The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-10-27
DRIVE
TO ALLAY COAL
famine BEGUN
Start Probe of Extortion
Reports Predict Raise
In Mine Prices

Washington, Oct. 27---Three i'm
portant steps were taken yesterday in
a government program to relieve the
present acute coal situation.
A general investigation into the re-
tail and wholesale prices has been
started by the Department of Justice.
Instructions have been sent to United
States attorneys to prosecute vigor-
| ously under the criminal law, all deal
ers suspected of coughing the peo-
pie.
The second step was the suspension
of the priority order for shipment of
bituminous coal to Lake points for
twenty-four hours. This becomes eff
| fective next Sunday at midnight. Sus-
| pension of the rule is designed to re-
/ lieve the coal shortage in Pennsy1-
vania, Ohio, West Virginia and Ken
| lucky where a fuel famine is threat
ened:
AS the third step, Fuel Administra-
tor Garfield submitted to President
Wilson recommendations for revt-
sion of the coal prices now prevailing
at the mines. What these suggestions
| were was not made public. Probably
prices at the mines will be increased
| to give operators an opportunity to
meet the mine workers demands for
| increased wages.
In addition to these three moves,
! five New England Governors called
on Fuel Administrator Garfield today
| and insisted that their States be CIV
en- more coal and a steadier supply.
They were assured the government
already has taken action to assure
New England a supply great ene>>gh
/ and steady enough to meet her news.
Coupled with the complaints charg-
ing that higher prices than those au-
thorized have been demanded and
obtained, are numerous protests from
persons and firms alleging that they
have been unable to buy coal at any
price. Most of them come from pur-
chasers for household consumption,
who have been hard hit by the scar
city of coal.
As regards revision of coal prices
Tat the mines, the fuel administrator
has made. q careful survey of condi-
tons. Miners and operators in the
western Kentucky district this week
asked DR.. Garfield to increase coal
prices there to meet increases of
wages, but SO far as has been an
nounced, applications have not come
from any other districts.
The five New England governors
4 who called at the Fuel Administra-
ton wanted to know If they could as
sure the people Of New England they
could have coal before the winter cold
sets in. Fuel Administrator Garfield
told them that they could. but said If
it became necessary to eeonomiza
New England of couse would be ex-
pected to join the rest of the country
in conserving the supply.
The Fuel Administration is consid-
ering taking ships out of the Great
Lakes before the close of navigation
and using them in the coastwise trade.
President Wilson, in a letter to
Fuel Administrator Garfield yester-
!. day thanked state fuel administra-
tors for their unselfish devotion to the
national cause. The letter, read by
DR.. Garfield at a conference of state
administrators appointed since Oct
, 2, follows:
MAY I be permitted to express to
!. the Federal Fuel Administration fol
the respective states many Of whom
;. understand are in Washington fol
conference today, my appreciation o.
their generous action in contributing
: their services to the furtherance o.
this important and vital work. I
= constitutes another instance Of the
unself1sh devotion by some of the
country's ablest men, of their time
and thought, to the solution of the
I difficult problems brought on by the
(. war in which our whole force as 6
nation is now engaged.
Please convey to those assembled
my earnest good wishes for the com.
9 Izplete success of their efforts in this
great undertaking"
3 The administrators heard addresses
/, by DR.. Garfield and other fuel admin
istration officials. They considered
t state organization, retail prices
emergency supplies. car supply an6
conservation.
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