Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-16

] NO GOUGE PLANNED,
SAY COAL DEALERS
Saws Price Will Fall When 2ooo-
Pound Ton Is
Legalized
EXCHANGE OFFICIAL TALKS
Says Consumer Will Pay Less
for Anthracite Here Than
in Camden
EXCHANGE OFFICIAL TALKS

Efforts being made in Harrisburg to
lesalize the 1000. pound ton of anthra :
cite are not grounds for fear of an at
tempted coal gouge in which the con .
sumers will suffer, according to state
ments made today by local dealers.
The anthracite bill, providing for the
change from the 2240- pound ton, passed
the House last night and is now in the
hands Of the Senate.
Coal dealers predict that if the bill
is made law a proportionate reduction
in the price of coal will be made.
Every state in the eoultry, with the
exception of Pennsylvania, Maryland
and the District of Columbia, has
standardized the 2000 pound ton, ac-
cording to statement made today by
Charles X. Scull, secretary of the coal
exchange. Tt was explained that for
this reason ton of coal could be
bought cheaper in Camden than in
Philadelphia. But in Philadelphia tho
purchaser receives 240 more pounds of
coal to the ton.
Why Coal Costs Less in Camden
The difference between the price of
anthracite coal bought in this city and
a ton purchased in Camden averages
about ninety cents at the present time.
when the government took hold of
the coal trade during the var. the 1000
pound ton of anthracite was taken as
the standard and prices were fixed ac-
cordingly,' Mr.. Scull said today. I'm
Pennsylvania. Maryland and the Dis
trict of Columbia, the consumer bought
and paid for 2240 pound tons. But the
reports Of the dealers made to the au
thorities was based on the 1000 pound
ton, which was the standard. This
necessitated an enormous amount of
bookkeeping aud much unnecessary cx-
pense.
Il am of the opinion that the price of
coal will be decreased to some extent
~ the 224O pound ton is done away
with in Pennsylvania and the 1000
pound ton legalized as the standard
At the present time. standard ton Of
bituminous coal in Pennsylvania weighs
1000 pounds. But not the anthracite. +"
Officials of the Samuel Robbins Coal
Company, of Camden. said today that
the reason coal can be purchased
cheaper in Camden than in PHILADELPHIA
is because the ton is 240 pounds lighter
there.
II the 1000 pound ton of anthracite is
legalized here, it is probably, dealers
say, that coal will be sold here cheaper
than in Camden because the freight
rates in New Jersey are higher.
Says Consumer VIII Suffer
The. consumer. as always, will un-
doubtedly suffer in the end according
to Edward A. Noppel, president Of the
United Business Mems Association.
commenting upon the Mangan bill.
The bill provides that 1000
pounds ayoirdupois shall make and con =
stitute legal ton of anthracite coal
throughout this commonwealth in trans
actions between retail coal dealers and
their customers. Any person, firm OF
corporation guilty of violating the pro =
visions of Section ! of this act. whereby
1t is attempted to sell less than 1000
pounds to ton. or a proper proportion
thereof to quantities less than q ton
shall, upon conviction thereof before
any justice of the peace or alderman
after hearing on complaint made, bt
liable to penalty of not exceeding $50
recoverable as like penalties are recov-
cradle within this commonwealth"