Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-20
.%44,ODO INVOLVED
IN COAL SALE ROW
CrosSer Tells Officials Change
to 1000 Pound Unit Would
Cost That Much.

The sale of coal by the long ton in
stead of by the short ton, or 1000
pound unit means . saving Of $444,-
900 to Washington consumers, accord
ing to Representative Robert Crosser
of Ohio, who has backed the superin-
tendent of weights and measures in
the contention that only the sale Of
coal by the long ton is allowed here by
law. Mr.. Crosser seeks to prove this
In letter to the Commissioners, which
follows:
Holds Contention Wrong.
"Since my discussion with District
officials of the disregard by some coal
| sellers of the legal requirement for
selling coal by the long ton, an effort
has been made to show that consumers
have received corresponding reduction
In price. In other words, 1t Is claimed
that objections to the disregard of the
legal standard are of no practical i'm
portance to the public.
Investigation, however, shows that
the disregard Of the legal standard by
coal sellers Is Of real importance to the
consumer
Mine prices of egg, stove and chest
nut sizes Of anthracite coal are con-
siderably lower this Spring than they
were last Spring. The prices Of pea
and buckwheat sizes at the mines have
slightly advanced. Washington con-
sumers have not, however, received the
full benefit Of the mining companies
reductions, and on the other hand have
been compelled to pay considerably
| more for Pea and buckwheat than the
increase charged by the mines to
washington coal sellers.
Prices Are Quoted.
Spring prices, so-called, were In
augurated in May Of 1880, and in April
of 1881.
Calculated on the basis of the
Short ton, one of the best grades CT
egg coal used for household purposes
was sold in the Spring of 1880 by the
mines at $743. It was sold at retail
In Washington at S12.59 In the Spring
of this year, it was sold by the mines
at 1915, and at retail in Washington
at $3.50.
stove coal was sold at the mines n
| 1880 at ST.8S, and at retail In Washing
ton at $I3.17. In 1891 1t sold at th'
mines at $500, and at retail in Wash
ington at $l2.7S.
"Chestnut was sold at the mines ir
1880 at $743, and at retail in Washing
ton at S12.72. In 1881 IL sold at the
mines at 800 and at retail in Wash
ington at Si2.75.
pea coal was sold at the mines ir
1880 at S413, and at retail In Wash
ington at $3.50. In 1881 1t sold at thu
mines at $4.95, and at retail In Wash
ington at $40.
"Buckwheat was sold at the mine.
In 1880 at $2.37, and at retail in Wash
ington at S759. In 1881 1t sold at tn.
mines at $3.45, and at retail in Wash
ton at 1925"
Increase Held $4,000.
Inquiry as TO other anthracite Goals
indicates similar increases in profits.
THE yearly sale of coal in Washing
ton Is about 100000 short tons. Cal
culated on the basis Of the average OF
the increases in profit mentioned, the
total increase in profits on coal paid
| this year by Washington consumers
would be $444 900.
1T has always been evident that In
arbitrarily changing the basis for selling
coal the obvious purpose was to compel
| the consumer to buy in terms with
which he Is unfamiliar. The buyer, thus
| confused, can be charged a higher
| profit on coal which he may buy.
! These facts, 1t is submitted, justify
enforcement Of the law against all Of
! tenders"