South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-09-02
COAL SITUATION
STILL DESPERATE
Quick Action Necessary to
Save Small Consumers
Food Question Puzzles.


INDIANAPOLIS. Sept In
diana faces "A coal famine OF such
gigantic proportions that no one can
estimate its effects.
TIE recent order from Robert S.
Lovett. director OF shipments under
the Newlands preferential shipment
law. recently enacted by the con-
gress. under which shipments Of
coal 20 the Lake Erie ports. which
supply the great northwest states.
are given priority over an other
coal shipments. Is resulting in In
diana in a reduction OF the supply
OF coal cars on certain divisions Of
the Pennsylvania railroad that will
bankrupt certain factors in the coal
industry unless the order is modified
Immediately.
Outrageous Prices.
While the "outrag eous" price con-
ditions were materially modified
with respect TO the wholesale coal
consumers by the recent notice
from Pres't Wilson. fixing prices Of
the fuel at the mines. the small con-
sumner has yet seen no possibility Of
relief from high prices. because re-
tail dealers-having stocked their
yards heavily with higher priced
coal-now refuse 70 sell this coal
on a basis corresponding TO the
presidents wholesale prices.
Word from Washington 10 the eff
feet that the federal government eN-
poets 20 step into the retail situa-
ton and fix prices, insofar as such
action is possible, has encouraged
the small consumer in Indiana. but
has not relieved him OF the en-
barrassment that he faces with re-
gpect 20 his usual plan Of laying in
a supply of coal during the summer
that will carry him through the
winter.
Unless the president very quick
" forces retail prices down by red
eral action. the Indiana coal con-
sumer-along with his wretched
brethren in surrounding states
will be forced TO buy coal. ton al
a time, wherever ne can get it and
pay prices above those generally
characterized as outrageous last
winter.
Coal men. both wholesale and re-
tail. who have been in the coterie
that has continued 70 defy state and
federal governments ~ their at
tempts 70 lower prices already have
set machinery in motion throughout
the country-evidence now held by
state authorities here shows-to
Illustrate the operation Of the
Pomerene amendment 10 the Lever
food and fuel control bill.
In many instances the operators
have made contracts with fake
selling agencies. dated prior 10 the
enactment Of the Lever law, under
which they have agreed TO sell the
entire output Of their mines 10 these
selling agencies. at prices far above
those fixed by the presidents order
"JOkcr" i'm Law.
4 "foker" In the Lever law-now
known 10 all-says that the prOvi-
sions Of the law shall not operate
against contracts entered into in
good faith" prior TO the enactment
OF the Lever law. tt is only the saw
ing grace I'm the words good faith
that will save the country from this
brutal Joke on the coal consumers,
according to state officials here
and they are not sanguine that even
those words will be entirely effec-
tive
Ii Is known that federal officials
are in direct communication with
state officials again. relative 20 the
retail coal situation. and action is
expected soon Meanwhile. however
the consumers Of the state, embar-
rassed by high prices and by the pos
sibilities OF a real coal shortage un-
der the new Lovett order Of priority
shipment 20 the Lake Erie ports
see the invaluable days slipping 10y
and their cellars continue empty OF
coal,
Expect Mad Rush.
n POW seems improbable, accord
ing 10 those who are closely Ia
touch with the aU-important Goa
situation Just uow. that enough Goa
could be mined and shipped %
freight terminals i'm Indiana 10 SUP
ply the demand that unQuestionably
will come when some price-fiNins
agency acts 20 relieve the present
situation. There will be such q rush