The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-01
Retailers Not to Receive More
Than 80 Per Cent Above
Margin Of 1915
GOVERNMENT TO SEIZE
YARDS OF EVADERS
State Administrators and Local
Committees to Make Adjust
ments Proved I Necessary.
Mine Prices Fixed

Washington, Sept. 3o,--H. A Gar
field. the federal fuel administrator
tonight commenced his drive at retail
prices of coal. By an order issued
under the presidential authority, NO
retail dealer may make margin greater
by more than 80 per cent than the
margin he made in 1915. The order Is
effective at once.
The price of Pennsylvania anthra-
cite pea coal at the mine Is reduced
sixty ceuts a ton and the prices ana
cIassiffcations OF the trans Mississippi
and Southern coal fields are for the
first time set
The margin referred to is defined as
the difference between the average
cost of the coal TO the dealer on his
dock or siding or In his yard and the
price at which, he sells to the con-
sumner This margin includes the deal
er's profits. In no instance may the
margin exceed that of July, 1917. In
explaining this step, formal state
rnent OF the fuel administrator says:
The first consid Grafton Of the fuel
administrator must he to get coal to
the consumer. and the dealers cannot
be expected 10 make the extraordi~
nary efforts which they must max
this winter unless they are given
reasonab BILE profit.
Mr.. Garfield believes that This plan
Will result In determining at once In
each community a retail margin TAR
to both the consumer and the dealer
and that. this being fact, the public
uncertainty regarding retail coal prices
and the uncertainty whether or not TO
buy win be entirely removed.
In{uSttces to he Avoided
Yet wherever the - .---1e s4s '5Sss axe9
8ff srib~n To- proc - s.,,s wf1stIce
either rvav. the uTars1 o-Tln be
cha n Fed by the local lue ats anittees
~ rs @pp9sSS Mr., Carheld e. rat
t ia.sr.s'i vs. ~ ho communities which
the the. cost ar'' ~ ooondrcting the fetan coal
business has inors Fss& shore than 80
per cent I'm the last two years. In such
cases the dealers who suffer may ap-
ply first to the local committees for
relief.
81 sEhas administration f1ir-t,ger watts ~ :
tesisf5n u tfs fact that no dealer is
required to raiee his. price in accord
ance with this 80 per cent margin. II
he can do business at less. he Will not
only be permitted, hut even conpell-
ed TO do so
The deal rs will he obliged to make
sworn retr rms ~ their 1915 and their
present costs 70 the local committees.
These will he returned under penal
ties for falsiffcation, which will be rig
Idly enforced.
Mr.. Garfield says that he has found
the retail dealers willing to cooperate
with the fuel administration in every
way. He says he. believes they win fix
their margins at such figures as TO
compel public confidence He advises
local committees to avail themselves
of the services OF retail dealers OF ex-
perience In their localities in making
their local Investigations.
Substantial Reductions Due.
II was generally believed that the
limitation of the retailers margin. to-
sether with the fixed price at the
mines and the Limitation OF the mid =
dleman to single profit will produce
substantial reductions in coal prices
throughout the country. Following
are the minute instructions contained
In tontghts order for its execution:
A retail dealer is any person. part
nershtp. corporation or association
physically receiving. handling and de-
livering coal or coke to consumers
The average costs 10 which the
margins may be added must be ascer-
tanned on the LIST and 18th OF each
month for each size handled.
Monthly reports from all dealers
will be required. on forms provided
for the purpose. the reports to 70 to
both the United States fuel admins
tration and the federal trade commits
sion. These reports will include costs.
margins and prices. Supplementary
TSnsw