Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-07
Circular StipuIating Fixed
Retail Scale Scrutinized
by Investigators.
BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU
FINDS CHANGE REFLECTED
Prices Compensate for Difference
Between Long and Short Ton,
Rothschild Says.

George M. fCODeTCS, superintendent
of weights, measures and markets, said
today that he expected to complete in
a day or two his investigation into the
change from the long to the short ton
by Washington coal merchants. The
investigation was authorized by the Dis
trict Commissioners April 2, after Mr..
Roberts had submitted to the city heads
copies of advertisements in the news
papers notifying the public of the pro-
posed change April l.
Mr.. Roberts was silent as to any spe-
cific matter revealed by his investiga-
ton, but it was learned at the same
time that circulars said to have been
sent out by Fadely & Co.. wholesale coal
dealers, had come to the attention of
the corporation counselS Office and are
being studied. probably in connection
with the weight probe. The circulars
have to do with Colonial anthracite
and, after setting up price list, the cir
cular reads
ANY dealer who does not sell this
coal at the listed retail prices will be
refused Colonial anthracite and will be
stricken from the list of authorized
dealers of this company"
Price List Given.
The price list on the circular is:
Egg, $3.50 per 2,000-pound unit; stove,
s12.75; nut. $12.75: pea, $40; buck
wheat, 1925. and rice, $3.50.
The probe authorized by the Com
missioners takes in the question of
price as we'll as weight, although Mr..
Roberts recommendation, in which he
asked that the investigation be ordered,
referred especially only to the weight
He called attention to the act of Con-
gress of March 3, 1921, which provided
that coal must be sold by the long ton
in the District.
Present prices Of coal here reflect
and compensate for the weight differ
ence between the long ton (2,240
pounds) and the 2,000-pound unit re-
tail prices offered by local dealers, it
is found by Louis Rothschild, director
of the Better Business Bureau.
He states in bulletin today, follow
ing a study Of the change in the unit
size of coal sale quotations: In the coal
used by the majority of home owners
the new prices more than reflect the
difference in the quantity of coal and
are actually-pound for pound a de-
crease over March prices.
Change Made at Mines.
1.-THE smaller sizes of coal, pound for
pound, have been increased in price. pea
coal and .buckwheat showing an in
crease.
Investigation discloses that the
changes in price Of coal have been oc-
casioned by changes made at the mines
by the producers. Changes in prices at
the mines compared with retail price
changes indicate that Washington coal
merchants are decreasing their margin
anywhere from ! cent to l6 cents on the
basis of the long ton"
Mr.. Rothschild reports that changes
in the price Of anthracite at the mine
by the producers became effective April
l, 1881. These changes, figured on the
basis of the long ton Of 2,240 pounds,
formerly the basis of merchandising
here, are reported as follows:
A decrease in the price Of egg coal
OF S1.09, decrease in the price of stove
coal OF $1.31, a decrease in the price
OF chestnut coal of 81 cents, an in
crease in the price of pea coal of 80
cents and an increase in the price of
buckwheat coal Of 81 cents.
How Prices Compare.
Average Washington retail prices per
long ton, at which coal was sold during
the Winter, were found to be: Egg.
$!5.I0; stove, $l575; nut, S15.25; pea,
5000, and buck, $s.75. When these
Winter prices are changed in ac-
cordance with change made at the
mines, April retail prices would be,
per long ton: Egg, $14.01; stove, $14.44;
nut, $l4.44; pea, $11.22, and buck,
1899.
These quotations, converted into
equivalent prices for 1000 pounds of
coal, would be, Mr. Rothschild finds, as
follows: Eggs, $12.51; stove, $l2.89;
nut. $12S9; pea, $1,000, and buck,
1898.
Avaraoe ,,r;ces Ic.r~,,., ,oo,> 4,
not in 2,000-pound unit were found by
Mr.. Rothschild to be: Egg, $3.50;
stove, s12.75; nut, $12.75; pea, $40, and
buck, $825.
"A comparison of the last two sets
OF hgureS shows that these average
prices now being quoted give the pub
lie the full benefit of the change in
the unit of SALE" Rothschild reports.
In fact, these prices, in addition to
passing on mine reductions in egg,
stove and nut, and mine advances in
pea and buckwheat, also reflect more
tnan complete compensation to the con-
sumner for the difference in weight be-
tween the old and new units of sale.
Net Changes in Prices.
"On the basis of the long ton, and
taking into consideration both the
change In weights and prices at the
mines. net changes in price between
present prices and Winter prices are:
Egg coal, decrease of $l.1O; stove
coal, decrease of STAT; nut coal
decrease of 81 cents; pea coal, an in
crease OF 80 cents, and buck coal, an
increase of 49 cents.
Using the same method, comparing
prices with May, $780, shows: Egg coal,
a decrease of 10 cents: stove coal, a de-
crease OF Al cents; nut coal, an increase
OF $ cents; pea coal, an increase of
$l.30, and buck coal, an increase of "a
cents"