The Washington herald., 1918-01-05
Committee of Ten Dealers
Will Have Charge of
Distribution.
WEAVER RESPONSIBLE
FOR DRASTIC STEP
Fuel Administrator Says
Coal Men PersistentIy
Violated Orders.

Every resource OF coal dealers In
Washington Will be pooled and
operated as one great organization.
/, A committee of ten coal dealers
Will organize end operate II. r
The committee will meet this
morning at 9 o'clock and work out
a plan of organization.
This plan will be submitted Fof
approval to John L. Weaver. Fed.
eral fuel administrator for the Dis
tnct at aImeeting of all the dealers
IN the city Monday evening. 4
Dealers offered Chot<..
Decision to take the step. proposed
by Mr.. Weaver and Endorsed by Conn
missioner Brownlow. was made at q
stormy meeting held last night in The
Builders and Manufacturers Excbsncs
building. III Thirteenth street northI
| west
Every dealer IN the city. from IacEa
wholesale dump owners to those doinr
only bushei by busheI trade be.-1
Mr.. Weaver ofrer them the choice %
pooling their resources or having tbeid
businesses taken over and operated
by the fuel administration.
! Unless a compact organization
co-o9otnstiug al existing varGy aU3
equipment, was formed and erecfivelg
sdDlin'S'ered, Mr.. Weaver SAID, Ind
entire coal business OF the cit would
De taHec over and operated by ths
J administration.
When he had finished there was q
! momeht Of silence. end then dozopS
jumped TO their fes all Owe H.. hand
! demanding recognition from W Hand
ilton Smith. President Of the 81
Merchants Assoc alton. who presid. A
One dealer after another was recor1
nized and bitterly criticised Mr.. wes.
Yer for his proposal and his stated
/ ments regarding the coal situatior1
made through the press.
WeaverAs Proposition.
Because OF the acute situation in
trelation to the distribution Of coal ius
| Washington City" Mr. Weaver ss
IN his opening statement TO the nset-
ing, and further because Of the fsuz
ure Of the coal merchants To meet the
situation. Notwithstanding their proz
iessed efforts at cooperation. IL a.
] become necessary 10 do one Of two
things:
| First: To take over the entire coal
distribution as authorized by existing.
| legislation and administer IL underl
direction Of the Fuel Administration
for the District Of Columbia or,
That the coal men within twenty-,
four hours form a compact organiEa-
ton co-ordinating all existing Yards;
and equipment and effectively add
minister the business through such,
organization.
The Office Of the local sdminJS-
traitor is very loath To disturb tESi
| important business Of the retail cosIl
distribution in the Capital City. sndi
trusts it will not be necessary fo'
90 so. and hc-e expresses the lore,
that the local merchants will he ah'ai
TO set up an organization co-ordirag-l
! ing all existing businesses wi,h theiri
yards and equipment.
Orders DIsobeyed.
The fuel administrator for Wssbl
iRsSton City is in possession Of l.uI
meroGs cases Nhere the ORDER 90
his office have been violated he -
Of the opinion Sat he has not IN
the cases Of many firms. received
The prom sed support. He takes lh,si
Opportunity 10 say to the retail confi
merchanhs of Washington that hai
has, IN cooperation with the Comr{s-s
sloners Of the District Of Columbia
! perfected arrangements 10 assume
control Of the coal business bTr
shall withhold action pending .dyi.csi
from the merchants themselyes
whether they will set up the o.
ganization asked for
Cries for recognition rose all ,v.-f
the hau, and dozens OF dealers roe
TO their feet. J Msury Dove waS'
recognized by Mr.. Smith, the chair
man. who Hanged on his desk for
quiet.
Mr.. Weaver" Mr. Dove began
we are willing to cooperate with
you IN every reasonable, practicable
way.
But We won't Cooperate with
you've will not help nor aid you
IN any way in such a proposition as
this!"
Cheers and applause. accompan-
led by stamping of feet and cries
OF Tell it to him" That's rigbtr'
from all over the hall interrupted
him. Mr.. Weaver sat calmly look
ing at the speaker.
i an ready and willing 10 co-
operate with you and I believe ev-
cry man here is willing to co-oper-
ate In every reasonable way" He
turned and. facing those behind
him. asked il that was so. Aye
Aye. he was answered But we
can't deliver coal IL we haven't col
TO deliver" 4
Again Mr.. Dove vas inter Ipt.d /
by applause and cheers and taup-
ing Of feet
II has been said that de&.ers have
not unloaded coal sent here promptly.
That Is not 50. There m be coat
in the District that has nc been W.
loaded promptly. but n b vhsre
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