East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1907-01-01

In addition to the hardship that has
naturally resulted from the fuel short
age much needless annoyance is being
inflicted upon the people of Pendle-
ton by the fuel dealers themselves.
That muny nf the local coal and wood
handlers have little desire to afford
theiI customers proper and courteous
service is fully shown by scores of in
stances that have come to light with
i'm the past few weeks IL all the
tales told are true, the petty tyranny
Of tho dealers is nearly as disastrous
and more aggressive than that of the
railroads.
Several days ago Il furniture store
clerk ordered some coal of a local
yard and as he wished to store 1t in
his basement, requested that the fuel
be sacked. you'll have TO furnish
US with the sacks then" was the re-
ply Of the dealer. Accordingly the
man uf family proceeded To purchase
the necessary number of sacks and
humhly delivered them to his oppres.
sor please leave the coal in the
sacks when you deliver ii, for these
are my sacks" he said.
That evening the salesman pro-
ceeAcd homcward with a feeling of
satisfaction. believing, in his unsophis-
ticated mind, that his cellar would be-
fillcd with coal. Put on entering his
gate nc found that he had been pre-.
suuiptiuus. for the coal was not In the
basement, noI was II I'm sacks. In
stead u bad been dumped into his
gard and the sacks had been taken
away by the naughty driver for the
coal yard.
Yesterday afternoon merchant
whose name Is known to young and
Old. also sought Ia secure something
TO burr In the furnace. The reason
for Lis audacity was that his little
child was to have New Years party
and iI view Of the same the fond pa
rents wished to have something in the
shane OF q fire. Accordingly he call
ed m a wood ward where i'm the days
Of old he had been able to secure fuel
and have II delivered when he willed.
But he found that times had changed,
I'VE can't deliver it today. We're too
busy" was the reply which came t.
him over the phone. During the day
he sought several different times, a.
ways in a winsome manner, to induce
the fuel maEnates to send a few
chunk5 of coal his way. But all his
efforts we're in vain.
Finally a. lal kness drew on the
parti"u,ar merchant realized that he
was "up against it," He had not the
heart to go home and fucc his suf-
feriAG family after his dismal failure
At last he decided upon one last ef-
fort
ar | win take whcclharroW and
somn sacks down to your place will
you let me have some coal?" he trem-
bllngly asked over the 'Thone. With
apparent reluctance the proposition
WIS allowed by the dealer. The mer-
chant was instructed to take his
whcelbarruw to certain part of the
O. II. 4 n. yard. lie was told q car
OF coal was there upon the sidctrack
and that a Swcdc would be there to
hclr him get some fuel \ little later
the whcelbalrow, with the merchant
behind, hove in sight Of the dcslgnat.
e1 car But no husky coal h""vcr
swede, Irish or otherwise. wes there
to help. 50 with his hands for
shovel the customer" filled his sacks
with coal and like a thief in the night
stole away with his treasure, II was
hard wheeling NJ the sidewalk on the
south hill but in the course of time
the merchant and his handcart arriv-
cd, anl thrrc was more Joy in that
household over one sack of coal iE