Evening star., 1924-01-10
PLANS TO ABOLISH
COAL YARD RAPED.
House Committee Recon-.
mends Funds to Continue
and Declares Policy.

In recommending reapprppriation
OF funds for the conduct of the gov
ernment fuel yard in Washington.
the House appropriations committee
declared emphaticaIly the policy of
congress to continue the operation
or these yards in spite of efforts
made by the Retail Coal Merchants
Association of Washington to have
the government yard discontinued.
During the hearings on the Interior
department. appropriation bill. re-
ported to the House yesterday. Chair
man Cramton OF the subcommittee
made 1t matter OF record in posi-
tive terms that Congress and not the
department OF the Interior has the
say on whether this fuel yard shall
continue in operation.
Representative Cramton said the
establishment and continuance of the
government fuel yard is not a new
question before Congress. II has had
very careful study, particularly by
the committee on mines and mining
and TO somewhat less extent by this
of the House appropria-
tions committee. The result is that
warfare against the proposal, II has
been Instituted and has been contin-
ued by Congress.
Proposed to Buy Land.
"A year ago the proposal was made
to purchase certain land to make per-
manent this institution" Representa-
tive Cramton continued. This COM
mittee became fully satisfied as to
the desirability of that course, but
1t being a legislative matter we de-
ferred action.
THE committee on mines and min
ing, however. had indorsed such leg
islation. and its chairman offered, on
the floor of the House, an amendment
to the appropriation bill embodying
the action of the committee on mines
and mining to secure the purchase OF
land which would make this activity
permanent.
Therefore Congress has very fully
manifested its desire on this matter
Of policy and the authority rests with
Congress, and not with the depart
ment. to continue this fuel yard
when Secretary Work was before
usMinasmueh u,,,;in e as had noted the
between the Secretary's office and the
Retail Coal Merchants Association
called the matter to the Secretary's
attention and the committee was
very glad. indeed, to note not only
that Secretary Work was not COM
fuel yard and transferring its du
ties to the association, but, further,
that he explicitly stated that action
Of that kind would have to be taken
by Congress and be authorized by
Congress.
80 that this committee assumes
that under the present status of mat
ters the fuel yard will be continued
until Congress itself orders other
WISE"
Bain Tells of Operation.
III. Foster Balm. director of the bu-
reau Of mines. explained that the
government fuel yard was established
during the fiscal year 1919. to fur
nish fuel to the federal and district
government establishments within and
contiguous to the District of Colum-
bia An appropriation OF $4,000.
known as the establishment fund
was made available for the purchase
of motor trucks. coal handling ma
chinery and all other expenses neces-
sary to establish the business.
Another appropriation OF $1,154, ,oss
was made available for operating the
business and maintaining the equip
ment, this appropriation constituting
q revolving fund and being reappro-
priated each year by Congress.
This latter appropriation serves as
capital for carrying on a very large
wholesale and retail fuel business"
DR. Balm said. During the fiscal year
ended June 80. 1929 2ss.616 tons of
coal were bought and sold. of which
s1.791 tons were delivered direct In
railroad cars to those plants having
their own. switches and 1s7,825 tons
were delivered by the feet of thirty
two motor trucks"