The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-02-04
Coal Profiteerihg and the
Senate Investigation
BY BILL PRICE

Ihe Senate District COMMITTEES proposes 20
its investigation Of alleged profteerng in coal oy retail
dealers Of the District Of Columbia
the Senate then going to investigate the grossest and
meanest kind of profteering the part Of owners OF
bituminous mines?
The evidence so far developed mine
owners spring. when there was strike in the anhra
cite fields glad sell their products at normal prices
When confronted with dire emergency
these mine jumped the prices at the mines anywhere
per to per without there having been
single Of cost in mining It profiteering OF
the buccaneer brand,
These mine owners have set an example robbery that
likely be repeated any time in the future there
strike fields the anthracite mine owners
wiz feel that they entitled to follow the pratca example
Of btuminous owners
The consumers Of the nation will everything pay the
costs and enrich who through inhibons Of law
fiji their pockets times of national emergency
The Senate District Committee not been authorized by
and proeerng directed to investigate charges Of
proerng part Of local coal dealers The evidence
= Gsi Of cost pOs paid By local dealers
District Committee cannot stop It cannot
to do certain Job and must do The coal dealers Of the
District reluctant to submit their books to audit AL
proeerng may proven but there other angles
including that of not wishing business firms affairs and
financial standing exposed to competitors and % puDll0
The best policy local dealers follow frankly submit
authority to get anyhow Nothing to be
gained By avoiding the fullest sort q inquiry Now That the
the TRUTH there has been want TO know
It. # there has been gougng of the public those firms
which establish this fact will be better off in the end
question of what constitutes fair profit is broad one
Only the many overhead involved
given business The Senate Committee Is composed OF
fair and honorable There can be no incentive on the
part majority of that committee to hurt legitimate
square in which there has not beck exorbitant
charges to the public.
Senator CAPPER chairman of the Senate Committee Is
successful business He many newspaper and other
properties radical in the that he cannot
and fairly Moreover he is courageous IN doing justice
to people Of the District Of Columbia
depend upon that Senator Capper is not going
to try TO condemn and pory local business men and et
guilty coal escape. Politically he has no fear
big money and big interests than little money and
little interests job right TO investigate the local
When he has concluded that he will not rest salts
fled until he brought about sweeping investigation OF
wholesale prices and the notorious that has been
going that has been the prime factor IN the gn
retail cost Of bituminous coal here and elsewhere.
Congress Of the facts brought out cannot afford TO
smother an investigation which ought to bring out startling
facts and that will protect consumers In the
future
If it is right climb the necks of local coal dealers
and we viii soon trutht than right to give
the real sharp taste OF turning on the
legislative light.