Evening star., 1922-08-08
50 DAYS. SUPPLY
LIMITED TO: D. c..
COAL CONSUMERS
Utilities Body Announces
Rule After Conference
With Dealers.
CHECK TO BE KEPT
TO PREVENT REPEATING
Patrons Must Give Details of
Needs for Winter in Ap-
plication for Fuel.

A thirty-day supply of coal is all
that any householder will be per-
mitted to lay in at one time, the
Public Utilities Commission an
nounced today. following another
conference with the coal dealers
committee.
The commission announced that
pending adoption of a set of definite
rules. coal dealers will be permitted
to deliver small amounts of fuel to
domestic consumers within the re-
striction of the thirty-day supply
One coal man stated today that
for the average household this means
one or two tons at a time.
1t was apparent, following today's
conference, that the exact method
to be pursued Of rationing coal this
winter is still vague. The coal
dealers committee. however, will GO
into session this afternoon with Wal
ter c. Allen, secretary to the Public
Utilities Commission, to draw up a
set OF regulations. 1t was learned
from reliable source that the pro-
cedure which private families will
be obliged to comply with will be as
follows:
The consumer will go to his regular
dealer, where he will find blanks to
be filled in giving the size Of his
house and the amount of coal he will
need for the winter. A copy of this
blank will be forwarded to the
utilities commission at the District
building.
To Check Up Consumers.
The commission will employ a force
necessary to keep a check on each
order to guard against any consumer
getting more coal than he is entitled
to. 1t will be useless for a house
holder to file orders with three or
four dealers in the hope of getting
a larger allotment in that way. be-
the same household will be uncovered
when the blanks reach the utilities
commission.
1t also is understood that the COM
mission will creep q record of coal
consumption by house number rather
than by name, thereby preventing
two or three occupants of the same
dwelling from ordering coal in their
respective names.
1t was pointed out today that the tax
of 81 per car load. which the commits
sion will collect from each dealer. will
not amount to more than 4 or S cents
added to the price Of coal per ton.
This is based on the statement OF coal
men that the average shipment will run
about fifty tons per car load.
This tax will be paid to the collector
of taxes by the dealers as each ship
ment arrives. the purpose of it being
to defray expenses of administering ths
fuel situation by the commission.
Difficulties to Overcome.
Following the conference today.
Chairman Keller issued the following
statement:
"At conference held this morning
between the Commissioner and the
representatives of the coal dealers,
the latter presented to the Commis-
sioners certain practical difficulties in
the conduct Of their business arising
orders of the Commissioners directing
that hereafter no coal whatever be
distributed from stocks on hand and
in transit without the prior approval
Of the Commissioners. The difficulties
arise largely from the fact that com
pliance with these instructions will
compel the forces Of many coal deal
ers to remain idle, add to the expense
of conducting business and eventu-
ally result in the disbanding of the
forces necessary for the transaction
of business in the future.
After discussion 1t was agreed
that, pending the adoption of de-
tailed program covering the needs of
the entire city, coal dealers will be
permitted to deliver small amounts
Of coal to domestic consumers SO as
to reassure these consumers against
the possibility of privation when
cold weather arrives. and this course
will be permitted to continue with
the distinct understanding that the
coal dealers are to be held respon-
sible for the restriction Of these de-
liyeries to the limit above prescribed.
No consumer is to be permitted to
accumulate an unreasonably large
supply, a thirty-day reserve being re-
earded as the limit"
The Public Utilities Commission will
not increase rates for gas, electricity
and street car service this winter
merely to meet increased operating
expenses due to the coal and railroad
strikes, 1t was intimated by Engineer
Commissioner Keller today.
Mr.. Keller stated that IL 1t should
become apparent next spring that the
Increase in operating expenses Is to
remain, a revision in rates probably
would be considered. He made 1t
clear, however, that the commission
would not be likely to raise rates
during the winter merely to meet the
higher costs resulting from the strike
emergency.
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