Evening star., 1918-01-11
CHARGES BUNG[|NG
BY FUEL DIRECTOR
]. Maury Dove Ascribes Coal
! Shortage Here to "Bad
Management"

A remedy for the present coal short
age in Washington was suggested by
J, Maury Dove yesterday afternoon to
the Senate manufactures committee
investigating the coal shortage. 1t
was:
Put a practical coal man In charge
of affairs, and let him be given author
fly to order the shipment of 1000 tons
Of coal q day to Washington for ten
days. After that, order the shipment
Of $500 tons day to the capital.
"Washington can be relieved of the
present distress over coal shortage in
$orty-eight hours, and in ten days the
coal shortage would be thing Of the
past. II such plan were adopted, Mr-
Dove told the committee.
"Could that be done: would 1t be pos
eible to get the coal?" asked senator
Vardaman of Mississippi.
at would" replied AIR. Dove. IF such
an order were issued the Philadelphia
other companies could put the coal in
here without any trouble"
well. the fuel administration has
the power to issue such an order. hasn't
it," inquired Senator Vardaman.
Other Cities Receive Ample Supply.
arr. Dove said that New York had been
boasting of receiving 900 tons in the
last few days, and Philadelphia had also
been receiving very large quantities.
1T that is possible then it is possible
to supply the capital with 1000 tons a
day" said Mr.. Dove.
II the coal Is ordered shipped here, Mr..
Dove said, 1t should be distributed with
out Partially to all dealers and placed
on both public and private dumps and
sold to the rich and poor alike, without
favoritism.
Mr.. Dove charged that the fuel admin
1stratfon had bungled things.
The shortage of coal in Washington"
he said, "is due to bad management"
He insisted that the fuel administration
had Disseminated against Washington
in ordering tremendous shipments of
anthracite coal sent to. the northwest
which was usually supplied to this part
OF the country.
He ridiculed the plans being made by
the. fuel administration here for CO.
ordinating distributing facilities of the
coal dealers in Washington.
The fuel administration wants to
commander teams to distribute some
thing that isn't here said Mr.. Dove
There Is not anthracite coal enough
In Washington but that the teams of
our company alone could distribute it"
The plan for coal rationing for the
coming year, outlined to the committee
by John L. Weaver. local fuel ad-
nninistrator, was declared by Mr.. Dove
10 bo visionary and theoretical
He read . letter written by his COM
pany to the federal fuel administrator,
DR.. AArry A. Garfield. October last, in
which 1t was pointed out that Wash
ington was being Disseminated against
Ia the matter OF anthracite coal, which
was being shipped to the northwest in
great quantities.
1--WE never got reply to our letter"
NJ said. The only answer / had was
given mo by q subordinate official of
the fuel administration. He said to
mo:
DR.. Garfield couldn't be bothered
with such matters"
Mr.. Dove told the committee that he
had been In the coal business here for
thirty-six years
The shortage Of coal in Washington
q due to bad management" he in
00eed. Tt has been the custom of pro
ducer1 to persuade retailers to lay in
their coal supply in the summer and
ne retailers did tho same with the
0onDumers.
s1othing But Common Sense"
This lately has been called boarding.
00t II was nothing but common sense"
Af. Dove said that his company sent
eeents through the fields last spring as
Formerly. and issued circular to its
customers IN April giving reduced
prices on coal II purchased in April.
asad asked them to lay in supply.
The Federal Trade Commission IL.
sued Q statement In June" said Mr..
Dove. stating that this was throwing
. scare into the people and that there
would be no shortage of coal this win
Tar. Our company was placed on the
unfair list"