Evening star., 1923-09-10

in the District of Columbia and such
points thereof as may be situated i'm
mediately without the District of CO.
lumbia and economically can be sup
piled therefrom."
In view of this statute the control
ler held that actually there was no
foundation in law for ever making
allowance to the officers to buy coal
"for their private use, pursuant TO
orders placed with the Department Of
the Interior for delivery to the pri-
vate residences of such officers.
Hinges on Phrase,
The question hinges around a
phrase branches of the federal serv-
ice" according to the controller II
being denied that commissioned OF
.fcers could be considered as branches
of the federal service.
Although laying down the law as
denying the present practice, even OF
the coal yard, in supplying coal to com.
missioned officers, the controller said IN
asmuch as it might be assumed the Of
ficers had a right to receive fuel from
the government under the act cited by
the War Department, lit would appear
question of economy to have the fuei
furnished through an established Serv''
ice rather than to substantially oupii-
cate such service by separate organlza-
ticuiar cases" In other words, the con-
troller granted the War Department
might have a right to sell coal TO It's
officers, but not through the fuel yards.
But since the practice already had peen
established, he would suggest that it be
continued up to the end of this fiscal
year 1.-The use of such appropriations
as are now made" he concluded, may
continue until June 80, 1924" thus en-
phatically informing those concerned
so used after that time unless the Con-
gress changes the law, 8.
The point raised by the controller
concerning the right of other govern
Stoned officers to buy coal was raised
Ia connection with his discussion of
the fuel yard act. Denying that this
act allowed sale to the commissioned
officers, he significantly continued
that tho enactment related to the
executive rather than the military
service of the government"
The controller general did not, in
so many words, rule that other en-
ployes of the government should be
allowed to purchase coal from fuel
yards. This question was not asked
of him in the matter under discus
sion, but the inference swas plainly
drawn that IL the Army and Navy
officers has q. right to buy coal others
of the executive departments should
also. The matter at present. however,
concerns only the officers in question
over the appropriations for whom the
controller general has control
Secretary of the Interior Work
called upon the bureau OF mines to-
day for data regarding maintenance
of the yard and comparative fuel
costs. DR.. Work announced that he
would follow his established custom
and make a thorough investigation Of
the entire matter before making a
decision one way or the other.
II shall not judge this case before
it has been argued DIR. Work said.
Nor shall I make a decision without
an invest igation, In line with my
policy on all matters"
DR.. WorSs feels that out of justice
TO consumers of coal in Washingtos
the entire matter should be thrashed
out, once and for aiL either to end eff
forts of local coal dealers and dealers
in .forty-four states of the Union to
abolish the yard or to open the door
to possibly cheaper coal for employees
of the governmental In the capital. He
realizes that purchase of coal at pres-
ent high prices works hardship on
many government employees whose in
come Is small. and he will sift out the
facts and get at the bottom of the
whole matter before deciding.