New-York tribune., 1922-09-07
w oe,dill Turns i
Down 100000
Ton Coal Order
Site Fuel Directors First
Official Act Is to Halt Al
tempt TO Boost Price
Above the Hoover Scale
Urges Strictest Economy
Meets With Three Advis-
ory Si,b-C Q M, niliees;
Donovan Hs To BE am Aid

William II Woodin, the newly ap-
pointed State Fuel administrator, put
a punch into his first days work yes
terday by way Of demonstrating that
proflteering in coal is not to be counte-
nanced in this state. AS his first Off
cial act he cancelled the 95,300-ton bal
ance of the states 10o,000-ton emer-
gency order for soft coal because of an
attempt by coal companies to boost the
price.
The Hoover fair price agreed to by
the soft coal operators was the price
at which the coal WAS bought on Au-
gust Is. Several days ago the coal
operators advised the Advisory Fuel
Commission that the coal would be
shipped at an increase of betwean so
and 40 per cent and 400 tons were
then Cancelled. Yesterday Mr. Woodin
notified the coal companies that New
York State would accept no coal on
the 100,000-ton order.
TO Protect Householder
The situation Of the small house
holder, however, who must depend al
most altogether on anthracite, is re-
ceiving most of Mr.. Woodin's atten-
ton. He will go to Philadelphia this
afternoon to attend Secretary Hoover's
ooHieAbHce Win aitiiIdcIbe coal opera
tors and the fuel administrators Of the
north Atlantic and New England
states,
The principal subject of discussion
at the conference, it has been an
nounced, will be the equitable distribu-
tion Of anthracite as soon as mining is
resumed next Monday. 1t is conaid-
cred not unlikely, though, that an ef-.
fort will be made TO have the anthra-
cite operators agree on a fair price for
hard coal at the mine so All to prevent
call "a runaway market" After the
resumption Of soft coal mining carly in
august Secretary Hoover was success
ful in having the Hoover fair price
adopted by the bituminous operators.
Mr.. Woodin's first day in Office was
busy one. He met with the Cover
nor's Advisory Fuel Commission, which
he displaces, and conferred with the
three committees. consisting Of
representatives Of the public utilities,
the Mayors conference and represen-
tativc coal dealers. Then he announced
the appointment of legal adviser and
an executive assistant.
Colonel William j. Donovan, better
known to most of the A. L. F. as "Wild
Bill" Donovan, colonel of the Fight
ing Sixty-ninth," will be legal adviser.
He is at present United States Attorney
at Buffalo and will continue in that
post during his service with the Fuel
administrator.
Baker To Be An Aid
George Barr Baker magazine editor
and associate of Secretary Hoover on
the Commission for the Relief of Bel
gium and the American Relief Admin
istration. will be executive assistant
Mr. Baker but recently returned from
q trip to Russia. where he spent some
time in connection with the A. r. AS
relief work in the Volga basin famine
area.
Mr.. Woodin was not ready to make
detailed analysis of the coal situation
but declared it was apparent that un-
less the citizens of every section of
the state practice the strictest economy
in their use OF anthracite coal there
will be serious shortage and possible
hardship
Crises will not develop until the
snow begins to fall and there is rush
for fuel" MIR. Woodin said. "but such
data as have been gathered show that
/ strsctest economies must be practiced
! by all consumers of anthracite and
substitutes used as long as it is pos
sible TO d@ So"
A partial survey OF cellar stocks of
coal in one and two family houses has
been made in Brooklyn Cellar bins in
/ 11,613 houses were inspected and only
| ,257 found to have any anthracite ccal
in reserve. The total tonnage of the
| 1887 homes was estimated at 2.500
whereas the requirements OF all the
houses inspected, based on yearly
consumption of between eight and ten
tons. are about 104,5I7 tons.
The results of this survey, while not
considered as representative of con-
ditions throughout the city and state,
are believed to indicate in some meas
I ure the task that the Fuel Administers
tor has before him.
AS long as dealers "plsv the game"