The Washington times., 1917-10-11
By EARL GOODWIN.

Unless the coal situation is cleared up within short
time the President may take the whole thing into his own
hands, the mines and distribute the fuel to the people
who need it most
As vital the coal question to- every one there seems
to be only hazy information obtansbe from the fountain
sources of wisdom created to spread coal and comfort
us all From authority the statement that the
coal supply thousands of shor from another comes
the statement that there plenty of coa from another that
the railroads refuse to carry COAL and from another tie
dealers boarding against the day they wiring the
uermost price from the shverng public just at present
the situation In Washington to be that scarcely any
one get COAL and the popular impression is that
thing is wrong "on account of the war"
With the eminent authorities fuel disagreeing to
what the of the trouble and to whether there
any trouble it high time for some one to make plea for
team work and common sense.
Just here it might be proper rece little recent his
tory:
On August of this year. the Committee on Food Supply
and Conservation Of the District of Columbia Council of De-
nse uttered warning that coal would be this fall
Househoders advised to stock their bins for the
Many people abided by that warning and orders crowded
hand at that time. Prices high for summer but
Washington househoders recognized the unusual ua
tcn and slowed away the coal They felt more comfortable
chance that anthracite would drop in price later.
Two days after the District Council of Defense statement
printed the newspapers the Federal Trade Commission
gave forth its opinion that there shortage
People led to believe that the cry of fuel famine
all bosh Washington coal dealers subjected to severe
criticism and the daily talk of thousands of
today will testify to the firm belief then held by them that
coal would be plentiful and cheaper before November
Many orders for winter coal were Cancelled on the
strength of the Federal Trade Commission Many man who
hustlng around for oil stove might have saved
himself lot of trouble and accumulated dozen tons
of coal had not the Federal Trade Commission assumed the
attitude that Washington need fear no shortage.
Moreover, Washington coal dealers, who had ordered
further supplies from the mines told by the producers
that they could have coal because the Federal Trade Com
mission had indicated this city had enough November
has arrived but the Federal Trade Commission need hold
hearings ascertain the existence of fuel shortage here
today. It need only ask almost anyone the street
Meantime margin has been fixed which means nickel
q ton reduction in some instances.
However, people much concerned just now in
getting coal at any price than they in that reduction
They would rather have coal than bargain for it. but anyone
takes advantage of the desperate situation will have
siderable to answer for.
The whole unfortunate affair to point to the need
for administrative remedy which viii be positive and
petent The Washington situation at the door Of the fuel
administrator may be helpful in driving home the fact that
people will endure only cold spell without coal