
D. Warrener, president of the Lehigh
Coal and Navigation Company, chief
spokesman for the Anthracite Coal
Operators Policies Committee, to-
night sent a letter to Governor Pin
chot in which he stated that he
viewed with Indignation" the gov
ernor's statement of November to
the effect that the operators had re-
fused to recommend to the industry
that it should clean it's own house
of abuses known to exist.
The letter, stated that the governor
suggested that the operators agree
not to sell coal to retailers who
charged higher prices than last year,
but the operators feared such a
plan would be a violation of the
criminal laws of the United States
as 1t would mean an attempt on the
part of the producers to fix retail
prices in more than $4,000 communal
ties. The letter also pointed out that
the governor had been assuring .he
operators for the past foEt weeks
that he would endeavOr 10 obtain the
opinion of the state attol rey general
on the point and that the opinion
had not yet been received. The let
ter follows:
You will pardon me il view with
Indignation the public statement is
sued by you following our confer
ence on Friday, November g. In hat
statement you say Tie committee
OF anthracite operators. consisting of
Messrs. Warriner, Richards, Cornell
and Jessup. held final conference
with me this afternoon to decide
whether or not they would recon-
mend to the anthracite industry
that 1t should clean it's own house of
the abuses which are known to ex-
list. They have refused
The impression created py this
statement and by your call for the
governors conference on Novenlhor
20, is that of stubborn resistance to
reasonable and definited reforms pat
forward in the public interest The
facts are otherwise.
MY letter of November stated:
We desire to continue the cooperation
with you which We have shown by &C.
ceding to your views in the wage nego-
tiations. although the terms of settle
ment imposed onerous conditions on
the industry. You will. however, I am
sure. fully recognize that with the in
dustry under constant scrutiny and at
tack We must. regardless Of our desire
or motives, satisfy ourselves that what
you ask us to do Is economically prac-
ticable and legally sound. We cannot
assume responsibility when the laws
deny us the right to do So
The only suggestion made by you
was that We should agree among our
selves, and with you, not to sell to re.
taiiers who charged higher prices than
last year. regardless of the fact that
by the settlement with the mine work.
ers brought about through your inter
ventfon. prices to retail dealers have
increased. This would mean an attempt
on our part to fix retail prices in over
10000 communities by an inflexible
rule without consideration of varying
local conditions.
You will recall that we feared such
plan would be violation of the
criminal laws of thke United States
You assured us you would endeavor to
secure the opinion of your attorney
generol. For four weeks you have
been assuring us that you would fur
nish this opinion. At the last confer
cnce You will recall that we expressed
disappointment at not receiving this
opinion aud withheld final judgment
on your proposal, on your further as
surance that you would send us this
opinion in the course of two or three
days. That was the status of the ne
gotiations when you issued your state
ment. The opinion has not been re-
ceived.
Again let US repeat. as stated in
our letter of November 3. that the
opinion and memorandum of your
specific suggestions would be a great
help in our study of the points at is
sue"