Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-26
Continued from rare One


public's request for the desired explana-
tion, the association has demanded OF
him a conference on Friday Of this week
IL the request is not granted the appeal
to President Wilson will be taken.
A letter was addressed today to Mr..
Lewis by Edwin NJ Abbott, chairman cf
the law committee of the United Bust
ness Mems Association. which read:
Dear Sir:
am writing on-behalf OF the United
Business Mems Association OF Phila-
de phia in reference to the arbitrary
raise in coal rates which the consumer
must boar
At the suggestion of our president.
we request n conference at some hour
on Friday OF this week, so that we may
go over this matter with you. 1f there
IL any reason why this increase should
he made we are entitled to know II.
" there Is no proper reason for this
Increase, then we propose to take such
steps as we think necessary Tor the
protection of the public In seeing that
II does not go into effect.
X ndly obliec me with an immediate
answer as to what hour we can meet
you on Friday.
Very truly yours.
EDWIN NJ. ABBOTT,
Chairman, Law Committee.
When asked what steps the associa.
no satisfaction was received from Mr.,
Lewis. Mr.. Abbott said:
We may appeal. II necessary. to the
President Of the United States. Mr.,
Lewis is not the whole show in this
coal situation. His word is not final and
We shall inform him of that fact"
MIR. Lewis stood pat today on his re.
fusal 20 make any explanation 10 the
public rs TO why he had sanctioned the
fifty-cent-ppr-to increase.
when Informed tod ty that the United
Business Mems Association. representing
some seveuty-four busiues associations
In every part Of the city, is preparing
to hold a mass-meetine a week from
tonight to discuss the methods adopted
by the local fuel administration Mr.
Lewis said;
AS I said before. have no comment
TO make" He then narrated little
anccdote to show how he fe't upon the
subject.
Il once had chauffeur" said Mr.
Lewis. and | told him that he coul,
ask me as many questions as he liked
! answered each OF his questions once
hut after that | would not answer them
So with the newspaper reporters-the,
may ask me any questions once. bu
after have answered IL Tiwill not an
swer It again
Mr.. l.ewis'4 first answer g. the publi
when asked for an explanation Of hi
decision TO permit the coal dealers L
raise their prices was that he had NJ
explanation to make.
Two hundred and sXtN-oue carload
of anthracite arrived III the Penrsyl
vania Railroad yards during the forty
eight hours ending at last midnight. q
this l4S cars were domestic sizes an,
li3 steam sizes During the same perio
the Philadelphia and Reading deltvere,
200 carloads Of anthracite to industria
plants and dealers having sidings on it
lines in this district.
In an effort to work out plans whereof,
housewives might reduce their coal bills
thirtv-four mon, each representing SOM
concern manufacturing heating appara
tus. met this afternoon at the lIoto
Adelphia The meeting was arrange
hy the fuel conservation department q
the local fuel administration.
The conservation bureau Of the ma
tional fuel administration recent.
worked out plans whereby demonstra
ton bureaus might he esta hlishcd Il