The Connecticut labor news., 1921-02-04

The greatest complaint Is in the qua1- 1ty of coal delivered, but short weights also come in for big share. This lat ter, however, in justice 1t must be said, does not sNmuch affect the retail deal CT as 1t does those who are putting out the coal in bags which, because of the exorbitant retail price per ton, many hundreds of people have been forced to buy this year. These bags are supposed to contain IS pounds of nut coal but when landed in household are found totcontain but Is or 16 pounds and instead of nut" coal, No. pea or yard sweepings. The price has been and yet is from 24 to % cents per bag. But strange to say when local author ities Investigating these complaints, se- cured bag, 1t was of full weight and nut coal. Two or three prosecutions have been brought by Sealer Maroney on this scale and fines inflicted but they are so far in the minority as to hardly dent the practice.
 Contracts Sold.
 When the price of SIS ton was an- rounced by the local dealers and the reason given that 1t was impossible to secure coal enough even at that price, the public accepted 1t as a fact until later developments showed up the situation. Then 1t was reported that the real cause was that the dealers had sold their contracts for this winters supply away back last spring and at profits of from $2 to $4 a ton without ever having seen the coal let alone handling 1t. This coal was then used for export and sold in far away France at from $4 to $5 a ton less than coal was sell ing for right here in Connecticut, few hundred miles from the mines.
 The coal dealers had raked off this profit believing that the miners and pro- ducers would have enough on hand later i'll the season so they could make new contracts. In this way they were fooled and to get any, had to pay big brokers prices, but passed this back onto the consumer with a price of SIS ton. The mines had produced enough but the government had stepped III and by priority orders but shunted the avail able coal to the northwest where con- tracts had been held and the east there fore got a gouging. Only the excep- tionally mild winter prevented great suffering here and finally a short time ago forced the dealers to drop the price S1 ton.
 Is 80 Per Cent. Slate.
 While one large retail firm which does large trade among working peo- pie seems to be the basis for most of the complaints so far, most of the other dealers in the city are also being com plained of because of the quality of the coal. Instead of coal, the stuff Is 30 or more per cent. slate and anyone who can make 1t burn could reap fortune for his receipe. When complaint was made to the dealer, the complainant was prac- tically fired out The dealer had the money, as this year coal was cash on delivery if not before, and there was on redress except possibly a long and costly civil suit which also might be turned against the luckless consumer.
 One of those who complained to the mayor about the coal he had received from this specific dealer was brought up and worked for many years in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. He knew coal and recognized the slate as soon as he examined 1t after 1t was dumped in his cellar His demands on the firm that it be taken out and his money refunded met with the merry ha-ha" so he com plained to the mayor. At the mayors office he was told that the city was pow erless to aid him, as there was no law that would permit the dealer to be sum- moned in or penalized, even though 1t was admitted that such law was un- doubtedly necessary.
 Passes the Buck"
 When continued complaints about the quality of the coal, and many of them about the same dealer, poured i'll, the mayor finally asked the dealer to ex- plain. He arrived at the mayors office and with a sheaf of bills in his hands pointed out that he had to pay a high price for the supply, had asked for "A" quality and finally admitted that he
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