New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-30

to New York. They do not know who
ought TO have coal. They are some
times imposed on. They are wandering
in the dark.
There is no coal survey of New York
and there is neither time nor money
TO make one. The Bronx administrator
Is futileiy trying TO investigate every
complaint in order to avoid fraud.
Now we are to have a card system By
which every consumer makes a written
statement of his requirements and Of
the quantity of coal he has on hand
and on which is TO be based a system
OF supplying him with small quantities
regularly. This has been done on the
recommendation Of the conservation
composed chiefly of practical coal men,
which has been created to assist the
administrators.
This organization is now getting
after the pedler5 and hopes by co.
operation with the .fty retailers TO
told the prize of coal down to 80 cents
a hundred to small consumers. At
present the lowest price to the latter
Is 40 cents. The pedler or cellar
man who gouges will be cut ofr at the
tlgat.ng the question of DELAYS at the
Jersey terminals and promises action
when IT has definite information. In
conjunction with the retailers %and the
administrators IL will practically pool
all coal coming TO the city and direct
its apportonment. II is also studying
the question of whether New York Is
getting its quota of the output OF the
mines, and whether WIZ; it gets is
divided into the different kinds pro-
portionately to requirements. Economy
is its special province.
When IL took up the dark Broadway
question it thought lightless nights
were joke, but il found out that they
were actually saving thirty tons each
night. That discovery prompted fur
Their action in eroromy of light and
rover. Al, the light, power and CEN
trail heating companies we're called
into conference. The public utility
men declared that the load their plants
we're carrying was beyond their
strength. They were asked TO sugges,
further reductions in dispensable ser
ice, and they replied that they could
and would make suggestions that
would save a very large quantity OF
coal So, now. look out not only for
lightess Broa iway. but for lightless
New York inside and out. The bio,v
will fall about the middle of the week
IL - absolutely known that there are
no large boards Of coal in or around
New York except those Of the army ~
the encampments, but il is known that
there are some comparatively small
but sti!l unJustiiable ones. These are
now being ferreted out and some com
Wandering will certainly follow.
here are some Of the impositions
that have been discovered. Mrs. b
was persistent complainant. She had
several children who were slowly con-
geaiing. She got coal and more coal.
An investigation disclosed the fact that
she was thrittily conducting a candy
store while her husband ran 2 laun-
dry. She turned the coal over 10 him
and he used the laundry wagons to
pedidle 1t at exorb.tant prices.
A had second cellar connect
ing with his front cellar. By persis-
tent kicking he got an empty front
cellar hlled almost daily. A jeweller
nired out as a driver Of a coal wagon.
started with two tons for a repular
customer. dumped the coal into his
own cellar. drove back to the yard and
quit his job. Another man, who had
good supply on hand, got more by
getting his wife 20 fake illness. Ac.
companied by her and pushing a cart
IN which was an ,anem.c baby. he got
more coal. II turned out that the baby
was borrowed.