Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-02
Refuse to Supply Certain Dealers.

beyond certain prices fixed. believe the
public has been deceived by the larger deal
ers. One firm today In Washington re-
ceived thirty-f1ve cars Of hard COAL A man
who telephoned to this firm for ton of
coal was told that the firm had none It is
our duty to probe to the bottom why coal
doesn't come. l can readily understand
why the Lehigh Valley finds it more profit
able to haul coal to Buffalo or New York
for shipment over its;own lines rather than
to divide the profits with another Hne az
would be the case In shipping coal to Wash
ington or any other city off it's line"
Mr.. Smith said he had been informed that
the Reading had two trains Of anthracite
that were expected to reach this city TODAY
Mr.. Andrews read. a. letter written to a
Washington dealer by Charles D. Norton G.
Co. of Philadelphia, wholesale dealers,
which said:
Unfortunately, shipm ents to your section
are enlarged, and 1t is only with the
greatest difficulty that coal can be sent in
your direction
Mr. Carmody advocated that the business
men form committee that should be re-
sponsible to the railroads for a large SUM-
ply to be distributed in the city.
Proposes Cooperation.
Mr.. Lambert said he had given consider
able thought to the subject, and he found
by investigating that the price established
by the Reading Company for the local
dealers to charge to consumers permitted
the latter to make a profit of only s1.25 a
ton, whereas the profit heretofore had been
$3.50 ton. He advocated the forming of
a cooperative combine or arranging with
some dealer to obtain as large a quantity
Of anthracite as poSsible,' the members of
the Business Mems Association and of the
Board of Trade agreeing ITO patronize this
dealer in an effort 70 break the famine.
THE question that confronts u.s." said
Mr. Parker, sis that of supply without re-
gard to cost. Supply and demand in the
next thirty days must necessarily regulate
the price. This COMMITTEES should ascertain
II possible whether the Reading will ship
coal to Washington on orders sent to it:
whether the Pennsylvania will send coal
to Washington on orders or whether the
roads are diverting coal heretofore ordered
for this city to other points We must be
treated the same as aresiother cities and
towns I am glad to hear from Mr. Smith
that he has the assurance that two trains
Of hard coal are expected tomorrow
THE paramount question is whether coal
will be sent here whHn ordered. The price
is something we have nothing to do with.
We should see to this at once. If we get
favorable responses from the represents a.
tives of the companies here In the city, well
and good; otherwise let us go direct to the
companies. I believe 1t wise to proceed
along this line before doing anything else"
Mr.. Edson's Suggestion.
LET us go direct to the agents and the
railroads rather than to the dealers" said
Mr.. Edison. The latter Will give us all
kinds of stories and keep US running back
and forth. I'll put up si.0o0 for an agency
here that Will get coal and distribute it,
''rI put up another $1,000" said Mr..
Carmody. .
Appoint a special committee" Mr.. Ed
son continued. ito see the general agents
Of the railroads, and IL necessary go to
headquarters. / think this course of pro-
cedure will produce good results"
Mr.. Lambert seconded the motion and the
committee was appointed as named above.
Another committee. consisting OF Messrs.
John JOY Edison. Louis Shoemaker and
John Doyle Carmody, was named to call on
local fuel dealers and investigate their ver-