The Washington times., 1918-01-11
GARFIELD BLAMED
BY DOVE FOR COAL
SITUATION IN D. c.

"we are suffering and have suf-
fered from bad management and bad
direction
That's what's the matter with the
District of Columbia fuel situation in
the opinion OF J. Maury Dove, coal
dealer. of this city. WHO testified last
evening before the Senate subcom-
mittee to investigate the national
coal shortage.
"Wsnted-a practical man." might
be said tc be the epitome of. Mr..
Doves testimony. He did not mince
words in depicting the. shortcomings
OF the existing system. He criticised
the District Fuel Administration and
the administration Of Fuel Admins
traitor Harry A. Garfield.
Not only that but he insisted that
II plan which he outlined were fol
lowed, permanent relief would be
given to the suffering population OF
the District.
Briefly, he urged that a new fuel
administrator, a practical man, should
be named for the District, that more
coal be brought in for a short time.
and that delivery be systematized in
the way he believed a practical man
could systematize it.
Senator Reed, chairman of the COM
mittee. asked Mr.. Dove to outline
his plan. In response, Mr.. Dove said:
Wants Practical Man.
IF we had a practical man given
authority TO make an order and author
ity to enforce that order, the city of
Washington would get relief in forty
RiUht hnffre In
shortage would be thing Of the past.
y 1t would be necessary to bring in
1000 tons of coal per day for ten days,
and after that 2.5O0 tons Of coal daily.
A practical man Is needed to see to the
delivery Of coal The supply could be
delivered in such a way that the poor
man could get his coal for 10 cents a
peck. delivered. and there would be plen-
ty left for the corner groceryman TO I'LL
his orders as well. l guarantee the full
cooperation Of the Washington coal
dealers in an effort TO solve the coal
problem"
He had written, he said. to GARFIELD,
saying It was an injustice to Washing
ton and TO the East to divert coal needed
for this part OF the country into the
Northwest. He was informed in a reply
from one Of Garfeld's subordinates that
nc SOuiu HOl Dc DOluSfcu WIN suCu
Mr.. Doves figures were that in
previous years $4,000 tons OF hard
coal and 100000 tons of soft coal had
been shipped to Washington. and the
re gion roundabout Mr.. Weaver told
the committee the day before that
he had had the greatest difficulty in
getting data on this subject from the
coal dealers. .
Lack Of Cooperation.
The charge made by Mr.. Dove OF
bad management OF the local coal
plus the testimony of Mr..
Weaver previously that he had been
unable to get data from the coal men
here, LETT little doubt that there has
been lack OF cooperation between the
uel administration and the local deal
re. L. A. Snead some days ago de-
Jared he had not had the cooperation
If the coal dealers,
Mr.. Dove told the committee that
last spring he had sent out a circu-
lar giving warning of coal shortage
and higher prices, and urging early
buying.
He said this had been called by one
OF the Federal trade commission as
an attempt Ito throw a scare into
He added that early buying had
been termed "hosrding." but, in fact.
1t was nothing, but common sense. :"
Lodge Took Advice.
81 took your advice, and l suppose
I am a hoarder," observed Senator
Lodge.
He said that while people took his
advice and ordered coal early. he
;ould not get coal because II was d.
gerted TO the Great Lakes country.
he denied there was boarding OF coal
BY the citizens of Washington.
Not a tenth OF the usual amount
vas laid in in advance" he asserted.
He pronounced 1t folly to talk