The Washington times., 1920-08-19
PEPCO FACING BIG
SHORTAGE Of COAL
Company Has Less Than Seven
Days Supply Ahead-Com-
1mittee to Act.

Investigation by the coal commit
tee appointed yesterday by the Dis
triet Commissioners, developed today
that the Potomac Electric Power
Company has been able to contract
for only so per cent OF the coal neces-
sary to operate it's plant at Ben
ninKs.
William A. Ham. president OF the
company, today declared that only
1000 tons were on hand at the Ben
nings plant. and that the company
was able to get only a days supply
OF coal every twenty-four hours. He
said the company only had seven
days supply OF coal on hand.
"If the crisis does not lessen" said
President Ham, ut viii be necessary
for the company to buy in the open
market, as We are unable TO make
contracts for our supply OF coal"
The Potomac Electric Power Com
pany not only supplies current for
the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company's street cars, but cleo
trio current for lighting In the city.
CALL MEETING TOMORROW.
L. C. Graham, chairman OF the coal
committee appointed by the Commits
sioncrs. today said that he, would call
a meeting OF the committee for to-
morrow morning at the Board OF
Trade rooms. steps will be taken i'm
mediately to make a careful survey or
the coal situation In the District win
the view OF forwarding a brief to the
Interstate Commerce Commission
urging that arrangements be made
for the delivery OF the fuel TO the DIS
trict before winter sets in.
homes 10 have It's
brief ready by next Wednesday. IL
will be a detailed report OF conditions
in the Capital. and set forth means by
which the committee believes the city
can get relief.
At hearing held in Baltimore
yesterday by the United states SEN
ate Committee on Production and te-
construction. Herbert A. wagner.
PRECEDENT of the gas and electric
company OF that city claimed that his
company had tried to make contracts
for coal early in the season, but that
they were unsuccessful. He also
said that there are 5000 cars OF
coal being held for export in Balt-
more at high prices, so much in fact
that there was congestion in Balti-
more yards. and yet the city was un-
able to obtain any OF il for use. Hc
stated that he favored taking care
of the United states first. since there
was not enough transportation facil-
tiles to allow the export OF coal
without working hardships on INDUS
try in this country.
JUSTICE DEPT. RESPONsIBLE
Senator william NJ Calder. Of New
York, chairman OF the committee. re-
marked in the midst OF Wagners
testimony:
81 am convinced that this coal
situation is something the Depart
ment of Justice ought to examine II
ii can do so legally
Charles w. Galloway, vice president
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
told the committee that 1.-The reason
for the accumulation OF coal cars In
Baltimore is that the railroads are
able to move the business faster than
the consignees can dispose of it He
added that the matching OF coal
holds up the dumping; that 1t is
necessary to sort out different grades
of coal for different vessels. and that
there were between ffty-fvc and
sjxty-hve foreign bound ships walt
ing in Baltimore harbor for coal.
+. II. Hanna, general manager OF
the Capital Traction company. said
this morning that his company had
an adequate supply of coal being
shipped by way of the Chesapeake
and Ohio canal from Cumberland. But,
he said. he was unble to tell what
would happen this fall when the canal
freezes.