The Washington herald., 1918-01-04
Hold Conference.

The District Commissioners also are
in favor Of the acnon, Mr.. Weaver
said.
A conference WAS held yesterday at
a luncheon between COMMISSIONS
Brownlow, Mr.. Weaver. Mr.. Hope. ON
the National Fuel Administration. and
three members of his advisory com
mittee and the plan was unanimously
approved.
Il have become convinced" Mr..
Weaver said last night that I have
been too confding. have taken the
dealers too much at their wcrd.
Many dealers had repeatedly violat-
ed regulations laid down governing
the distribution OF coal. Mr.. Weaver
said, and many will be called upon at
a meeting Of coal dealers tomorrow
night TO explain their actions.
4 have very convincing proof that
one coal company has approximately
100 tons OF anthracite In its yards
which Is mpt being distributed.
Il am reliably informed that the
company has repeatedly violated my
order regarding the limiting Of the
amount Of coal sold 10 one consumer.
Other dealers have done the same
thing"
Unless the dealers come across.
with convincing proof that they will
cooperate with me and obey the spirit
as well as the letter OF the reguia-
tons. I will take over and operate the
coal business of the District"
Plan Already Prepared.
Mr. Weaver WAS asked how long
dealers would be given before action
would be taken. DO time WouiJ -
sci hsz - n~vs = {.
. drastic and swift"
A plan Of operating the coal business
OF the city already has been prepared.
Under the plan. distribution facili-
ties OF all the yards will be pooled.
Teams Of one dealer who is without
coal will be used TO haul the coal sold
by another dealer with. is held up be-
cause Of inability TO obtain suficienc
labor. There is ample authority unde-
the law. Mr.. Weaver said. for the step
proposed.
DIR. Harry A. Garfield. national fuel
administrator. refused to discuss the
proposed step. 1t is a possibility" he
said. but / cannot discuss it now"
Commissioner Brownlow admitted
that the taking over Of the coal busi-
ness Of the city had been discussed
at the conference between him and Mr.
Weaver and Mr.. Hope, and members
u the District advisory committee
Shortage OF labor was discussed. Il
is possible that District teams and
automobiles will be used to haul coal,
whether the business is taken over by
Mr.. Weaver or not.
Opposition From Dealers.
Dealers generally when they heard
Of the proposed taking over of ths
coal business professed ignorance %
it, but said they were opposed 10 it.
There are two tons OF coal in my
yard tonight" one dealer said. The
problem for me is to get coal. II
can get it I can distribute il / have
heard reports OF some dealers vtolst-
ing the regulations regarding the sale
OF coal but 1 have personal knowi-
edge of none.
"On Saturday last SO bushels oc
coal We're taken from my yard, a
bushel at a time. by poor people who
came there and carried il away them
selves. Last Monday 500 more cams
and each got a bushel Of coal"
He had experienced trouble in oh
tanning sufficient labor he continued.
Men were paid 75 per cent more nov.
he said, than they were two or three
years ago. and ii was almost jmpos-
sible to get them to work
4 do not believe the coal problem
in Washington will be solved by TAX
ing over the yards in the city, an
other dealer declared. 1t is a task
too immense TO be handled by one or
Eanization. The solution OF the coal
shortage here is for the government
TO bring coal here.
4 have received reports that there
CONTINUED ON PAGE THREE.