Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-07
IMMEDIATE INQUIRY
Investigation of Local Coal
Situation Ordered.
SEM ATE TAKES ACTION
DISTRICT COMMITTEE INSTRUCT.
ED TO LEARN CONDITIONS.
Senator Stewart, Author of the Reso.
luton, Designated to Hear the j
Views of the Dealers.

which he believed will result in supplying
the people of the District of Columbia with
coal at a reasonable price. He introduced
a resolution in the Senate providing for
inquiry to be made by the committee on the
District of Columbia into the causes of the
high price of coal in the District. and II
this investigation results in showing that
the local dealers are taking advantage OF
consumers by adding an extortonate profit
to the price they pay for coal, he will
promptly introduce in the Senate a bill au-
thorizing the Commissioners to establish
coal yards here for the purpose of supply
ing coal at the cheapest rate possible to all
the people
Senator Stewards resolution. which was
ADOPTED by the Senate without de bate. fol-
lows:
Resolved, That the committee the
District of Columbia be instructed to in
quire as to the wholesale price of coal in
Washington, which the local dealers are re-
quired to pay, and what is the price which
the local dealers charge their customers:
whether the scarcity of coal is the result
of failure of shipments to Washington, or
whether there is any lack OF prompt and
efficient distribution among the people
Immediate Investigation.
The investigation authorized by this reso-
luton will begin at once. Senator Stewart
has been designated a subcommittee to
make the inquiry into the coal situation.
and today notices were sent out to coal
dealers to appear be fore the committee at
oclock tomorrow in order to give their tes-
timony. The dealers summoned today foI-
low: J. Maury Dove, C. II. Fishbaugh, A.
Geary Johnson, V. Baldwin johnson, John.
son Brothers. William King G. Son. Mere.
dith Ninship & Co.. John Miller & Co.. the
PENNSYLVANIA Coal Company, Stephenson &
Bro. and William ]. Zeh. Other retail deal
erS VIII be called, as well as repres sentatiyeS
of the wholesalers from whom they secure
their supplies. The investigation 10 begin
at o clock tomorrow afternoon, at which
time all of the above are requested to be
present, in the room of the Senate commit
tee on the District of Columbia, will proba-
bly, be continued for a number Of days and
possibly for week. The investigation will
be made as searching as possible and Will
be pushed to a conclusion quickly as
may be. If it can be completed this week.
which it is hoped may be the case, bill to
correct the evil found to exist will at once
be introduced by Senator Stewart.
Proposed Public Coal Yard.
Senator Stewards proposition to establish
a coal yard for the District has met with a
great deal of approval, and it is understood
that it will be conducted very much as is
being done in Detroit, Mich, where the
city has taken that course in order to over
Senator Stewart was seen by S.ar re-
porter today and expressed himself forcibly
as TO the condition that exists here and
those who are responsible for it.
'"The men responsible for this condition."
said Senator Stewart, are criminals. They
are monsters. If We find that the local
dealers are taking advantage of the people
al this time to make money by putting up
the price of coal so high that the poor peo-
pie cannot secure fuel l will at once intro
h lt@l -SrIv alnrs
the direction of the Commissioners of the
District of Columbia, and the people here
can be provided with coal at the cost Of
serving it to them. The amount of slffer-
ing that is existing in the District this
time is dreadful to contemplate. 1t calls for
prompt action as possible, and L hope
we may be able to do something to relieve
the necessities of the people before any
greater harm has been done.
"a continuance of this fuel famine can
result only in sickness and in such suffering
that is not at all warranted by the real con-
ditions in the coal trade 1t is bad enough
that it has gone on this far, and so far as I
am concerned propose to act as promptly
possible in order that the coal famine
may be brought to clcse at an early day.N
A More Hopeful View.
Local dealers reported can increased de-
mand for coal today, occasioned doubtless
by the light snow and the threatening
condition of the weather. The usual
amount of coal, both anthracite and biz
luminous, was received in the yards of the
railroads here today and a number of dealt
ers stated that they were receiving coal
in moderate shipments. Most of the fua
received here today has been distributed t.
customers direct from the cars as thel
were unloaded. The dealers also succeeded
In securing a larger number of teams, 50
that the work of supplying customers wal
more expeditions than usual.
The apprehension among residents of this
city as to a serious coal famine in Washi
ington seems to have been dispeied, and &
hopeful view of the situation is now held
The supply is, of course, still inadequate
to meet the demands of the people, ya
there seems to be no fear OF serious suffen
ing because of the scarcity of fuel.
A meeting of the citizens committee OF
the coal situation will be held at O'Clock
this afternoon. The committee, 1t Is thought
will be able to report that arrangement
have been made whereby soft coal may bt
obtained to supply Washington RESIDENT
at reasonable price. 1t is also thought
that the effort to secure barges to trans.
port soft coal from Norfolk to this city
will be successful.
Coal Brought in Barge.
The Baltimore tug Peerless came int
port early yesterday morning with barg,
Of coal from Philadelphia in tow fol
Georgetown.
The owners Of the lines Of river steamer
are now paying Sc ton for soft coal, In
ferior in quality. about twice what they
paid this time last year. Reports como
that supplies of soft coal are arriving al
Norfolk and Newport News sufficient to
load vessels with ordinary speed.
Entitled to Transportation.
According to a ruling made by the Secre-
tary of War, men enlisted in the Philip.