The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-27
1000 COAL DEALERS
PAY DAILY TRIBUTE
Hartigan Says Syndicate of
Twelve Exacts 81 a Day
From Cellar Dealers.
GAINS 100000 A YEAR

Commissioned Joseph Hartigan of the
Mayors Bureau Of Weights and Meas
ures said last night he had reason to
believe that at least 1000 Of the Is, 600
retail coal cellars in this city were con.
trolled by a syndicate Of twelve men that
exacte 81 a day from each man who runs
a business. This means returns to the
syndicate OF more than $500. 900 a year,
all Of which Is added to the price paid
by the poor who buy In small lots from
the cellar merchant.
Not only does the syndicate stock the
cellars and compel the dealer to pay
rent according to the neighborhood. tho
COMMISSIONS said. but 1t insists upon
the payment of the dollar a day without
fail. with the result that In order to get
a profit out OF the business for himself
the dealer charges for coal sold la small
quantities at n rate sometimes exceeding
500 a ton.
II is what the Commissioner calls
a contemplate swindle on the poorest
Of the city's poor that has caused him
to dig deep into the operations of the
syndicate.
May Ask for Prosecution.
l, " possible that the results of his
investigation may warrant him In calling
the attention OF the District Attorney
10 the situation.
The existence OF the syndicate came
to the knowledge OF Mr.. Hartigan
through reports by inspectors of his bu-
reau under Chief Albert Lutz az to their
work in hunting down short weigh, and
short measure coal dealers. In three
days the Inspectors visited $50 coal cell
lars In the poorer sections in Brooklyn
and Manhattan and inspected 800 weigh
ing and measuring Instruments, eighty.
six OF which were found to he crooked.
Action to bring ahUu arrests was taken
in thirty-two of the more ilagrant cases.
The supposed proprietors of the coal
cellars became frightened a, the re-
pcatei visits and threats OF arrest and
several Of them protested That they
weren't the bosses. They gave the
names Of the big bosses and ;old about
the payment to them OF the dollar a
day
81 shall do ny utmost 10 expose the
workings OF this syndicate said Com
nj ssione9 Hartiran las: night. III Is not ,
only an added imposition Oh the poorest
of the poor, this 81 a day eNactcd from
the man who runs the coal cellar. but its
very operations put = premium on dis
honesty on the part OF the fellow in
the cellar. who has to pay no matter
small his receipts for the day may
be. He - also required to sell Ice and
WOOD as well as coal. which ue syndi-
furnishes ~ It's own price.
The cellar man IL forced 70 my
-ynd'cste prices because the syndi-
starts hin In business. ewing him
an option OF final purchase at a price
which j" seldom finds himself able 10
pay.
Temptation to Cheat.
'lu the mcoutim, the collar man VINO
Is Nyuud uy W ttnu CONTRACTS is pinrn-
Ing h"ro aud there uu weight and meas
80 clear hJt daily dollar ana to
4 prOht for himself. This con-
Temps Tn" cellar man TO ch.a,
and his cheat!ngs are confined to the
very poorest people in the city. .
at ia they who have to pay SEQ and
SIS q ton or Goa, purchased IN
cent pals, and this method of cell
uE f. In direct violation ot the law
rho law demands sale by standard meas.
are and scale weight. hut OF course
hr law cannot prescribe the price 10y
o. by NtiLht The price could
D. made 20 regulate i;selH. however
Trough honest oumprtit'ou-hoptst
ana measure being afforded
there being thousands o! coal cellar
IN New York !, is impossible TO
ietcct every d shouest dealer"
Commissioned Ha'tisan will rropose 20
he Aldermen an ordnance imposing a
lccuse fee Of - a year on cellar coal
'o7'crs 'u the city.