Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-10-15
lis. TOBAR SECRET
COAL AGREEMENTS
New Trade Bulletin Will Be
Closely Studied by Doc
tor Garfield
wAsHINGToN is AROUSED
WASHINGTON. Oct. 10.

NlAl
,s Sos' - Sybo permit their prices TO the pub
mea ha governed by secret trade bulletins
nc ,su hut draw the FIRE Of govern
e.s.i action upon themselves, regardieHs
m.h. bopes the fuel administration NAV
"a that coal prices might be mace reason,
X. with the frank co-operatioh Vi '"e 'oS'
yy,,b regard to the confidential ouletin
~, the PENNSYLVANIA Retail Coal
nsshsnts' Association. 1t was SAID mere
-, ,hs action in itself Is sufficient to ex-
.,.. ,he curiosity, II not the suspicion, OF
ne fuel authorities. The purpose Oh the
uan.,ina from the viewpoint Of It's author,
,,,s ou,s ne said TO aid dealers in calculating
49, ,ot5 profts so as to arrive at proht
,.h,n the scope Of the recent profit-hxing
NIs 49, Tbis IL was said. would be ex-
on.tsd to be assigned as the purpose OF the
Srustln. II the association were asked Tor
a. explanation. II would merely say that
,,ss intended to simplify lot OF hard
,,ork for the individual dealers VINO are
,rembers Of the organization.
rauever Il was declared, the terms OF
A. ryodt-hxing order are very plain, and
~. most unlettered dealer in the coal busi-
r.ss would have no excuse for being un-
sbIs TO abide by II, without any OUTSIDE
.srl.tancA The fuel administration has
--.cjscally stated that all dealer must
[ N keep within the law and the order
AZ ~ reeoliect by consulting his own books
nat his profit was in 1915. Once that is
sso.ytained he adds 80 per cent to It. The
rtm which was the 1915 pront on ton OF
sesJ and the additional 80 per cent Is the
s.srxin he is allowed to add to the cost
0a ton OF coal today.
itthoush the secret bulletin as discovered
n philadelphia has not been seen by the
fs,i administration, and although officially
oon. OF the Administration chiefs would
taIk for publication concerning II, there Is
Aa A
eardeld and his associates will carefully
.Srntinize its contents, with a view OF escer-
t,tnin9 whether Il Is not a sufficient basis
Ssy one Of the several actions the fuel ad-
rainistration is empowered, under the Lever
food and fuel control act, to take in the
Government plan to protect the public
axainst profiteerlng. These actions include
"a revocation Of licenses 20 do business.
oonnscation Of the yards or prosecution In
ths Federal courts.
+, was learned that the Government has
heen made aware OF wide differences in coal
urlces charged IN Philadelphia and those
cbarred in cities more distant from the
snthracite fields. and It can be stated that
Investigators for the Federal Trade Com
ynIssion are now at work in a number OF
cities. including Philadelphia, and that II
the charges made in Philadelphia that
dealers are reaping profits In excess OF
those allowed under the recent profit-fxtng
rrociamation there will certainly be inau.
sprated the court actions recently stated
~ Doctor Garfield to be the penalty fol
prohteering.
Tne Government is also aware of the ne
cesslty Of ascertaining exactly whether thu
dealers who charge only what would bt
iust for a 2240-pound ton are actually de
lyering 2240 pounds, or whether, as hai
been stated frequently, they are delivering
only a 200O-pound ton and charging fol
2240 pounds. ,,,,,.
delphia made frequently during the las
several months, that they could not obtair
coal in sufficient quantities. is refuted II
an official statement issued by the fue
administration showing that shipments o.
anthracite to a number of important point
in the country were more than 100000
IONS heavier during the first eight months
N This wear than during the correspond
ing period last year, and that Philadel
phia's gain in anthracite receipts durinl
that period this year amounted to 74l'2s
tons.
The figures for Philadelphia are as fol
lows:
First eight months, 1916. 4.196,sss
First eight months, 1917... 4,927992
The statement in full is as follows:
Shipments of anthracite coal to New
England New York city, Philadelphia,
Buifalo and Erie during the first eight
months Of the present year have been
heavier by 2,593,817 tons than during the
corresponding period last year, according
to figures given out today by the United
States fuel administration. ..- .
New York received 12.666,650 tons last
year, and 13.912.3S4 this year, gain OF
i,245,734 tons. The figures for Philadel-
phia are 4.1Ss,698 and 1927, 1892 for 1916
and 1917 respectively, a gain of 741,294
tons New England last year got 3,43B,-
1l2 tons by rail and 2,351,99 by barge
Q total of 5,790,237 tons. This year the
figures are 4.l91,575 by rail and 2,260, 766
BY barge, a total Of 6,465.s41 tons. show
ing a gain Of 666.7o4 tons~~
named Is there a loss. Buffalo and Erie
taken together, got 4.346,917 tons last
year, and 4,28s.o .o0s this year. showing q
loss Of bs,e15 tons.
This is attributed to the cold, lats
spring, which permitted little or no ooal
10 be carried over and to the fuel ad-
ministration's policy 70 ship coal past the
lake ports 70 the needy Northwest befort
The close Of navigation The deficiency
eenoy calls for coal, II authentic VIII
rocetve prompt consideration.
The fuel administration has announo,
mat prompt consideration will be give
70 emergency calls for coal in distric
where there is a shortage. In tn
connection figures were given to show thi
New England. New York city and Philade
phia received more anthracite during II
nrst eight months this year than in Il
corresponding period last year. Buffalo ar
Erie received 5S,91B tons less, and the a.
ministration said this deficiency will |
made up as soon as possible