Evening star., 1922-08-03
BRETT OFFERS AID
# RAILROADS FAIL
Would Serve in Handling OF
Motor Transport for
Washington.
QUESTI0NNAIRES S
Merchants and Manufacturers.
Committee Seeks Data on
Coal Situation.

Services in handling the motor
transportation for bringing supphes
into the District OF Columbla III the
event that the railroads fail mas peeh
offered to the Merchants and Manu-
fa,turers' Association by LLOYD NJ.
I;r,tt. L. s A.. former adjutant gem
.raI of the District Of Columbia MI
lItf;,. Gen. Brett commanded the looth
Infantry Brigade of the American
,.xpeditionary force during the world
war. and commanded the SOth DlHl-
sion while at Camp Lee, during the
absence of the division commander IN
Europe. preparatory to gong over
seas. He retired TWO years ago as
of his regular Army rank OF coIohel,
The offer was received today oy
H,ie. Cen. Anton stephan. president
,,f tha Merchants ard Manufacturers
Association; in a letter rom ~
Brett GEN. stephan sent 'he Itt'e
TO Charles j. columbus, sccreIalS "
the association. and directed nun ~
nrapare a reply TO Col. Brett. Nhlie
th, letter does not say so. Gen. 81
phan said that in conferences WIZ
col. Brett the latter had oneren ms
services entirely without st reIu .,
ton and entirely in the inleiest VA
the people OF Washington
Tenders His Services
.c,,,,,,d tho present emergency re
,rira the mobilization and use OF tne
autouotive equipment OF the CT! 70
.upplv it's needs said Col bfetl .
letter. Il tender my services IN any
capacity ,,.,,ios
IN tSe ARMY, and especially my op-
uortunities to observe such tranSpolt
on a large scale in France during
the world war would be helptui III
rbe solution of the many problems
hat would surely arise in making
efficient motor transportation OF sueh
cen stephan said that it would be
great help to have Col. brett a'
the head of motor truck transporta-
tim should the need develop. ana
considered the association fortunate
in having one so we'll experienced at
its ha' !.
Send Out Questionnnires.
The special committee. headed by
r. p Andrews. which was appointed
by Gen. Stephan from the associa-
tion's membership to make plans for
both the coal and transportation
emergency held its first meeting
late yesterday. AT this time the
committee decided to confine its at
tention to the matter of determining
the coal situation, and to that end
Is sending out today numerous ques-
tionnaires to determine what condi-
tions are here in regard to fuel.
1t is the belief of the committee. as
expressed by Chairman Andrews FOL
lowing the meeting, that the coal sit
uation here is serious. and should have
the attention of every coal user in
Washington. Users of coal. particular
ly, consumers of large quantities. are
urged to fill out the QUESTIONABLE and
send it TO room 400, Star building.
. Would Call Coal Merchants.
1.-The committee hopes to have the
QUESTIONABLE promptly answered" con-
tinued Chairman Andrews. with this
Information in our hands, we propose
the Coal Merchants Board of Trade of
Washington, to the end that the situa-
tion may be faced and such necessary
steps taken to promptly insure ade-
quate supplies of fuel for the city Of
Washington for the period from Octo-
Der l to April l.
1.-The committee trusts that the ac-
ton they are now taking Will De 1ully
understood by the business men of
the city as purely precautionary
measure. as We fully subscribe to the
old adage that AN ounce of preven-
tfon Is worth pound Of cure
Sat the same time the committee
desires it to be fully understood that
the measures 1t is taking are in no
sense antagonistic to the coal dealers
of Washington; We rather feel. how
ever, that the coal merchants will be
only too glad to cooperate In filling
Washington's coal needs as far as 1t
may be humanity possible.
Hope to Prevent Famine.
I'VE hope to be able by such
methods as may be found available to
insure an adequate supply for the city
of Washington and prevent even the
thought Of a coal famine in the cap
tital
s.Tba oonp,;t,aa iS pivira. a+tantion
to the matter of transportation. but
at this time does not feel that the
situation demands outlining a policy
or practice
that manufacturers selling to WASH
ington dealers will themselves find a
means of making deliveries in Wash
ington without any assistance from
the merchants who buy from them"
The personnel of the committee fol-
lows: r. P. Andrews chairman; John
S. Dunn. NJ f. Horton. John H. Will
kins and Charles ]. Columbus.
Coal Merchants to Cooperate.
The coal dealers of Washington are
ready and willing to cooperate in
every way possible with the District
ComIni ssioners in obtaining fuel at
fair prices for the people of Washing
ton this winter.
This was made clear today by Robert
L. Lewis, secretary of the Coal Mer-
chants Board or Trade. who conferred
at the District building with Commits
sioner oyster. acting chairman of the
board.
In answer to questions. Mr. Lewis
stated that the coal merchants would
go heartily with the Commissioners
if they should see fit to fix maximum
and minimum fair prices.
H,is. understood that Mr.. Lewis re-
'newAds TO the Commissioner the re-
guest of his organization that it be
called into conference before any
definite program of fuel distribution
is decided upon.
Commissioner Oyster also conferred
today with Walter C. Allen. secretary
of the Public Utilities Commission.
who is making complete survey of
the local situation for the Commits
sioners Mr.. Allen had nothing
definite to report today, and it was
indicated that he would not have
report for the Commissioners before
Saturday. :.
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tCRlPPLED LAD, PLAYING