Evening star., 1918-02-11
D. c. COAL SITUATION
VERYCOMFORTABLF
Liberal Amounts of Anthracite
and Bituminous Arrive
Over Sunday.
CHURCHES USE BOTH KINDS

With liberal receipts over Sunday or
both anthracite and bituminous, Wash
ington's coal situation was pronounced
today by John L. Weaver, fuel admin
istrator for the District, to be "very
comfortable"
If present weather conditions con-
tinue a week or so, Mr.. Weaver is hope
full Of being able to accumulate re-
serve stock of coal, something the city
has not had since cold weather began.
Such reserve, it is believed, would eft
feetively insure against another coal
famine, this winter.
Mr.. Weaver today received check
for $3.50 from a volunteer official OF
the United States fuel administration
who is one of DIR. Garfield's chief as
sfstants, with the request that 1t be
used to buy coal for free distribution
to the poor of the city. Mr.. weaver
will turn the check over to the Asso-
ciated Charities and will make ar
rangements SO that organization may
obtain the coal at the lowest possible
price.
"Heatless Monday" Observed.
Washington today is observing what
is expected to be the last of the heat
less Mondays" Officials of the federal
fuel administration this morning ex-
pressed belief that continuance of the
improved weather conditions will make
the Monday closings unnecessary after
nf
situation is expected to result from the
fact that a great many establishments
throughout the north will observe to-
morrow-Lincoln's birthday-as holi-
day.
Yesterday marked the end of the coal
restrictions imposed on Washington
churches by the District fuel admins
traitor.
In explanation of the order, and in re-
ply to numerous protests, Mr.. Weaver
said today that 1t was issued for the
specific purpose of saving anthracite.
shortage of which was causing so much
suffering. Theaters were not closed, he
said, because investigation disclosed
that 95 per cent of them were heated
with bituminous, of which there was no
serious shortage, while the churches
used anthracite almost exclusively.
Closing of the schools, which also use
bituminous, he said, was not by his
order or request.
Answers Weaver's Assertion.
Mr. Weaver's assertion that anthra-
cite is used almost exclusively by
churches is denied by Rev. H. w. o.
Wilmington. pastor of the Brookland
Baptist Church, who said today:
This statement by Mr.. Weaver can
not be allowed to pass unchallenged.
At the time Mr.. Weaver issued his
order no census had been taken of
either churches or theaters to determine
what kind OF coal they used. No CEN
aus Of the theaters was taken until
after Mr.. Weaver had gone to Florida,
and then it was taken under the direc-
ton of Mr.. Colladay. and in response
to the widespread demand that if the
churches were to be closed the theaters
should be closed also.
mo census has ever yet been taken
of the churches by the fuel admins
tration. The only definite information
regarding the churches was obtained
by the pastors themselves at a meet
ing of the federation two weeks ago.
n was at the close Of the meeting that
word was received from the fuel ad-
ministration that a census was being
taken of the theaters. Most of the
pastors had already left the, meeting,
remained, with the result that twenty
six churches were shown to be using
soft coal and seventeen hard coal. This
vote was not taken at the request Of
the fuel administration. but on the
initiative Of the pastors. Indeed. sug-
Rested to Mr.. Colladay afterward that
It seemed strange that the authorities
should be so considerate of the thea
ters and SO Indifferent to the churches
'The statement of Mr.. Weaver con-
cerning the use of hard or soft coal
by the churches is made in gross ig-
norance of the situation. and. in SO far
as any facts have been obtained at
all. is far from being true. Mr. Weaver
will find it very difficult to defend his
course in closing the churches. and, as
theaters and moving picture shows to
remain open he can find no possible
justification for his discrimination"