The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1918-03-11
SCORE RUSSELL FOR HIS ACTION
 IN SIEMON CASE
Refusal To Give Reason Arouses Members of Man
 ufacturers' Asso.
Continued from Page 1.)


 cism at the dinner Saturday night. William F. Sheehan, who has assisted Siemon through the coal crisis, said, 'RusselPs action is the smallest thing [ ever heard tell of. It is the most petty piece of politics that was ever brought to my attention" He char acterized Russell as a "weakling"
 Russelrs stories regarding the af- fair are conflicting. He refused to | give reason for busting Siemon, but | told Hartford reporters that he had made a statement explaining the en- tire matter to Bridgeport reporters be- fore leaving the city Saturday. In. vestigation reveals that Russell did city Saturday, nor did he leave any written statement.
 Again Russell contradicts his own words. While in the fuel office, Feb ruary 27, Russell said to Siemon, Your system is fine. It couldn't be better" To Hartford reporters Rus sell said, MT. Siemon has had a diff hcult time and has done some things well, but there are some of the finer details that might be attended to to better advantage and a change is con- sidered advisable"
 It is conceded by the city's most prominent business men that the Bridgeport coal situation could not have been handled any better and as proof that Siemon's system was satis- factory other local administrators in the state report that his system has
 been adopted by them.
 Another peculiar incident connect ed with the affair is this: Siemon
 was appointed late in October and began his work at that time, but learned from the Stamford admins ; trator that an official certificate ot appointment should have been issued ; to him. He called the attention of
 Russell to the fact over the telephone last week, but Russell insisted that the certificate had been sent. A let ter from Russell dated March ', &C., lrowledged the mistake and the cer- tificate was inclosed. A letter dated March g, revoked the certificate Russell thereupon appointed three
 men to take Siemon's place. He
 sent a letter to Siemon notifying hin
 that his appointment had been re-
 voked, but failed to offer a word o1
 thanks for the work Siemon had done
 during the last four. months.
 William P. Kirk, acting chairman
 of the reorganized fuel committee was interviewed by a Times reporter today and said, Reading the paper: Saturday. I learned lot of things didn't know" He refused to ex plain, but intimated that he did no know of the raw deaP' that was be-
 ing handed to Siemon.
 Kirk declares the fuel committed
 will be responsible for everything that
 it does and says it will not be a sin gle-headed commission He has called meeting of the committee to be held in the County Court house at o'clock l this afternoon. Kirk said, "The first 2 thing we must do is to find out where the coal is and get it to the people" The new committee is starting with ? difficult problem, No coal has beer received during the last week and the bins of more than half the Bridgeport
 dealers are empty. The industrial sit
 uation will suffer greatly if large ship . ments are not received in the nex s few days. The amount of hard coa , for domestic needs is about 75 pel cent. short.
 ] The committee will establish its of, @ fee in Rooms 10 and 13 in the County
 Court building and it will be officially
 opened for business tomorrow. A sec
 retary has not yet been selected.