The Washington times., 1925-09-16
.SARGE n I
UPH|]LDS
SCHEME
Emergency Distribution viii
Not Be Resorted to Until
Stocks Are Lower


The proposed coal rationing
! plan Of the District Of Columbia
Coal Merchants Board of Trade is
legal in every way and will meet
with no interference from the De-
Rartment of Justice if, in case of
emergency, it is found necessary
to put it into, operation, accord
ing to word received today by
Jesse C. Suter, secretary of the
board, from Attorney General
Sargent.
Details Not Announced
The board of directors of the
coal board of trade would not an
nounce. the details of the plan 1T
this time. They feel that there lis
no immediate need for putting into
operation any general emergency
distribution plan at present. as the
Individual coal merchants An Masf-
ington have the matter most salts.
factorily in hand.
1t was pointed out today by the
board that there is little, il any.
change in the. coal situation here
since the suspension of anthr.I aite
mining September 4 The most
noticeable change is the sto3rage
of the inflow into the District of
coal from the anthracite mines.
buckwheat sizes. No shipments If
other sizes are expected until the
resumption OF mining
The coal hoard f7aoIa roc that af.z.a
is fair stock of domestic stzes on
hand in the local yards. while a
large number of customers have
already stocked up with their WIN
ter supply and Will need no mere.
Daily deliveries continue and tho
tendency is to insure the present
stocks serving the large st number
Of customers. This is evidenced,
the board says, by a reasonable
rationing policy being generally fol-
lowed as to some domestic sizes
tor which there is the Lagos: de-
inand.
Statement By Board
In its statement issued today the
board says:
1T is. of course. impossible to
predict just what will be The out
come of the present anthracite
strike OF its duration, but there is
a determination on the part Of the
individual members of the Coal
Merchants Board of Trade to take
entirely satisfactory. care Of the
local consumers.
THE local coal men, as wide
awake merchants, fully appreciate
the responsibilities which the pres
ent conditions impose upon them.
kxNncr f1f
supplying heat and comfort to the
community and this they intend to
continue
Should the presents stocks OF an
thracite coal be exhausted before
the resumption of anthracite min
ing. the local merchants announce
that they will select for their. Gus
toners the very highest grade and
most satisfactory substitute fuels,
endeavoring in each case to supply
the fuel best suited to the needs OF
the particular customer.
There is no disposition to take
advantage of the situation and in
this connection there seems to be
q determination to adhere 10 the
normal margin of profit, making no
unwarranted increases in price.
Plan Submitted
The proposed emergency distri-
button plan for Washington was
submitted to the Department OF
Justice about a month ago. Al
though Attorney General Sargent
at that time indicated that he had
no legal authority to approve"
the plan, he expressed his willing.
ness TO point out any features of
doubtful legality in the plan as
auhY0iffpo 4 q ,s..
In his communication to the coal
hoard Yesterday he did not point
out d single instance of any viola
lions of. the antitrust law in the
proposed plan, so that, il the &C.
casion arises, the plan can be put
into immediate operation without
fear of Governmental interference.