New-York tribune., 1918-05-29
Dealers Blame
Garfield for Lack
OF Domestic Coal
Unable to Fill the Orders
Now on Their
Books

Unless the Federal fuel administra-
tion modifes its coal regulations and
gives them more domestic coal, the
dealers of the city will be unable to
supply good many of their Gus
toners before the blasts of winter are
upon them again. Such was the
testimony of some of the largest coal
dealers yesterday at the hearing be-
fore the committee on domestic sup
plies of the Mayors Committee on
National Defence, at the City Hail.
The dealers are swamped with
orders, with comparatively little coal
, in their yards and small prospect of
getting an adequate supply as the sit
uation stands at present, they de-
clared. One Brooklyn dealer said
that he was at present delivering coal
tons daily, and that even if he could
count on having enough coal to fill
orders on hand, it would take him un-
til December 1 to fill them. He
didn't know, however, how he was GO
ing to get the coal.
"The question is to get the coal,''
cne dealer said, in summing up the sit
uaticn. Owe have the facilities and
are ready and willing to handle it if
we can only get the COAL The Fuel Ad-
ministrator tells us that the regulations
coming from DIR. Garfield won't allow
US anywhere near the amount we need''
Michael F. Burns, of Burns Brothers,
declared that the Federal coal authorl-
ties were making arrangements to sup
ply the necessary amount of coal for
tho Atlantic States. He said that the
committee DR.. Garfield had appointed
to handle the matter had already
stopped the delivery of coal in twenty
four states, and he believed, with
proper patience, the residents of New
York would eventually get all the coal
needed. He added, however, that it
might take fro mnow until cold weather
to supply the demand.
1--WE are at war;" said Mr. Burns.
"The government needs coal and has
first call on it. The people must be
reasonable and exercise patience. I.
is impossible to satisfy those who ex-
pect the coal to be put in promptly.
II will take from now until the advent
OF cold weather to supply the demand.
The coal isn't really needed now, and I
think the people are unnecessarily wor-
ried"
A heated argument between Mr..
Burns and Peter J. Brady, supervisor
of the city record and labor member Of
the Mayors Committee, ended with a
threat by Brady that "unless you fell
lows get onto the job the government
will seize the coal mines as it has the
railroads"
Brady Blames Dealers
Mr.. Brady insisted that it was a
grave mistake to leave the solving of
the city's coal situation to a commit
tee of coal dealers. He declared that
they fell down" last winter and that
there was much profteering among
them. He said the city ought to form
ulate it's own plan and then put it up to
the dealers to do the job. He declared
that the dealers must take care of the
people, and that the situation of last
winter could not be repeated without
riots all over the city and "mobs com
ing to the City Hail."
Dr.. Jonathan C. Day, Commissioner
of Markets, urged cooperation with the
ccal dealers in handling the problem of
reserve supply for the city. He said
that he understood the fuel admin
lstration was anxious for the city to
store a reserve supply, and sugge sted
that committee be appointed to get in
touch with the Federal authorities and
see where and how much coal the city
could purchase for this purpose. He
said that the amount of coal should not
NC 1iHitSO W 1OO,OOO lOuS, as mad DeoQ
suggested, but that the city should
store all it could get. The normal sup
ply from the pedlers who sell to the
poor people in small quantities would
be about $4,000 tons weekly. Black
wells Island and the new Barge Canal
terminals, which, it was said, would not
be equipped and in use by the state for
some time, were suggested as available
places to store the citys coal. Some of
the dealers suggested that if the city
was able to get the coal it might be
distributed on the city's order at a
minimum price by the dealers at a
large saving to the city.
Chairman Loft finally appointed the
following committee to take the mat
ter up with the Federal fuel admin
istration: ''-
Commissioner Day, chairman; Peter
!. Brady and City Chamberlain Alfred d
.; Johnson, three members representing
the, city government; Michael F. Burns
and Thomas F. Farrell, coal dealers
representing Manhattan; Bernard suy,
den, coal dealer, representing Queens.
Cyrus Z. Miller, representing The Bronx
ana r. Brady, coal dealer representing
Richmond. At the suggestion Of Mr
Brady the name of James P. Holland
president of the State Federation Of I,a'
Dor, was added to the committee.