New-York tribune., 1918-02-10


assistance. Of what use is money'if there is
no coal to be bought?
The Fuel Administration has done a great
deal toward alleviating the suffering, but it
has not. yet reached satisfactory solution Of
the coal problem 1t has established Offices in
different parts of the city to aid in the distri-
button Of coal to the people who need it the
most. The Office which covers the greater part
Of the East Side district is in the University
Settlement Building, on Rivngton Street.
Here people who in need of coal, and
who can no longer purchase it of their own
cellar dealer, are registered and given a card
to a dealer who has a supply Of coal on hand.
Every day inspectors go through the district,
visiting all the cellar dealers to ascertain
where there is coal to be bought. Dealers hay
ing supply OH hand are asked to honor Gus
toners bringing card from the fuel admins
traitors Office before giving coal to any other
transient customers.
Incidentally, these inspectors at the same
time make sure that the dealer is asking the
legal price for his coal, and that the big white
price card which the Fuel Administration has
ordered to be tackled up in plain sight in every
coal cellar in the city, hangs where the
toners can see it. Often, very often the dealer
hung burlap bag or a bushel basket over this
sign, and he is greatly surprised when the in
spector orders him to remove it.
Sometimes the Settlement has an oppor-
tunity to buy two or three tons of coal. and
when this is the case it is sold at the Office to
the applicants. Families where there are very
small children, nvaliis or very old people are
given precedence but it is often very difficult
the truth about the conditions at home.
A Russian woman came into the Fuel .Ad-
ministraton Office while l was there the other
day who said she had six children.
"Where are they?" asked the inspector. "Are
they all at home?"
"Three are at home" was the answer. II
took the others to Brooklyn"
"What are they doing there; are they work.
ing?"
ooh, no." said the guileless one, "they are in
the cemetery"
Sometimes there is no money in the family
exchequer with which to buy coal, if any is
procurabe. These cases are investigated i'm
mediatey, and, if found worthy, there is a
fund which has been given by philanthropic
friends of the Settlement to cover their needs.
In Offices which have no such fund on which
Hylan's Coal Fund.-" which is distributed fer
the same purpose.
TO REINSTATE THE CELLAR DEALER
Some ten days ago the Fuel Administrator
inaugurated system which aims to reinstate
the cellar dealer and do away with the peddling
the streets. In each coal yard there is an
inspector who interviews each carter as he is
leaving the yard with his load Each must tell
to whom he is going TO deliver the coal and
how much lie is charging for the carriage.
This information is recorded by the inspect
or and the carter is given slip which he is to
have signed by the dealer to whom he delivers
the coal. The dealer keeps this slip and gives
it to the policeman on the beat, who turns it IN
at Headquarters. Here clerks compare itwith
the slip which the coal yard inspector has also
turned in to them, and if it does not tally the
next time that carter applies for coal he
will find the gates closed to him. This system
seems to be working out very well, so well that
great many of the cellar dealers have opened
up again.
There is also another solution under consid-
GRAFTON. This is to put the distribution of coal
in the hands of the Commissioner of Markets.
BY TINS system the city is to take the coal
supply and rent the yards from the coal com
panies. Carriers are to be paid specified sum
for delivering the coal, so much per load per
mile, and they to deliver it to the cellar
dealer, who pays the city for it. Of course, in
this case the dealer would be obliged to give a
$50 or 500 bond to the city before he is given
any coal.
IMPRESSIONISTIC COAL SELLING
The crying need at the present time Of
course, outside the lack of coal seems to be
more inspectors for the cellar dealers In nine
cases out OF ten the dealer will cheat his
customers unless he is carefully watched
and the fear Of the consequences implanted in
his soul. 1t was only yesterday that met an
Italian woman in one of the side streets, south
Of Washington Square, who was carrying
dishpan full of coal.
GLOW much did you pay for that?" asked
her.
"Forty-ve cents" she replied.
went to the cellar dealer across the street
from whom she had bought the coal and asked
HIM how many pounds he had put in the pan
He could speak English but his young son
interpreted for him.
My father says he didn't weigh the coal.
but he thinks about thirty pounds" said the
boy.
The woman had paid at the rate of 81 so per
hundred pounds for that coal
Where is your price card?' l asked.
The boy pulled down the burlap bag which
covered it.