New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-21
COAL SHORTAGE
WORRIES AGENTS
Scarcity of Proper Help
Also Adds TO the Woes
of Managers
SITUATION DISCUSSED
At ANNUAL MEETING
2. E. Martin Unanimously
Reelected President OF
the Ny. Association

-. are anxious days for agents
~ bpildings In this city. Many are
a.his 20 get q sufficient supply OF
s,6 there is q scarcity Of help.
Vel' ord;.ion Was discussed at the
la.s sI Meeting Of the New York Build
SSsSoSers Association held recently
hs Vo,el Breslin. At the meeting
Martin was unanimously re-eieet'
y President.
~ other officers chosen were;
,resi6ent. Francis s. Bancroft
1..ssnr,r. Charles p. Best; Secretary,
..sord p. Roberts, and executive
hs...;ttse 70 serve three years: Douglas
eooe.itsbsnk. Corwin Black, A. c. Bang,
Uooper and A. w. Warner. ho-
W. Paine was elected member
.be organization. Mr.. Martin
.to5 The association for the conf
isree placed in him by rejecting MIN
ss,d Of this important body.
Mr. Barton. chairman OF the apart
In, house committee presented TOT
Esenssion three topics Of vital inter
-, "a All apartment house and many
ssssY building managers, namely, coal,
s-,loyes, and removal OF garbage ana
ashes. s....d .hs+ the
- sor,r,ittoe be instructed to confer
~i,s ~, Real Estate Board and other
'.r..,;1stions and be granted power to
-, ,ueh steps as il deemed necessary
:. ,.lisve the situation. The coal COM
.,,,s, reported that II had written TO
yS,.srs.sta Commerce Commission
senators and Congressman, and also 10
ioe.I realty organizations. RepIles
80 received that the situation Is
~ ssrious but IL the weather con-
.i,ys, mild until March a crisis would
,rohablv be averted The authorities
cav they will do ell possible TO re-
Heve the situation.
~ T Ropes. +. s. Bancroft and NJ.
T;ttiefeld. committee on coal sup
NV reported that IL had sent to rep
rssentstives Of local realty interests
The following letter; -. -
the serious coal situation IN New 1oIS
citv. which has apparently got oeyono
Nj control Of the retail coal deaiei
and consumer. 49,. 5oal
ers state that they have only sum
Gent amount Of coal TO supply tne
needs OF the consumer from DAY 70
5av. A. a result of this, upon IN nne
srst heavy fall of snow many puIiu-
ings will be left without coal as the
.tTsets will then be impossible 70 coal
trucks 10 a great extent. rms means mean
Lst many Of the large business bullu-
;,rs will be left without water heat
az sley ator service, but, more important
"a human life, the apartment houses
Ill no in a like condition. The short
,,s 81 coal is such that. even Win
Ssl;vsrv conditions at their best, mem,
80 III this organization are prepared
!. .;,s eases where property has been
,y;,bon. coal for some hours and many
ssve only a days supply on hand
Endangers Life
ayop can readily appreciate that this
d., an extremely serious situation pom
10 life and property IN the city.
"We arc sending to-day a letter 70
b. Interstate Commerce Commission
,.ki,g that they take Immediate actlVh
iooking toward relief from TINS cohui-
ton ..i.,o. ;s
In part as follows: 80 A.. oo.I
situation is the fault Of the New ioI n
Civ coal dealers. as, at a receht NEE
ms nj our organization, some OF thy5
members reported that they mao trleu
N purchase barge loads OF coal from
tho mine owners and wholesale dealers,
hut In every instance tho reply was thaC
bsvbsd 40 coal on hand i'm the city 70
,,li and If they did they would only
,,ll IN the retail dealers during the
shortage. In the inquiries ABOVE
isrred 10 the price Of coal was not con-
sidersd. The price question IS another
matter. and we are aware that TINS %
now under consideration by another
government body H.. .,o
ave do not pretend 20 say what are
he real reasons for this conollloh
some Of those advanced are as follows
Shortage OF coal cars. congestion on
railroads. and in terminals and delay III
Unloading. .o,,..o.s
IN view Of the extreme serouness
Of this question, which requires imme-
date action. is it possible to require
The railroads to give preference 10 cor
over All other commodities not neces
ssry 10 the preservation Of human IRE
until such time as the supply IS soe-
quste? ?" ,-:
In view Of the difficulty in obtaining
the proper removal Of garbage in oullo,
ngs. Messrs. Martin and Barton agreed
70 visit the proper authority to sseer-
isin what can be done TO improve tne
situation. A motion was adopted thst
Mr. Bsrton's committee have power 10
approach al real estate agents, whetner
members of the association or not Win
view OF procuring better pnderstaho-
ngs between employer and empioye'
ID was agreed that the employees ques-
ton, both uptown and downtown, was
very serious, particularly owing 10 the
lsck Of supply Of the proper LABOR ne
matter was referred to Mr.. hooper
chairman Of the employees committee
who is to arrange with the executive
committee for a further Investigation.
He will report on this matter at later
date.
Reports we're read at the meetings by
NJ Ropes. chairman Of the Legislative
esmmsttee; Mr. Warner, chairman OF
he insurance committee, and Mr.. Bang
chairman Of the departmental orders
rfranr