Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-21
GOVERNMENT MUST ACT
TO AVERT COAL SHORTAGE
Federal Trade Commission Urges
Drastic Steps In Handling
OF Situation.
FEDERAL POOLING Is URGED
Finds Rail and Water Facilities
Faulty In Economic Distribution.
Great Necessity Exists for Quick
Legislation to Correct Conditions.


Great Necessity Exists for Quick
Legislation to Correct Conditions.
tBv Associated Prcss.l
"ASHINGTON. juno 2o.-Govern-
ment pools of coal production and dis
tribution and OF rail and water trans
portation were recommended to Con-
gress to-day by the Federal Trade
Commission as the only means of avoid
ing disastrous coal shortage next
winter.
The commission believes" says the
report. submitted after many months Of
investigation ordered by Congress.
that the coal industry is paralyzing
the industries Of the country. and that
tho coal industry itself is paralyzcd
by the failure OF transportation. There
arc enough coal cars in the country.
but not enough are delivered to the
mines. and these ears not moved TO the
point of consumption with the greatest
Of expedition nor are they promptly
discharged"
In Wow OF these conditions. the
commission recommends.
First, that the production and dis
through pool in the hands of a gov
eminent agency; that the producers Of
various grades OF fuel be paid their full
cost OF production plus a uniform profit
per ton with due allowance for quail
~ OF product and efficiency of servicc);
and.
Second. that tho transportation
agencies of the United States. both
rail and water. be similarly pooled and
operated on government account, under
the direction OF tho President, and that
all such means Of transportation he
operated as unit, the owning cor
porations being paid a just and fair
compensation which would cover nor
NAL net profit. in keep and better
mcnts"
HARRIS DISSESTS on PLAN
ron TRANSPORTATION POOL
These recommendations arc approved
by Commissioners Davies. Glover and
Fort. Chairman Harris dissents on the
plan for transportation pool. except as
last resort. and suggests instead
that during the war the President be
authorized to order rail and water
transportation agencies to give pre-
ference 10 shipment Of coal. coke and
other commodities in the order OF their
Importance 10 the public welfare"
An urgent necessity exists for i'm
mediate Legislation TO correct condi-
TONS says the report. because the
usual spring and summer accumulation
or coal stocks at points distant from
producing districts, is not now taking
place. but II must be made during what
remains Of the summer unless the
country Is TO face next winter Il most
serious and an irreparab!c situation"
Present production Of b!tumirous. or
soft coal Is 40 per cent under the
possible maximum principally because
or coal car shortage. the report de-
clarcs. Consequently the extra large
production of anthracite this spring.
onc-fourth greater than usual has been
diverted to Industrial markets ordi-
narily filled by bituminous coal and
coke. Anthracite mines have been
given ample car supply the commission
observes, by reason Of the close cor
porate relation between rail transpor-
tation and anthracite production"
Bitum!nous mines. however, are com
PEELED by the car shortage TO operate
only part time and many miners are
going into other work.
Contributing factors in the disor-
ganization Of coal transportation arc
the high barge rates from New York
and Newport News TO Boston. and the
practice OF Lake ships TO make trims
to the Northwest in water ballast
rather than carry coal.
COULD DE- SOLD
AT UNIFORM PRICE.
Discussing the proposed remedy. the
commission says:
If the producer at each mine were
paid his full cost of production with
allowances for depletion. maintenance.
upkecp and all the usual items. and to
this were added "A fixed and uniform
net profit per ton. with due regard to
quality the coal thus produced at
widely varying costs. if pooled. could
be sold through the government at an
average and uniform price, quality
considered. which would be entirely
tolerable to the consuming public. and
a price much lower than could be fixed
II an effort were made to fix a uniform
price to the producer. 1t would seem
that steady employment. fair comDen
sation to Dor and capital equitable
distribution and stable prices could be
secured.
The railroads OF the country, II
operated as a unit on government ac-
count. could be used to transport coal
and other products by the most direct
route to their point of destination. and
the efficiency of the roads themselves.
existing rolling stock and motive
power would be vastly increased
All receipts from all rail and water
transportation agencies being pooled in
the hands of the government, and all
expense OF operation being paid from
the common fund, each Individual
company should he paid a Just com
pensation which might be measured by