Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-09


local fuel administrator. They have
expressed TO him their personal ap-
provaI of the plan to average the
price reduction over the three
stocking-up months.
Mr.. Hickok. fuel administrator. is
in Philadelphia to-day.
Washington, March 9.-Regula-
tions for the retail distribution of
coal for the year beginning April 1
we're announced last night by the
United States fuel administration.
Coal Will be thirty cents a ton
cheape- from April 1 until Septem-
Der l, the fuel administrator adopt
ing differ ent scale from the lid
one, which provided a sliding fig
ure of so, 40, so. 20 and 10 cents
per ton less for the months of April,
May, June, July and August.
Prices will run generally from So
to SO a ton, according to the
locality and the transportation diff
culties to be met.
Every consumer is assured of a
sufficient supply for his next win
tcr's needs at stated prices for every
section of the country.
Penalties For Hoarding
Penalties are provided against
false statements of requirements.
Certificates and card systems will
be put into operation. Retailers and
consumers will be required to specify
the coal on hand, their normal con-
sumption and their needs. There can
be no juggling of the reports.
Definite instructions will follow.
probably within a few days, to each
state administrator, and through him
to each community. to make public
announcement of the prices that the
consumers must pay for their coal
As announced exclusively in these
dispatches two weeks ago, there will
be stabilized prices in each city and
community: persons in one section
Of a city cannot be charged more
tnan those in another.
The consuming public-the man
who has no time to make specific
inquiry as to what coal should cost
will have figures before him that
the retailers must observe. The re-
tailers can charge only one price.
which must include delivery. Strict
Injunction will go to every admins
traitor 70 enforce the new regula-
ttons 20 the letter.
DR.. H. A. Garfield, the fuel ad-
ministrator, discussing the price re-
duction. made this explanations:
"It is important to note that in
order to encourage early buying, a
reduction will be made in the cost of
anthracite beginning April l. It is
felt that this reduction will be fairer
to the public, inasmuch as coal is
eX pected to be ordered in April in
such quantities that it will prove
Impossible to make all deliveries
during that month or for some time
thereafter. Under a sliding scale of
reductions it would be difficult, if
not impossible, to treat all consum-
ers equally, even though their orders
had been filed upon the same date,
while with an average reduction ex-
tending over the entire period, all
consumers are treated alike"
Fine For False Statement
AS a check on consumers who
might attempt to obtain more than
their normal requirements of coal,
the retail plan includes a system of
reports on delivering in excess of the
normal requirements of the con-
sumer False certification of con-
sumer's needs or of a dealers needs
makes the offender subject to a fine
of $1,000 or two years imprison-
ment, The regulations provide:
Every consumer should be urged
on or before April l to place with
his regular dealer his order for his
reasonable normal requirements for
the year ending March 81, 1919. The
dealers shall make deliveries until
each consumer has received two
thirds of his normal annual require
ments, provided that orders of six
tons or under may be filled in full.
New consumers who are unable
to have their orders accepted by a
dealer should apply to the local fuel
administrator. Dealers shall file on