Evening Republican, Volume 23, Number 282, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1920 — CONDITION OBNOXIOUS. [ARTICLE]

CONDITION OBNOXIOUS.

Considerable criticism has been expressed of the local coal dealers. They have been censured an account of the fact that they have not had a sufficient supply of coal and that they are charging too high prices. It has even been reported that one dealer had been fined a thousand dollars for profiteering, but this is not true. The writer has seep the invoices of some of that has been shipped to dealers in this city and we must say that the margin received for this coal was not too large consistent with reasonable business. It is understood that a number of the dealers in the city were anxious to place their coal invoices before the city council for examination. ■ls dealers in order to get coal for their patrons have had to pay a premium they would ,of course, have to make an additional charge for the coal so purchased. We do not want to be put in the position of defending any coal dealer, who has exacted too high a price for coal. It has been the usual rule in this city to charge a dollar per ton profit and this is as low as coal can be sold by business men and remain in business. The dealers of the city has, as a rule, sold coal at same prices as The Farmers Grain Co., and that company has been able to refund the profits to its customers, who are stockholders, the amount being slightly over fifty cents per ton. People have a right to call to i account any one with whom they deal, but the criticism should be, fair and based upon facts. We are not in a position to say that all of the coal dealers ip this city have made the greatest possible effort to get coal, nor are we sufficiently advised to say that all have sold their coal on a reasonable margin, but we do say moat emphatically that we would not at-a-1 A MININGCO. NuX7 Four Cm! Lafayette, Ind. Nov. 20, 1920. th We WvC* "v* vu«i w * jrww until tocai o* wx cax»