The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-05-22
DG|JT
2,,,240[.B. !. ! !.
-
PRICE
$3.50 !
s." nH "A
Dealers Ask Approval of D. g
: OfficiaIs-NeWLaW
Required.

Inc price OF COdf VIII D6 Ic-s
.duced, $l.4O to $3.50 a ton as soon
as, coal7dealersein Washington are
permitted. to. sell a sshort," or
2, 0O0-pOundg ton instead of the.
f.lomg' 2,240-pound ton as is now
required by law.
.s New Law Required.
tJ.F Maury Dove, jr., representing
local coal dealers, made this state
ments in the District building today
I'M o. conference with Commissioner
James r. Oyster and Superinte
of Weights George M. Roberts.
Dove, with;ga committee of coal
men, were seeking the Endorsement
of District officials of a 2,000-pound
ton in Washington.
Superintendent Roberts told the
coal men he opposed any change IN
the. present legal weight. He said.
that the consumers, when they buy
a ton of coal, expect 2.240 pounds,
and expressed the opinion they
would not be satisfied with q 2.090-.
pound ton.
The superintendent declared. while
dealers may reduce the coal pride
pounds in a ton was cut down,
There was. mo guarantee OF such 4
reduction, nor was there any way
SO f0lce dealers to chop $40 or
more from the price.
g Enrnmiszl Dnarss ste i. declared The
FkaE&ned a. 2.OaO ton IL NJ was uni
form throughout the United States,
and II: it fYYa s Sof benefit to coal con
StInlerS. 1hT' NfsaShi11g 40ri
A bill reducing the legal weight
OF ton of coal here swiH ResiI1tro-.
duced at the December session of
Congress, it was learned today.
Another Conferences Die.
Dove declared today that the short
ton would be advantagebiiFIS hot
only to the dealer but also to the
consumer. He said sthats2s00Q pounds
We're sold as a ton in most 81 the
States.
1t was suggested atexn9steSnfer-
ence that local dealers might sell
coal by the 1000 pounds here: Super
intendent Roberts declared this was
5!one, way dealers. accomplish the
purposes of any, change in lave
An0ther conference between coal
dealers and District officials viii
sbe held in the near future.
together and agree on some propo-
sition, the Commissioners ted the
coal men.
Urges Investigation.
The District Commissioners should
take no action on the suggestion of
coal dealers that the legal weight of
coal be 1000 instead of 2,240 pounds
until they have made thorough in
vestigation of the plan.
This was the view expressed to-
day by Miss Ethel M. Smith, secre-
tary Of the Women's Trade Union
League.
II haven't had a chance to go into
the matter thoroughly myself" ehe
said,' the coal question is important
to every housewife in Washington
and there should be no hasty action.
The consumers of coal in Wash
ington look to the District Coal Com
mission for protection. This COM
mission should make a thorough in
vestigation, find out the advantages
of the 2,000-pound ton, If there are
any. If the change will not benefit
the consumer I am sure every
woman in Washington will oppose
it.
Advantage Held Doubtful.
st seems to be a question of who
gets the most out of the change, the
consumer or dealer. Experts should
be. put to work to find this out be-
fore any action is taken
This same view is held by Mrs
E. P. Costigan, vice president Of the
National Consumers League.
THE question was brought up so
suddenly that / haven't had time to
look into it" she said. 81 can only
say that the women of Washington
will demand very thorough inVesti-
cation of the matter before action is
taken.
THE Consumers League at this
time is making no statement regard.
ing the coal situation. We are
awaiting the report of the United
States Coal Commission before reach
ing any conclusions"
The annual conference of sealers
of weights and measures being held
at the Bureau of Standards this
week will take up the question, it
was said today. Many members of
the organization are known to OBJ
pose the short ton.
superintendent Roberts, he ga to-
day, may make, some remarks on the.
coal question ThuTsday when he is
scheduled to address the conference.
Dog Bites Boy i'm Eve. rs