The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-01-10

Your committee appointed to inves.
tieate the coal situation as II relates
10 a petition of the local coal dealers
flied with the Local Fuel Administra-
tors. asking for an advance from $500
Per ton to $6.45 per ton in the retail
Utice of coal to consumers of this city
and vicinity. our duics being to rep
resent the interests of the consum-
ing public In such matter before such
administrators.
Beg leave TO report the following:
THAT you committee made a careful
"a. ye believe. q fair investigation.
~ 3id rfport OF the entire situation and
saibaltted the same to the considera-
Ii3n of the Local Fuel Administration.
a copy OF such report being hereto at
Iached
That the Local Administrators. af-
YER very careful Investigation. made
u finding upon the matters involved
in the dealers' petition on the - day
cf December 1917. TO the effect that
the thcn retail price OF $500 for sized
coal charged by the local dealers OF
this city was already too high and de-
nicd the petition OF the dealers for the
raise and reduced the then price to
that OF s5s5 for wagon load lots OF
three tons or more. single hauls. and
ss1o of one ton or moro less than
wagon lots, double hauis. Tho finding
of the local board under direction
from the State Fuel Administrator.
verc forwarded to that Office at Den
yer for its approval or rejection prior
20 the same becoming effective. with
tho result that such recommendations
from the local administrators were va
Gated and n price fxed by the State
Administrator OF $500 per ton single
bauis and ss.s5 per ton double hauls.
which prices are now in effect In this
locality. such action of the State Fuel
Administrator being based upon the
theory. as your committee is advised.
that the local Fuel Administrators
were acting outside OF their turisdic-
tion as that question was q matter en-
,srely for the consideration of the
State Fuel Administrator. based upon
rules and regulations then in force
from the National Fuel Administrator
et Washington.
Your committe understands that the
only possible relief from the ruling
of the State Fuel Administrator. II
my such exists nj all. must come thru
the National Administrator. No effort
IN that connection was made. or con.
tomp,a,ed by your committee. In view
of the fact that the recommendations
of the local fuel administrators were
wholly disregarded In the matter and
We felt such an effort would be utterly
useless.
Thus. your committee ia armly OF
the opinion that our only relief must
como by cooperative and protective
measures taken by the public Itself.
One matter of vital Importance to
tn. consumers MS viewed by your com
naittee ia the privilege OF buying from
the mine direct and In that regard we
reiteratc the statement OF our report
as TO q denial to the public OF this
right that "we consider this monop-
oily OF the most vicious character. We
can see no reason for this discrimina-
ton. a business that cannot stand
against reasonable competition should
not exist and We feel that every mine
should be open to the public at the
government prices and by 30 doing the
question OF q dealers profit will ad'
5ust itself"
Another matter We deem of prime
Importance Is tho Installation OF pub
lie scales and should be inaugurated
in any event. In order to max this
effective the movement should be
backed by municipal action and or.
eiinancc to the end that any consumer
desiring tho municipal weights can
secure tho same BY paying a nominal
charge therefor
And finally your committee In Of the
opinion that there is q fertile field in
Ethese times OF stress and distress to
runder q valuable public service and
that is to initiate and lend support to
a movement looking TO the establish
ncnt OF q municipality owned and on.
Grated coal yard for this community
and your committee 10 convinced that
this city can place coal in \ centrally
located municipal bin or shoots. from
tho Nonac coal mine. at u. hauiagc