Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-01-31
Should Not PenaIize Thrift.

Announcement is made that the Fuel
Administration, looking ahead IN nm
endeavor TO meet future emergencies,
will adopt the plan of preventing people
iron, storing their coal bins, next summer,
10 preparation for the coming winter
This would mean that those thrifty and
conservative citizens who have for years
made it one OF their household rules TO get
IN winter supply of coal during the sum-
mer months are 10 be denied this priu-
lege next summer, and possibly during the
continuance of the war. Fortunately for
the thousands of good citizens who would
be put TO great inconvenience and annoy
anoe by such an order at this time, there
are reasons TO hope that the war will not
continue many more months. Germany,
apparently, is on the brink OF collapse
through internal disorders and we al will
prav that these internal disorders may in
crease until they come 10 the extent OF
overthrowing the Hohenzollern dynasty
and compelling Emperor William and his
six hulking and useless sons to resort 10
some other means OF making 4 living than
by being parasites upon the industry Of the
German people.
But this proposition to prevent thrifty
and foresighted citizens filing their coal
bins during the summer months Is not ap-
pealing In these dire times OF fuel scarcity
II IS not to be assumed that the citizen
who has fair supply OF coal in his cellar
Is a monopolist and q ''gouger.' Not for
an instant He is simply one among
hundreds who have for years made It
practice Of their household economy TO
I'll their coal bins during the summer
months There Is much TO be said in
commendation OF this policy. Coal is
cheaper during the summer, when the de-
nland for heating Is at a minimum, and
also, it Is 8 convenience to have coal bins
filed for the winter supply OF coal during
the summer season. Ii Is matter that the
average householder gets Of his chest,
and he can contemplate with complacency,
about the first of September, when he has
his coal bins filed with sufficient coal 20
last him through the winter, upon the
prospect that he is Independent Of the
potent influences Of supply and demand
during the winter months that are TO come.
There is nothing discreditable in this
process. 1t would be a grave injustice to
class the many householders Of Whining
ron who have followed this very proper
and practical practice for years-the
Gathering III OF q winters supply of coal
luring the summer months-as hoarders
Vi coal in order that they may enjoy com
tort while their neighbors suffer from the
oeverities of the weather. That never was
heir purpose. Their policy was TO provide
IN summer what would be needed for the
winter, and there is nothing Objectionable
or discreditable in such policy.
The Fuel Administration viii make
gTeat mistake If it endeavors 10 discredit
and put a stop TO the practical custom of
storing up in summer the coal that will be
needed during the winter On the con-
trary, it should encourage the people to a
more liberal and extended following OF this
policy. 1t should bend ats energies to q coal
production and coal distribution, dur
ing the summer months to come, that
would enable every householder who be-
heves in the policy of filling his coal bins
and protecting himself against the un-
certain emergencies OF the winter, to
satisfy his demands. To prohibit him
doing this would be q grave Injustice.
The man who fills his coal bins during
the summer is not |hoarder" or public |
enemy. lie is simply level-headed man
who has a proper impression OF real domee-
tic economy. And he should be encouag-
ed, not suppressed His policy, had it been
generally followed last summer, would |
have largely relieved the critical situation
n respect Of fuel that prevails today