The Detroit times., 1917-10-10
DETROIT To-
HAVE coal.
DICTATOR
Will See That Fuel Sup
ply Is Distributed
Fairly

Detroit will have a coal dictator
within a couple OF days who will
see that there are black diamond"
I'm every home IN the city This die
tat0r will have two or three assist.
ants and will have Offices In the city
hall. II the suggestion OF George
Engel, city controller. rs acted upon
favorably by Mayor Marx
Mr. EnRel, head Of the committee
which went TO Washington last
week and prevailed upon Harry a.
Garfield. fuel dictator, and the
priority shipment board 20 divert
coal 10 Detroit az once, IS now me
practical coal dictator OF Detroit
He has suggested 20 the mayor that
he appoint a dictator and assistants
20 see that the coal dealers play
fair with the public. As Mr. Engel
is the chief coal expert OF the city
administration at present, y is al
most a foregone conclusion that
Mayor Marx viii adopt his plan.
aitho the mayor is now in New York
and will not return until late We'd
nesday night or early Thursday
morning
Retail coal dealers have agreed
with the local administration that
n the city got them shipments OF
coal they would distribute u where
n would do the most good. That
Is, they would not permit one Gus
TONER 70 buy 20 or 80 tons and Let
another go without any coal. They
agreed 10 keep patrons supplied for
their immediate use, but not allow
coal 10 accumulate In bins for fu-
ture use. The city administration
aud the dealers agree that II will be
. hard job 10 keep all families sup
piled with SUFFICIENT coal for 80 day
periods.
To avoid the possibility OF wealthy
persons paying premiums and thus
obtaining large supplies. Mr.. Engel
suggests the dictator who viii have
absolute control over the supply
brought to Detroit The dealers
themselves could not get supplies
bat fer TIE iHte+<eHi+eI.- Ia---s--+--
0ficialiy. and for that reason the
city authorities feel that they have
q right 10 supervise the distribu-
ton. Under this plan coal will be
distributed In one or tvo-ton lots.
Tuesday, Controller Engel sent
out nine accountants 10 check up on
the supplies OF coal in the yards OF
retail dealers and the supply In
transit. The city wants this lnfor-
nation officially 20 forward TO Wash
1ngton, so that the government Will
see the sad straits 10 which Detroit
IN reduced and keep UP the ship
ment OF approximately 40 cars OF
coal daily. The government has
promised this amount daily until
the city does supply IL with offcial
coroberation or representations
made by the committee in Wash
angton last week. Detroit is allowed
three days In which 20 give the ma
tional coal administration accurate
figures on the situation here.
Mr.. Engel and John c. McCahe,
chief OF the safety engineering de-
partment of the city. who was also
q member OF the committee that
went TO Washington last week. had
. little verbal battle, Tuesday morn
ing, In Controller Engel's once. Mr.
McCabe had caused 20 be printed
blanks containing questions that the
special investigators are TO ask coal
dealers. Mr.. Engel thought the
questions too Old and took issue
with Mr. McCsbe. The controller
threatened 20 QUIT his activities al
together and leave the situation up
TO Mr. McCabe. Then he got his
own way. and IL means that dealers
will cooperate with the city or will
md that their supplies are shut of.
and other dealers willing 10 play
fair will get the coal for distribu-
lion.