Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-02
COAL RATION
Plan May Be
ACREEDuPON
Dealers Are to Be Asked
to Take Steps to Pre-
vent boarding.

A clearing house for all coal
orders IL another plan that ofhcials
believe necessary to inaugurate in
order to better handle the coal sit
uation In Rock Island and the plan
may be placed in effect tomorrow.
The plan contemplates the sale of
only one weeks supply to . Gus
toner.
H. A. Clevenstine, chairman Of
the executive committee in charge
Of tho coal situation. called on
Mayor Harry N. Schriver ct the
city hall shortly before noon today
and said that he had obtained in
formation that number Of resi-
dents in the city are attempting to
duplicate orders for coal. and that
this practice should be stopped by
forming q clearing house through
which all orders shall 60 before
any coal Is delivered by dealers.
The clearing house idea is also
considered necessary to avert q
possible panic due to the coal
shortage.
It IL claimed that some citizens
order coal from one dealer and
when the cial IL delivered they i'm
mediately duplicate the order with
another dealer, and In some cases
success has been had in obtaining
. double supply in this manner.
On the other hand. 1t IL claimed
by Mr.. Clevenstine that q panic can
be started by such methods. He
explained that some Of the dealers
have small supplies Of coal and
their customers can only purchase
an amount that will not prove am
pie, and when the customer goes
to another dealer the latter be-
comes suspicious Of the objects OF
the prospective coal purchaser and
refuses 70 make q sale for fear that
the person 10 attempting to hoard
. supply while the other persons
suffer.
Mayor Ysvors Plan.
Mayor Schriver declared that he
favors the plan and that he would
appoint some one to take charge
Of such q clearing house In case ar
rangements could be made with the
dealers in q way that will eliminate
confusion.
Can Confiscate Coal.
Mayor Schriver asserted that ip
case the situation demands, the city
can .conflscate coal from persons
attempting to hoard supplies. How
I. ever, he said that this would not
affect supplies In homes that have
Already laid in winter supply, but
Would affect all future sales. The
mayor declared that the city has
power to confiscate coal for its own
use. He cited the large amount Of
coal used at the water works, an
absolutely essential plant, and said
that in like cases the city cou1t
commander coal. However, h,
said that the situation was not 81
critical that such steps are nov
necessary. The water works ha,
coal to last . month or six week,
longer and has several cars coming
The instance was pointed out b,
the mayor a. one IN which the cit,
could exercise powers Of confisca
ton.
Dealers Meet TONIGHT
Neal Mikesell, chairman Of tn
Rock Island and Moline coal deal
ers' association. has notified tn
dealers Of meeting to be held a
the Rock Island club tonight an,
Mr.. Clevensz!ne told Mayor Schriv
or that he would see that the clear
ing house proposition is presente'
to them. In this way all person
ordering coal will order through
the clearing house and no oppor
tunity will be open for any one I,
cheat by duplicating coal orders.
Mr.. Clevenstine said that. tn,
matter will also be taken up Il
Moline. It was also said that tn
other cities in this communit,
might inaugurate the plan.
Police powers Of cities, It is said
will furnish the authority to TAX
necessary drastic action IN tn
present emergency. The state law
provide exceptional authority II
cases Of emergency through polio
powers. However, the whole plal
10 looked forward to as q means o
only retarding the activities O
hoardefs 30 that every citizen cal
DO given equal shares of the Goa
1t hand.
SPECIAL MEETING
OF GROTTO CALLED
TO HEAR REPORTS
Members Of the building commit
tee Of AmO0 4rOftO renuoaf a rnno$