Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1919-04-18
COUCH DONATES S2,50O TO FUND
 FOR CITY PARK
Rotary Club Receives Pres
 ent For Memorial.
WAS SECURED FROM
 DEFENSE COUNCIL
Donati0n Is Part Of The sum Accu. mnlatcd Through Work Oi
 DUEOr.

Harvey c. Couch, president of the Arkansas Light & Power company, and fuel administrator for Arkansas, yesterday announced that he would contribute toward the fund to be raised by the Rotary club for a mem orial to all the men from Jefferson county who served in the great war
 white and black-the sum of $2,5OO This sum was rendered Mr. Couch by the Arkansas Council of Defense to partly reimburse him for expense incurred and for his services in solv- ing the anthracite coal situation, while serving as state fuel adminis- trator.
 The $2,50O comes out of fund of about $30,000 derived from the sale of anthracite slack turned over to the fuel administration by the mine operators under an agreement with the national fuel administration thru and at the suggestion of Mir. Couch. At the time of the agreement the mines were closed, and the anthracite coal users shut off from the Pennsyl- vania fields on account of the zone system of distribution were clamor- ing for coal. The mine operators con- tended they could not operate the mines and supply the coal at the prices fixed because of the amount of waste in selecting the sizes desir- ed. For this waste, they said there was no market.
 Suggested Increase.
 MT. Couch suggested that they in- crease in price asked by granted, that the production of coal in the Ar kansas mines be resumed, and that the miners turn over to the fuel ad- ministration all proceeds from slack in excess of a sum which would give the mine owners satisfactory price for the other grades of anthracite mined. MT. Couch contemplated turn ing this money over to the national fuel administration to assist in de- fraying the fuel administration ex- penses but Dr. Garfield, the national administrator said that provisions for this had been made and it could not be so used. Mir. Couch then SUD- posed that whatever money came from the sale of this waste be turned over to organizations for charitable of welfare work or state council of de- fense and Dr. Garfield approved the plan.
 The mines were re-opened, the con- sumers supplied and Mr. Couch found market for the slack. The mine own CTS have been sending in checks regularly. until about $28,000 has ac- cumulated and several thousand more :. dollars will come as result of the plan.
 Plan to Get Fund.
 Mir. Couch announced two weeks ago that he would turn this fund over to the Arkansas council. of defense. H. K. Tonev president of the Rotary club; Alex H. Powell, chairman of the Jefferson county council of defense: T. J. Collier, chairman of the Red Cross home service section and other officials of these organizations join- ed in petition to the state council of defense to turn over part of the fund to Pine Bluff for the memorial for Jefferson county's fighting men. This petition had the approval of MT. Couch, who expressed the view that this would be fitting way to dis pose of part of the money as the people of Jefferson had been so self sacrificing in their efforts to win the war.
 The state council of defense, when the petition was presented Tuesday, held the view that it was not in that body's power to donate any of the money to any city.
 Reimburse Mir. Couch.
 The state council of defense then appropriated $2,500 to reimburse Mir. Couch for expenses incurred and as compensation for his services in the anthracite situation. Mir. Couch demurred to this, saving he did not seek compensation, because he felt gratified that he was able to serve in wining the war, and that he could not consider accepting the compen- sation when others had made such great sacrifices, and so many brave men had made the supreme sacrifice. He made it clear that he would ac- cept the amount only with view of contributing the sum toward fund for a memorial to Jefferson county's fighting men in the war. He amour ced his purpose yesterday, declaring that all the people had made great sacrifices. and that he felt it an honor1to be able to.contribute toward a memorial for thosA who had served in the war and those who had Msde the supreme sacrifice.
 To Create Trust Fund.
 As Others probable will contribute to the fund which he has started with