Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-10
INQUIRY POSTPONED
INVESTIGATION INTO THE COAL
SITUATION.
Taking Of Testimony Will Be Resum-
cd Monday-High Prices
Paid by the Poor.

The meeting of the Senate committee on
| the District Of Columbia to investigate the
coal situation in the District, which was to
have been held this morning. was postponed
until o'clock Monday afternoon. Sena-
| tor Stewart today went to his farm at Ash
burn. Va. where he will remain until Mon
! day.
The witnesses who will be before the
committee Monday afternoon are A. w
Machen of Machen Bros, Prof. David T.
Day, geological survey; Chas. Werner
James A. Tumelty, w. M. Harper, j. A.
Lounsbury. agent Of the Reading line; "
Baldwin johnson. Albright g. Barker and
johnson Bros. Mr.. v. Baldwin johnson
will again be asked to give the names o,
dealers from whom he purchases.
High Prices Paid by the Poor.
The investigation into the coal situation
IN the District Of Columbia by the Senate
District committee was continued yesterday
after The Stars report of the proceeding
was closed.
Mr.. Charles F. Weller, agent of the Asso-
ciated Charities. stated that the poor of this
city buy coal by the bushel at the rate of
from $13 to $22 ton. The average price
charged them is 40 cents a bushel, which Is
$13 ton. Mr.. Weller. stated there was
the poor of this city the ash dumps Of the
city are covered with people scratching for
stray pieces of coal. These ash dumps are
sifted. he said, as fine as powder. Mr..
Weller told Of one family whom he found
Saturday night burning up their last picture
frame for fuel. They had burned up their
bedstead, and, piece by piece, their furni-
ture had been broken up In order to make
little fire to warm them. He said the
families with a little mony had suffered
more than the utterly destitute, as some
means was found to supply the absolutely
destitute.
Mr.. Crawford of the Pennsylvania COM
pany explained the cause Of unusual delay
In unloading coal here by S. S. Daish & Co.
In November three carloads of coal destined
for Fort Washington were necessarily neId
few days until a barge could be obtained
to transport the coal down the river. When
the barge was obtained the coal was moved
promptly.
Mr. Zeh was again questioned He said
that independent operators could sell more
coal than could the Zine companies He
could not explain this condition.
Senator Foster of Louisiana questioned
the witness in order to ascertain if possible
how it happens that in the present coal
famine the Independent operators have de-
at high price, while the regular cline
companies that furnish coal at cheaper
prices fail to meet expectations.
Coal for the Capitol.
Chief Clerk Mcdowell Of the House of
Representatives. Sergeant-at-Arms Rams
dell of the Senate and Superintendent Ell
hot Woods were called to tell how they get
coal for the Capitol. Mr.. Mcdowell said
that for ten tons they paid SO ton, bat
that was in an emergency. They are being
supplied by the Reading people at $3.50 a
from 275 to 300 tons on hand. On the House
side, he said, they use from twelve to f1f-
teen tons day.
You should not accumulate COAL" said
Senator Stewart.
I'VE propose to keep warm in the House
| Of Representatives" replied Mr.. Mcdowell.
r'But you should not mOnopOlize coal at a
time when so many people cannot get any
at ALL -
Sergeant-at-Arms Ransdell said he had a
| supply Of coal on hand amounting to 15C
! tons for the Senate. That would last fol
ten days. 1t had been put in recently. and
| until within few days 1t frequently oc-
| CURED that there was only enough coal In
| possession of the Senate to last for twenty
| four hours.
| What Has Been Developed.
At the conclusion Of the hearing Senator
Foster OF Louisiana said the investigation
had developed the fact that the cost OF
mining coal IS practically the same 1t was
| before the strike. Transportation charges
are the same. The Reading company is
| placing coal in Washington at 5.75 a ton
and the Pennsylvania company at Sc a ton.
Coal bought from Independent operators
costs $40 ton on the tracks In washing
| ton. The Independent companies are fur
nishing ten tons Of coal to every one ton
| furnished by the railroad mines, where a
year ago the ratio was reversed, the rail-
road mines furnishing ten tons to every
| one ton furnished by the Independent opera
tors
"When we discover why this condition
~rtotc v1yf1 hay yaS3Q at he ,f
| the evil,' said Senator Foster