New Britain herald., 1928-04-19
GOAL INQUIRY IS
 FORGING UP PRICE
". H. Coolidge Of Boston Raps
 the Investigation

Washington. April 19 R-The senate committee investigation of the soft coal industry was defined today by w. 4 Coolidge. chairman of the board of tho Island Creek Coal company. Boston, as an effort ito make coal production cost more."
 At the outset of the session, Sen- ator Wheeler. democrat. Montana. to President Coolidge.
 Not enough to hurt him any" said Coolidge, and not enough 70 do me any good" He added that they were very remotely related.
 Common Ancestor
 Ten generations back we had a common ancestor. but I think there has been no inter- marriage between the two branches since then" he said.
 The operator, who lives in Lam caster. Mass, explained that the Is- land Creek Coal company operated mines in West Virginia He con- tended that the United Mine Work CTS had prompted the coal investi- gation for the purpose of increas- ing the cost of coal to 100, ,O00, ,00O people in the United States, for the benefit of 50o,Oo0 coal miners and their families. and possibly 100000 people who are owners and stock holders in coal companies.
 Heretofore" he continued, "in- vcstigations have been ordered be- cause the people were alleged to be paying too much for their coal. This investigation is being held to see if some way can be found, within the constitution, to make coal produce ton cost more.
 We have not believed this mat ter was within the control of the federal government. but so far as possible We desire to help this com- mittee in considering the quesc1on. There is no coal problem so far as the company l represent is con- ccrncd."
 Coolidge said that he undcrsto ood his appearance Was as an "alleccd non-rcsidcnt (opcrator) with no in- tercst in the employees of our coun- try. merely using them, if not abus- ing them." He denied that charge, reviewing the role that he said Bos- ton capital had played in developing the railroad and natural resources in other states.
 "It has never been bla ameworthy in this country" he added. flor the people of one state to build and de- vclop industries in other states. The history Of the Island Creek Coal company well illustrates the use of capital from outside the state in the development Of the great coal indus try in West Virginia at the request of citizens Of West Virginia" tsc Safety Devices
 To refutc the charge that the men do not get enough to cat-that they are undcrpaid and that they need the United Mine Workers for their protection" Coolidge produced pictures of the company property and declared there is no better or more healthy place in the United States than the town of Holden and is adjoining communities.
 We have always used all safety devices to protect the lives of our employees as fast as they have been discovered" Coolidge said. "The fatalities on our property we be- licve are lower than in other coal mining property in the country. Tt has been charged here that the death rate in the United States per million tons is greater than in other countries. This is a mistake. The death rate in the United States for the years 1921-1325, inclusive, was 3.67 per million tons Of produc- ton. whereas in Great Britain it | was 3.9S; in France 5.GS; in Bel gium G.54; and in Prussia 10.30."