Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-07
CAMDEN'S COAL MI
FINDS STATS ON T;
Fuel Commissioner, a "Ln
Wire" Official, Looking Att
Distressed Consumers
LOCAL INTERESTS FRS
Peddlers Bound for Philadclpk,(
Turned Back With Warming
IIoarding Forbidden S'

sylyania Railroad ferries In Candsr
| CROSSED In front OF a wagon loided WIN
coal and stopped across the ferry en-
trance. The door OF the machine opeped
and a short man, inclined TO stoutness
smoking a cigar, leaped out
where are you going with that coaifs'
he demanded Of the negro driving IN;
, team.
"over to philadelphia to peddle ~
was the reply. ~
"Nothin' doin," briefly announced III,
short man. John. get on that seat an
drive this fellow back TO my cfncs
There's a family In camden which need
that coal" Then turning to the driverI
of the team. he said Don't try thlss
again If you don't want any troubles
I'm the fuel administrator in Camden
and I don't propose to let the people
suffer"
wllter j. Staats. fuel administrator
of Camden and gloucester Counties. had
issued a personal utimatum. The crest-
ia lien negro had nothing to do but ID
turn around and drive to the adminis-
tration office at 3il Market street, whers
the coal was bought and paid for by a.
man with two i'll children. who allowed.
the driver fifty cents for tlking the coal
to his doorstep and dumping It.
But Mr.. Staats's work was only be-
ginning He stepped back into his car
and proceeded as far AS Delaware ave.l
nue.. when ho met another wagon with
two tons Of coal headed for the ferries,
II didn't matter that trolley cat.
was coming in the opposite direction or
that two or three wagons were trying to
pass each other at the spot Mr.. Stalts.
simply swung his wheel hard aport'
and stopped HIS machine across the
tracks in the path of the trolley and
coal wagon.
where's that coal going" he de-
manded of the driver.
"Mistah SO and Sos" said the driver
We'll, turn around and go back to
my office. lie got coal yesterday. and
some one else needs IL more than he does
And, by the way, " you dump any coal
in any cellar that has coal in It I'll have
you arrested. Don't forget it,
These two incidents happened before o
o'clock. the hour when the fuel admin-
istration offices open. but the Camden
fuel official was on the job. And thief
are but passing incidents in the days
work.
ENCOURAGES COALLESS ONES
About twenty-five men. women and
children Of different nationalit.es were
waiting in the administration Office when
he arrived. Mr.. Staats greeted them
with a smile and told them they would
haye to wait short time or return later,
when his inspector will have reported the
Goa available, and then he will do what
he can TO relieve their suffering.
The telephone rings. a prominent
politician has only ton and half ct
coal i'll his cellar and wants two tons
more only ton and a half" Mr.
Staats repeats IL with evident delight
And how long will Il last?" He is in.
formed two weeks. possibly three. &
Then there is no need TO worry,s
Mr.. st ,ats replies I'VE have twenty.
hve people here now without any cbai. n
suggest you call me when you arc down
To n half ton"
an excited manufacturer entered the
Office and demanded coal We're COM
pletely out and will have to shut down
unless we get it, We've got to nj our
contracts" :.
w. contracts help win the
var he Administrator asked
Weller, no--that is, we have no
government contracts. But sonly yes-
terday our steam pipes in two buildings
,roze tlght and burst. We use coal for
heating Nd drying"
NO, the plumber said he ',n,'i,,,,.,
the pipe for several days"
We'll. I'm sorry" was Mr., Staatss
terse comment "you'r, r5, , ,..a.',,,1
ua''F ,,.,F ana Your pipes are not In con-
can,, h ~ receive steam. Therefore
nc'p YOU There are others who
,ri '"r todI more f,
,,,Ln 'anuiac'urer i,n hnally asked to
mitted TO do co hrt 90 " ear ana was per
effort would be made 10 n,,s,, IT,, wa, ,'o
until the domestic ,,,,,o, puH' ".s rla'','
,r,o ',s''c SITUATION " relieved.
his hat. brushed nos, H. '.n' ] .",.'ls
ani approached tha on,oi'i ..p ~.
to III. yard" he said ma H. ,, ',s,,
the boss WASH, in ITO s,;d 10 e."
ton lie wouldn't accept payment for n
He said he'd have me arrested for steal
ing IT," ~
Admiri.,r., ,,
ter IN his ha,d ', uroppeu 'he et-
slight suggestion ~ ,,'n,,a VIZ" . yust
Won bavn ro,,r ' n.pa.ien.e' Wen,
The man nod, "n Wasoil' doit your
refuses to accen, vonr nr" n'a 'ane ~ l., " ne
know. For heavens SAKE gei !, I'm