Show STATE SEEKS RETAIL COAL PRICE SLASH Threatens Intervention if Freight Cut Is Not Reflected REDUCTION IS INDICATED Chez Warns Retailers Actions Will Be Watched I A threat of state intervention if ordered ordered ordered or or- dered reductions in intrastate freight rates on coal are not reflected in retail retail retail re re- tail prices hung over Utah's coal industry in Thursday Meanwhile there was every indica indica- tIon ion official and otherwise that prices will vili be reduced when revised rate schedules are filed with the state public utilities commission by rail rail- roads In its decision T Tuesday ordering a sweeping revision of or rates the commission com corn mission directed the carriers to file new schedules within 20 days D. D D. D Muir Jr vice president and general manager of the United States Fuel company and of oC the United States Smelting Refining Mining company and president of the chamber chamber cham charn- ber of commerce commerce said he believed the ordered reductions would be reflected reflected reflected re re- re- re in benefits to the consumer He pointed out that several years ago reductions were ordered in rates for tor slack sTack coal and that consumers' consumers prices were cut 25 cents a aton ton P Powerful Weapon Attorney General Joseph Chez pointed to a state constitutional prohibition prohibition prohibition pro pro- of price fixing by trusts as a n powerful weapon in seeing that the public benefits by the ordered rate revisions He warned that the state would watch actions of ot coal distributors and would take every step possible to top pass p lS the reductions on to the cori- cori con con- sumer We have a powerful weapon in article 12 section 20 of or the state constitution constitution con con- which prohibits trusts formed to fix prices in restraint of oC trade Mr Chez said If there is any evidence of violations by the coal or any ny other industry prosecutions will toll follow ow Conspiracy Evidence I If there is no reduction there will willbe willbe willbe be evidence of conspiracy to fix prices Although the thc N R A allows industry to boost prices to meet added added add add- ed expenses of recovery measures it does not allow combinations in restraint restraint re reo re- re of trade and any group using the N R A as a subterfuge will find Itself in trouble with the state It was understood that absence of any formal statements from coal dealers regarding price reductions Is caused by the fact that there are now on hand large quantities of coal bought at prevailing freight rates |