The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-07-19
The Coal Situation In
Washington and Elsewhere
Federal Supervision or Control of Output and Dtribu
ton Offers Remedy for Evils
BY BILL PRICE.

scarcity of that commodity The chief complaint Of the
local league which giving attention the local coal sua
ton appears to be directed against alleged excessive profits
We ought to have real light the question OF in
vestments and profits Of Washington coal dealers before
great while The United States Coal Commission began its
investigation Of the national coal situation in this city, hold
ing hearings which Washington dealers appeared and
testimony These hearings bore upon the retail phases of
the coal industry Later hearings held in other
Cities followed by exhaustive Investigations into retail trade
The commission has not yet reported upon the question of
coal cities investments and profits
Of retail coal dealers This report when made should i
inmate matters considerably
meantime charges against
alleged profits pointed
that the of anthracite coal the mne with freight
included Washington makes Of coal the local
dealer less than Sill He in charges his customers about
1880 After reaching the freight yards the dealer
haul to his yards and then deliver it to his customers
In to these charges local coal make the claim
that the large coal companies like the Reading for instance
fix the price at the mine at something So tOn but
that the big companies not able supply than go
cent OF the total The other 40 cent must be bought
independent companies which advantage of
shortage Of coal other abnormal conditions high
$40 to $11 ton at the NINE
We must await spreading before the public of the facts
gathered by the Coal Commission cost freight retail
prices public will then learn whether the indie
pendent which have often been protected
ment authorities forcing prices dealers and the
public. We will also learn whether the Washington dealers
are demanding and obtaining higher retail prices for both
anthracite and bumnous Goals than those of other cities
In the meantime think that the Washington dealers
should sit supney and permit repetition of conditions
which prevailed last year worthless coaslat dirt and
other waste which charged for fsclass coal Wash
ngon dealers last winter said they had accept what
coal operators worked off, them that if they didn
accept the shipments forwarded they would get We
should learn something from the Coal Commission this
phase of the question.
At any rate Washington coal dealers in position to
band together and firmly insist getting the right quality
OF coal They should fight for their customers they do not
wish to have the of deliberately buying that Of coal
Some of them may be quite willing point out that this
would be impossible that the coal operators powerful
they would boycott Washington altogether the local dealers
entered into hard and fast agreement and kept it. That they
will reject shipments Of inferior coal fight for
deal for the public made openly and boldly backed by public
opinion and newspapers fails to produce good results
The Washington coal dealer has the advantage Of being
at the of national government can quickly
appeal to authorities who would be compelled
obtain pure coal for Washington people will show whether
the local dealers willing to the public uphold
the dirty methods Of coal operators.
Local coal dealers may well understand later
that fragrant robbery of the people of the United States by
will go indefinitely Public opinion going to
compel drastic legislative action That action may this
winter, too. Congress will be sitting then
The party in power is going into general election next
year It is having plenty of troubles elsewhere The
Of the people well satisfied there another
winter of scarce coal and high prices public opinion going
S to hold pom the party that could do something but
vision control of the coal industry the extent
discriminate in favor of dealers who are willing to pay e
cssve prices at the mines regardless Of prices they
charge
Coal much public necessity gas Yet every com
pany manufacturing is compelled furnish quality
gas conforming to standard In this city the Public Utilities
Commission standard of heat units for the gas sold to
the public by the Washington Gas Light Company. That
standard must be maintained
The powerful United States Government though recognizing
the right OF municipalities to compel quality in gas
beyond question that the
fabulous prices for coal that without quality furnishing
little or no heat and leaving households where exists
without heat The public has every right to be rated over
the douby foul play Of proeering and low grade coal
Inc consumer doesn't like the idea of being imposed
IN prices but his evaporation would he
knew that ne was getting quality of would guar
ante the heating his home in winter He upon heat
units Of something like amount has had enough
OF plain robbery in being compelled pay top prices for in
ferior stuff that leaves his without warmth ne ho.
been gold brcked, and he knows it. $500
Again we venture to the humble opinion that the