New-York tribune., 1918-01-24

ing companies out Of commission be-
cause of weather conditions, the marine
expert saw little reason for taking an
Optimistic: view of the near future.
From the office of A. II. Smith, AS
sistant Director of Railroads here, came
equally dismal statements. He an
hounced that ice in coal cars had re-
suited In material slowing down Of
dumping at tidewater. 1t is because of
THIS condition, said Mr.. Wiggin, that
.ne dock systems should be worked in
three shifts of eight hours each in or
oer that no time should be lost in get
ting coal to New York.
Mayor Urged to Act
AT special meeting of the Broadway
association held during the day com
munication was drafted in which Mayor
hSlan was called upon to take drastic
steps TO solve the present fuel short
age. In the course of the letter atten-
ton was called to the fact that offers
OF aid that had been made to the fuel
administrators had met with refusal
Moreover, it was charged that many
dealers were practising eXtortion, that
dirt was being shipped here in the guise
OF coal and that little was being done to
Improve conditions.
The communication concluded with
these suggestions:
"a. Demand that coal be consigned to
you AZ Mayor of New York in order that
you may not be hammered in its eo,,itahle
distribution.
"b: Demand that every car of coal which
eah De handled through the Pennsylvania
tubes be sent that way. even if the rail-
road is compelled to send its passenger
trains or portion of them back to its old
depot in Jersey City.
c. Place cars on every available side
track IN Jersey City and Hoboken seize the
necessary trucks to bring it to New York.
and IT labor cannot be obtained in any
other way for handling this COAL insist
upon the use of the National Army
Tor this purpose. ! do not believe this last
VIII be necessary, but if il is. those men
will be glad to help out in this emergency
when they learn that the poor are suffer
rooms and that general distress prevails
d. Much coal is being sent here which is
largely dirt and would be unstable unler
ordinary conditions. 1t cannot be burned.
and yet its transport helps to congest the
situation.
."e:. Many dealers are taking advantage
OF their customers and are. I understand.
charging higher prices than the regula-
tons permit. Their customers dare not
complain, for it would mean the cutting off
OF supplies. No coal dealer takes on any
new customers, and therefore business men
must submit to the extortion in silence. I
am Informed that 50 20 ST. per ton is be-
ing paid for soft soal in many instances.
Charge Closing Rule Violations
During the afternoon twenty-five
names of violators of the fivc-dav clos
ing order were sent to the United
States District Attorney by Reeve
Schley. fuel administrator for New
York County. The fuel administrator
announced that he had made no recon-
mendatlons as to prosecutions, but had
left this question entirely in the hands
OF the government prosecutor.
Practically all Of the violators were
garment concerns, whose statesmen had
rented hotel storerooms for business
purposes during the enforced closing.
Among the others were some small
business houses. AS far as is known
there were no violations due to the
selling of drinks during the conserva-
tlon period
Representatives of the United Cigar
Stores voluntarily communicated with
the fuel administrator announcing that
they would remain closed during the
remaining Monday holidays. Mr.. Schley
approved of their action and called
supon all other patriotic cigar dealers
to do likewise.
To Experiment With Cinders
Unable to obtain enough coal to sup
ply the impoverished poor with fuel,
the coal committee of the Mayors
Women's Committee on National De-
fence will to-day start series of cx-
perlments to determine whether or not
the cinders at the city dumps cannot
solve the fuel problem
Accompanied by experts from the
Fire Department, committee of wom-
Ell will visit the city docks and ex-
anime the cinders on the scows. Great
hope is expressed by the women that
in this way some plan may be made to
assist in the fuel conservation.
At meeting of the committee YES
terday at the headquarters, so East
Forty-second Street. Mrs. Henry Zuck-
man, chairman Of the coal committee,
announced that it was imperative that
some speedy action be taken to obtain
fuel, as the much needed coal promised
the committee had not been delivered.
She explained that only fifty of the
250 tons given the committee by
George Ehrct, jr., could be delivered
yesterday.