Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-29
Garfield Acts
on Coal Plea
Continued from Page One

SOutinueu trO" iuho o"c
'The gross margin seems to be in the
hands OF the newspapers"
He refused to comment in any way on
the possibility of the conference ordered
by Doctor Garfield. or on the outcome
of such conference
He was also reticent about his ten
hour conference with A. S. Learoyd.
close associate OF Doctor Garfield, yes
terday He described It as an itinerant
conference. dealing with the distribution
Of coal to the dealers.
He also expressed Indifference to
suggestion of West philadelphia dealers
that he take steps to insure driveSs of
coil wagons working. on New Years
Day. He said he expected to do nothing
with the suggestion today.
Unless new Developments occur. the
new coal prices will undoubtedly go In
to effect January /. on the designated
date, as Doctor Garfield declared the
power to adjust prices is vested in Mr.
Potter.
AS Mr.. Potter has upheld the views Of
Mr.. Lewis, who has stood squarely for
the increase and refused che pleas of
business associations TO ,neet in con-
ference to determine whether the new
price is warranted, no relief may he ca
pected from Washington.
Despite the f~n'rg off of coal shin
ments to philadelphia during the last
few days, Mr.. Lewis and other admin
istration officials are hopeful that enough
coal will reach here to supply the waps
of all consumers. The present weather
conditions, 1t was pointed out. are
arainst quantities Of the precious fuel
reaching the city, but all expressed nope
for results.
Edwin NJ. Abbott, chairman or the
legal committee of the United Business
Mems Association. said today that the
association is ready to proceed Win !,
that he had received no answer from
washington to the protest against the
attitude of Mr.. Lewis that was for
"o' q p. Hackett of the Philadelphia
coal committee, today made a spec al
plea for the aid Of all housewives in
saving coal He urged that every home
be supplied with thermometer, SO that
the Governments regulations requiring
the temperature to be no more than GS
degrees be lived up to.
He made a series of investiga tions in
several sections of the city and found
that most household temperatures are
fixed by guesswork He urged tho pur-
chase Of a thermometer for every house.
hold as a p"triotic duty.
Philadelphia and the other communi-
shortage may reasonably expect an i'm
provement of conditions as result
of the President taking over the con-
troll of the railroads, DR.. Garfield said
today. as the principle cause of coal
shortage has been the inability Of the
mines to obtain the cars on which to
load the coal and the delay in move-
ment of the coal destination when loaded
But the public must not expect enor.
NOUS Improvement or expect 1t too soon
Mr.. Garfield said. The Improvement will
come but It will take time.
1--WE have developed our railroad sys'
TENS upon the idea of competition" said
Doctor Garfield, " matter of cutting
rates and shipping by. indirect routes
The best way to bring about greater efti'
cheney is to eliminate the practice Of
cross shipment of cial and other mate
rials. This Improvement can be effected
but II will take time and thu public
should guard against too great and RAPID
expectation"
Haz'eton Mirkil. Sr., gere-al mon
ager of the Girard Estate and genera
manager of the estates coal mimi
properties, refused to comment ON tn
{ testimony given before the Senate In
vest,gati-g committee yesterday th"t tn
high royalties charged by the Girar'
Estate were In great measure responsibl
for the high price Of coal In Philadel
phia. w. b. Colver. OF the Federal Trad
Commission. testified that the estate
which controls a large percentage Q
the anthracite deposits throughout tn
State and which supplies thousands Q
tons Of coal for domestic consumption
charged royalties amounting to abou
forty-five cents per ton.
Mr.. Mirkil said that the estate dc
ciined, comment because It was possibl
that representatives would be sui
penaed to Washington to- give test
mony before the Senate committe
''0hould We make any statement" b
ooj1, 'jt win be given direct to II
'ePRnittss.