Evening star., 1925-08-13
D. c. COAL DEALERS
PLAN FOR STRIKE
Sargent Asked for Opinion on
Emergency Measure for
Distribution.

Plan for control of coal distrihu-
tion in the National Capital by coal
merchants in case of emergency re-
sultins from a strike of anthracite
miners was laid before Attorney Gen
ersl Sargent today by Jesse e. Suter.
secretary of the Coal Mercha nts'
Board OF Trade.
II the Department OF Justice finds
that the proposed plan would not he
In violation of the antitrust laws. Mr..
Suter explained, not only the members
of the Coal Merchants Board Of Trade
but all dealers in Washington will he
asked TO cooperate in putting the pro-
gram into effect for the protection oS
the city.
At the same time II was revealed by
statistics collected by Mr. Suffers or.
ganiZation today that the supply OF
anthracite coal now in the hands of
dealers here is much larger tina n
either at the same time in 1924 or in
1923, the year OF the last anthracite
strike.
Plan IS Withheld
Details OF the program for emer-
gency distribution were not revealed
The plan has beena before the or
sanitation for some time. II was de-
veloped by committee Of Ave mem
bers and adopted by unanimous vote
of the board of directors Tuesday
Mr.. Suter presented II i'm docu-
mentary form To Attorney General
Sargent.
The plan was said by Mr. Suter TO
he rela lively simple, and in the opin-
ion Of his orSaniZa ton and others
with whom he has conferred perfect
iN legal Before going further with
the project, however, the Coal Mer-
chants Board of Trade determined 10
keep It's contents secret unless ap-
proved by the Department of Justice
In the past during emergencies,
when strike conditions brought about
shortage of coal in Washington the
Government itself has stepped in,
either through the Fuel Administra.
ton or the Public Utilities Commits
sion, to take control.
No Move Made.
There were plain indica tions at the
Department OF Justice today that no
official move has as vet been taken
towards stopping any possible strike
In some quarters this was inter
preted as indicating that the depart
ment might approve the local plan
ioI emergency ulslTlDHI1Oh.
Even should the Deps srtment of
Justice approve the plan. MIR. Suter
explained, it would not he put into ef-
feet until 1t was definitely decided an
emergency existed. and then only by
unanimous vote of the board of di-
rectorS.
The supply of anthracite which has
been shipped into Washington for coal
dealef during the four months ending
July 81 aggregated 15S.l43 tons. as
compared with l44.S40 tons for the
same period in 1924, and so $50 tons
for the same period in 1923. the strike
year.
The supply of bituminous coal
shipped To dealers here during the
past four months totals 1851 tons.
as compared with $4,000 tons for the
same period in 1924 and 1o4 .s54 tons
for the same period in 1928
These shipments are in addition to
the supplies received by the Govern
ment fuel Yards, public utilities. Navy
Yard and other sources not buvins
coal through dealers. All these agen-
cies. in addition 10 the dealers. were
shown by statistics in the hands of
The Coal Merchants Board of Trade
as having on hand good supply Of
both anthracite and bituminous coal.