The Washington times., 1918-07-07
BILL PROVIDES l..
.$1,586,388 FOR
D. G. COAL YARD

The sundry civil bill, signed yes
terday by the President, contains a
provision under which the Govern
ment will establish coal yards in the
District OF Columbia
These yards will be utilized for the
storage of coal and for furnishing 1t
to the Government departments and
agencies, including the District gov
eminent
District Pays One-nfth.
The conferees on the bill modified
the House and Senate provisions
relative to the Government coal
yards, but did not eliminate them. In
fact, they had no power TO eliminate
them.
At the instance of a committee
from the Chamber of Commerce. con-
sisting of H 3. F. mcfarland and
Col. John G. Capers, the provision
that half the cost of establishing
yards, purchase, transportation and
storage OF fuel, and other expenses
should be paid by the District was
eliminated and another provision put
in its place. The new provision re-
quires the District to pay one-fifth
the cost and the General Government
four-fifths.
The amount named in the bill,
which is now a law, for establish
ment of yards, providing equipment,
and the like, is S432, 800. and the
amount for purchase. transportation.
and storing Of fuel and the like is
$1,154,OSs.
The provision which required the
District to pay half the expense was
eliminated, because IL was shown BY
Messrs. mcfarland and Capers that
the District would only use about
sixth OF the, coal
Private Yards Protected.
At the instance OF Washington coal
dealers. a provision was put in which
blocked plans OF Government officials
to take over four coal dumps already
established in Washington. The law
as IL was enacted prevents these
dumps, used by local coal merchants
to meet the needs OF the general pub
lie, from being taken over by the De-
partment of the Interior.
The measure contemplates the
handling OF coal for Government use
However, it is well understood that
in a time of coal famine here relief
would be given the public.
The Department of the Interior, il
is expected. will promptly establish
yards.
Language of Act.
The language OF the law is as fol-
lows:
Government Fuel Yards: The
Secretary OF the Interior is author
lied apd directed to establish in the
District of Columbia storage and
lot Ill 81
fuel for the use OF and delivery TO
all branches of the Federal service
and the municipal government in the
District of Columbia and such parts
thereof as may be situated immedi-
ately without the District Of Column
bia and economically can be sup
piled therefrom. and to select, pur-
chase, contract for, and distribute all
fuel required by the said services.
Authority. is granted the Secretary
OF the Interior, in connection with
the establishment OF the said yards,
to procure by purchase, requisition
for immediate use, condemnation, or
lease. for such period as may be
necessary, land. wharves. and rail-
road tresties and sidings requisite
therefor. All branches OF the Fed
eral service and the municipal gov
eminent in the District of Columbia
from and after the establishment OF
the said fuel yards. shall purchase
all fuel from the Secretary OF the
Interior and make payment therefor
from applicable appropriations at the
actual cost thereof to the United
States, including all expenses con-
nected herewith:
For the establishment OF the fuel
storage and distributing yards here
in authorized, including the procure
railroad sidings. and trestIes; stor-
ing, handing, and distributing equip
ment, including motor-propelled pas
senger-carrying vehicles for inspec- !
tors: and all other expenses requisite
for and incident thereto, including
personal services in the District OF
Columbia: S432. 300. to be available |
Immediately:
For the purchase and transporta- |
ton OF fuel; storing and handling
fuel in yards: maintenance and !
operation of yards and equipment. !
including motor-propeIled passenger |
carrying vehicles for inspectors, rem
tails, and all other expenses requisite |
for and incident thereto, including |
personal services in the District OF |
Columbia, Sl,l54.0SS, TO be available
Immediately: Provided. That alf
moneys received from the purchase |
OF fuel during the fiscal year 1919 |
shall be credited TO this appropria-
ton and be available for the pur-
poses Of this paragraph: Provided
further That no part Of any mansys