New-York tribune., 1918-02-26

The lights will be turned on next
Friday night.
State Fuel Administrator Albert II.
Wiggn yesterday announced that his
order providing for six lightless nights
week will be rescinded March ], and
that thereafter. until further notice,
there will be only two dark nights a
week, Sunday and Thursday nights.
Mr.. Wiggin also lifted the restric-
tions in the use of light and heat for
Office and other business buildings, to
take effect the first of the month. In
resembling these orders. Mr.. Wiggin
called attention to the fact that Ma
tional Fuel Administrator Harry A.
Garfield called for two lightlcss nights,
Sunday and Thursday nights, in the
carly days of the lcoal shortage, and
that order still Stands.
"There is still shortage of fuel in
the state" Mr.. Wiggin declared in his
statement resembling the two coal saw
ing measures, "and continuation of
conservation is urged. These orders
are rescnded that the rules in various
states may be unform.'
Edward e. Norman, County Deputy
Fuel Administrator in charge of en-
forcing the lightless night decree, said
that there had been very few viola
tions, and that a member of the Brit
ish War Mission in this country had
told him that he doubted such an edict
could have been carried into effect in
England.
About seventy~6ve jobbers of the
Wholesale Coal Trade Association of
New York City met yesterday in the
y {ol all 1,,b t<
against the decision of the national
fuel administration which eliminates
the jobbers' commission in tho dis
tribution of coal, substituting a flat
price at the mines which shall include
compensation for the services Of the
jobbers.
In long communication, which will
be laid befre National Fuel Adminis-
tratotr Garfield by a committee Of job
bers, the coal men point out that the
fuel administrations programme will
Virtually eliminate their business.
They ask for further explanation Of
the administration ruling in its ap-
plcation to Distribution
Charles S. Allen, secretary of the
Wholesale Coal Trade Association, said
there were about $500 coal jobbcrs in
this country, who had approximately
$1,000 employees and $250,00000o in
vested. Mt. Allen SAID THESE JO0OefS
performed q necessary service, with
which it would be difficult to dispense
Coal for domestic use, he said
amunted TO only about one-siXth Of the
total product.
If the jobbers were eliminated, he
said, the proprietor of every little busi-
ness concern would have to learn the
coal business, and take his chances Of
supplying his plant practically through
his own efforts
"The coal jobber has a real reason
for existence" said Mr.. Allen. "The
owner of factory in New York City
comes to him and tells him what kind
Of coal and how much he burns
throughout the year. The jobber
knows the coal field, and undertakes to
supply him
"Ie contracts with the operator, pays
for the coal at the mine, pays the
freight charges to tidewater, the barge
rates, the demurrage on coal cars and
barges, if there arc any. and the war
tax. If car is lost, he traces it, He
insures regularity of delivery, big
responsibility in these war times
"In addition, the jobber often ad-
vances money to small operators. thus
insuring his market, and extends the
consumer credit for thirty to ninety
days. In short, he performs every item
OF service in the coal transaction from
the time it leaves the mines till it is
delivered, and materially helps to
finance the coal trade"