Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1917-06-21
GOVERNMENT POOL OF
COAL INDUSTRY PROPOSED
TO AVOID SHORTAGE
Trade Commission
Would Have Government
Supervise Both Production
and Distribution of Coal
Shortage Is Paralyzing In
dushies Of Country.
(By the Associated Press1


Washington, June 20.-Gov-
ernment pools Of coal production
and distribution and of rail and
water transportation were rec
commended to congress by the
federal trade commission as the
only means of avoiding a disas-
trous coal shortage next winter.
"The commission believes"
says the report submitted after
many months of investigation by
congress, "that the coal industry
is paralyzing the industries of
the country and that the coal
business is paralyzed by the fail
ure of transportation. There are
enough coal cars in the country
but not enough are moved to the
mines. Nor are they promptly
discharged when filled. In view
of this, we recommend:
First: That the production and dis
tribution of coal and coke be con-
Quoted through a pool in the hands of
government agency and that the pre-
ducers of various grades of fuel bG
paid their full cost Of production plus
a uniform profit per ton. @
Second: That the transportation
agencies of the United States, both
rail and water, be similarly pooled
and operated on government account
and under the direction of the pres
ident and that all such means of
transportation be operated as a unit
and that the owning corporation be
paid a just and fair compensation
which covers normal net profits, up
keep and betterments.
These recommendations are ap-
proved by Commissioners Davies,
Colver and Fort Chairman Harris
dissents on the plan for transporta-
tion pool except as last resort.
"An urgent necessity exists for i'm
mediate legislation to correct condi-
tions," says the report, because the
usual spring and summer accumula-
ton of coal stock at points distant
from producing points is not now
taking place but it must be made dur
ing what remains of the summer un-
less the country is to face next winter
a serious and irreparable situation"
Discussing the proposed remedy,
the commission says:
If the producer at each mine we're
paid his full cost of production with
allowance for all usual items and to
this were added uniform net profit
per ton, 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 at price much lower than could
be fixed If an effort were made to fix
uniform price to the producer.
Senator Gore declared the bills
"short-sighted policy" would result
in driving down farmers prices.
1T was drawn by some attorney
down at the department of agricul-
ture," he shouted, "but one would
think it is the handwriting of the
deity and that it would be sacrilege
to change it,"
Senator Gore declared the bill was
the "sweepings" of all the British
and Canadian food acts of parliament
and orders in council.
"They are all strung together in
this bill like lot Of beads" he de-
clared. If congress loses its self
respect in passing this bill unamend-
ed, everybody else will lose his re-
spect for congress- :.s