Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-11
NAY ACT IO END
FAMINE N COAL
COMMERCE CON-
MISSION PUTS BLAME ON
RAILROADS.
CAR SHORTAGE REASON
FOR PRICE BOOSTING
Commissioner MeChorei Warns Traffic
Lines Conditions Must Be Remedied
Mime owners Declare Shortage Is
Due Largely to Failure to Provide
Transportation Facilities.

Louisville, KY, Nov. 1.-THE SUBJ.
mission of further evidence by Michi-
gan shippers charging Chicago ana
Detroit coal brokers with speculative
methods in raising prices five times the
normal figures and the continued ma
bility Of the shippers and the railroads
to get together on q plan Of action 10
relieve the situation, drew stern
warning from Interstate commerce
commissioner McChord.
Apparently nettled by the receipt or
confidential information sustaining the
shippers complaints and the delays OF
the railroads representatives in pre-
senting a scheme OF car distribution
the commissioner announced that some
drastic action would be likely, even be-
fore the completion Of the investiga-
ton. He said the railroads had shown
no tendency to meet the problem. with
some Of the public utility companies
;estifying that they had only few
days coal supply ahead.
Hit at Chicago Coal Brokers.
The announcement came immediate
ly after the commissions attorney, r.
B. Dow. had read into the record cir
cular from a Chicago coal brokerage
firm to its customers, guaranteeing
them Immediate delivery at quoted
prices lin spite of the car and coal
famine" The prices ranged between
IS and $3.50 a ton for coal that has
been selling for so cents and S1.25
ton.
A telegram was sent by the commits
son 10 railroads operating in Illinois,
Michigan, Ohio. and Indiana demand
ing in i-taii nc" many coal cars the
coal men were holding, loaded and un-
loaded, in the yards, the terminals. and
at junction points under the reconsisn-
ment privileges. ]. F. Porterf1eld.
speaking for the Illinois Central. the
only road to report yesterday. declared
that so per cent Of his shortage result
ed from cars held for bills of lading
and under the reconsignment rule.
Shippsrs Urge Export Embargo.
While Commissioner McChord did
not indicate what action the govern
ment had In mind the line OF aues-
tioning showed that the possibilities
ahead included higher demurrage
charges. Increased per diem charges to
force the railroads to return foreign
cars, and q general system of embar-
goes on export shipments in favor of
domestic business.
Some Of the shippers are fighting
hard for an export embargo. pointing
ont that the munitions plants under
the J. P. Morgan & Co. contracts have
been getting 100 per cent Of their cars
and working three eight-hour shifts
with the domestic shippers getting
harry half OF their orders filled on a
single eight hour day basis.
E. c. Nettles. Of Battle Creek, added
to his earlier testimony following COM
plants by coal brokers that he had not
prices fer coal as well as getting
higher prices.
Says Brokers Control Market.
"The coal brokers who bought cars
on reconsignments have control OF the
market" Mr.. Nettles declared. 1T
might not be legitimate. n they can
buy and deliver coal now they must
ne getting il from operators who had
contracts and the operators are not
filling their contracts.
The railroads have brought out
that there are enough cars. II true.
then it is fair to assume that coal
held for reinstatement has created
shortage which would not exist IL
used In filling contracts, at normal
prices, not only with industries but
local coal dealers. These men have to
go on the market, as their supply be-
comes exhausted. as q result Of the
trouble over their contracts. They pay
the premium. Necessarily the prem
ium, with another added, is passed on
to the householder. That is what has
blown prices of $3.50 and 81 ton for
soft coal up to IS and $3.50 ton.
Railroads Planning Remedies.
1t is not likely the commission will
take any action pending the meeting
Of the railroad executives next Tues
day In New York 1t 10 known that
the higher officials Of the railroads are
planning on getting together on the
shortest notice and outlining liberal
plan as the only way to block move
~ the cGIniiss:on.
J. S. Brown OF the Chicago board OF
trade testified the grain men in Chi
cago were in need Of nearly 10000
cars, divided almost evenly between
export and domestic business. He
| said 100000 bushels Of grain were
| being held UP In the Chicago district.
AT one point In the cross examina-
ton the commissioner indicated that
an embargo on exports was under
Consideration.
A. P. Stevens Of the Chesapeake and
Ohio was asked whether his line had
taFen any action similar to the New
Haven, which Is understood to have
made free use OF that method
especially since the opening OF the
present hearings. He replied that
rothing OF the sort had been done.
| Cars Loaded; Not Moved.
Chicago, Nov. 11.-Charges that hun
l d.ad. ~ cara Joaded with coal are be