Evening journal., 1917-10-01
Retail COAL Prices
FIXED By Wilson
80 Per Cent. More Than
Made in 1915 Given Re-
tailers Under New Order
DEALERS MUST
REPORT MONTHLY

WASHINGTON, Oct. Aiming TO
enforce cheaper coal prices TO the
consumer. DR.. Harry A. Garfield, coal
administrator. yesterday issued two
sweeping orders TO the retailer and
the producer. The first, regarded as
the more important, permits the re-
taller to charge 80 per cent more
than his profits in 1915, the increase
being deemed essential to cover add
ed expenses since the war.
This increase over the profits OF
1915 is known to be greatly below
what the retailer is charging the con
sumer at present. AS tho price Of the
coal at the mine Is now fixed by
proclamation and the brokers
charge is a known quantity the re-
nail price will become known
quantity when the retailer makes a
sworn statement as 10 his profit two
years ago.
II is declared here unoficihlly
that the price Of hard coal will fall
from seventy-hve to ninety cents a
ton.
After a great protest from the
users Of pea coal over the price fixed
6y the President in his proclamation
of Angst %. the fuel administrator
has issued another order reducing the
price Of pea coal I, o. b. the mines.
Compared with the original procla-
nation and the price fixed by the
order the reduction Is sixty cents a
ton. as follows:
Original price New price
White ash ....SfO0 $40
Red ash ...... 40 $50
Iykens Valley 435 3.75
In his order describing the method
by which retail coal and coke deal
ers shall fx their maximum gross
margins. viz. the difference between
the average cost Of coal or coke az
the retailers yard, wharf or siding
and the price at which he sellsait 10
the consumer. Doctor Garfield said.
Under the plan announced, the re-
thier ascertains his retail mafEin
IN the year 1915, when more normal
condiuons prevailed than az pres
ent To this he may add not to ex-
coed 30 per cent OF that margin.
which. OF course. includes his profits
~ that time L is provided. how
ever. that in no case shall the gross
margin added by any retail dealer
exceed the retail margin added by
hin during July. 1917.
The first consideration OF the fue
administrator must be 70 set coal {,
ne consumer. and the dealers canno
~ expected 90 make the cxtraordinar,
Efforts which they must make thi
winter. u everybody Is 90 set coal. ON
less they are given a reasonable uront
Doctor Garfield believes that mi
plan VIII result IN determining az one
n each community a retail margin fai
q both the consumer and The dealer
fno that. this being a fact the public
uncertainty regarding retail coal prices
hnc the uncertainty az 90 whether OF
not % buy, win be removed.
lf Is possible that 90 some c0mmunl
fies. the per cenf1re OF increase ir
The present cost n The retail coal bust
ness IS more than 80 per cent On excess
n The cost in 1915. When this can be-
rlcsrlT demonstrated the local fuel adj
n1i1istraior VIII BE- empowered 10
reconmend a rcadiusfmsnt. All such
reaciusimenis must be taken up In the
first instance With She local commit
tees o. b. appointed by the state fuel
edmi1isirst0rs.
Rssdiusfment also viii b. made
~sianfFsr the fuel administrator learns
ttsf ths retail msrssin added by any
dealer is to- high ln this connection
Doctor Garfield stated emphaiicaiiY
frsi On fixing this margin The dealer Is
rrcsr nC Obligation 90 increase hts
1915 margin b. fhe fun 30 per cent The
e11itor - that per cent. represents
So maximum permissible margin in
fDT c.rcuTrstzrce.
~. Garned has found the retail deal
- f1r tne most part ready emf willing
- rc-oraraie and he believes they win
- thslr margins under this order at
flrn lErres as ~ compel public conf
cnce IL expressed the hope. and IS
--h-slns mat local committees ap-
POINTED oy me STATE fuel adminisfrs-
VAL, pa each ease. avail themselves
- alslcs ~ on experienced retail
dealer ~ conducting Irra-traffons
A-..-1ianis wll az once begin M iu-
Nesnsate tne retail condition. 90 81.
country. Retail dealers ,yin ~ ,.,i.t
upon . return sworn cost siaaf. 500.
ing the facts upon which 10. rsvs