Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-12-26
Fuel Administrator Garfield
Declares Production Is
the Greatest in the His
tory Of Country.
Operators Allo wed In
creased Profits to Stimu-
late Work-Says Rail
roads of Country Must Be
Operated as One System.

WASHINGTON, DEC. 26.-MANY
COAL OPERATORS HAVE TAKEN
ADVANTAGE OF WAR TIMES AND
ARE MAKING MUCH GREATER
PROFITS NOW THAN BEFORE
WAR WAS DECLARED, FUEL AID
MINISTRATOR GARFIELD ADMIT
TED AT THE SENATE COAL
HEARING TODAY, UNDER CUES.
TIONING BY SENATORS JONES
VARDAMAN.
I CAN SEE NO PATRIOTISM
IN THE MAN WHO INSISTS ON
MAKING MORE THAN A NORMAL
PROFIT NOW" SAID VARDAMAN.
You are not relying on patriotism,
but higher prices to increase produc-
lion, and the consumer must pay the
bill, isn't that correct?" asked Jones.
YES" admitted Garfield.
FIX THEIR OWN PRICES.
DO any men with coal interests
have anything to do with fixins
prices?" asked Kenyon.
Yes, in a way" Garfield replied.
What have you done in answer to
the many complaints of coal famines ?"
inquired Kenyon.
Il am issuing priority order. to re-
lieve suffering and sending coal where
II Is needed most regardless of where
1t is consigned" the witness said
Garfield says he was planning to
swap" operators contracts so that for
instance, Illir ois mines will sell much
of their coal in the west and not ship
1t east, while West Virginia mines will
send their coal closer to their plants
TO CREATE DISTRICTS.
If necessary Garfield said, he would
'lift" the contracts.
"Our present PLAN" he said. lis to
divide the country into 20 coal dis
tricts and place a representative of the
fuel administration in each district to
oversee distribution"
"Bituminous coal production shows
an increase of 10 per cent over 1916,
while anthracite shows an increase of
16 per cent" said Garfield.
The increased production of btu
minous coal is fifty million tons, but
this is only half enough. Munitions
factories in southern New England are
being greatly hampered by a shortage
of bituminous coal"
THE anthracite coal situation is
fairly good now Garfield said.
How have you tried to increase
production" asked Senator Kenyon.
by placing the emphasis on produc-
ton, not price" replied Garfield.
PROFITS OF OPERATORS.
DO you believe the operators have
made big profits by this campaign? ??
asked Kenyon, who. in Chairman
Reeds absence, questioned Garfield
II hardly see how to stimulate pro-
luction without allowing these profits,
the fuel administration head replied
Increases above the presidents fixed
coal prices have been granted Al oper-
ators bye the fuel administration tc
stimulate production, Garfield said.
These are mostly small mines which
would not be allowed to operate with
out the increased price," he explained
I suppose you have placed the gov
ernment's interests first" said Kenyon
CONSUMERS FIRST.
"In this severe weather / have con-
sidered the consumer first, for with e
dissatisfied people the government car
accomplish nothing" was Garfield.
reply.
prices are much higher this veal
than last" Garfield admitted, but sait
they are moro stabilized.
DO you think you have the situation
we'll in hand nowT asked Kenyon.
II can't guarantee that there will b
no more suffering" said Garfield.
BlAMES RAILROADS.
He placed much of the blame for th'
coal famine on the railroads and sale
the recent blizzards have accentuatet
the rail tie-up. The greatest coal con
gestions, Garfield said, were at thu
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