Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-06-19

tracts for ten more steel merchant
ships complete and for twenty.four
additional wooden hulls were an
nounced today by Major General
GoethaIs, general manager Of the
emergency fleet corporation. Tho
vessels will be delivered in 1918.
Washington, D. c., June 1S.--A basic
price of $500 ton was fixed for
steel plates in contracts for ten steel
ships signed today by Chairman Den
man of the shipping board. Future
contracts will be let at that price in.
stead OF the $95 rate paid for steel in
some earlier contracts.
DENMAN DEFiES COCKTAILS.
The contracts were let to the Dow
ney Construction company of New
York. Mr.. Denman refused to sign
them calling for steel at S95 and sent
them back to Major General Goethals,
general manager of the fleet corpora
ton. asking that the price be reduced.
To-day they were returned to Mr.. Den
man. providing steel at the lower
price.
Signing of the contracts today not
only stilled for the time what threaten
tween the shipping board and the en-
ergency fleet corporation as to the
price to be paid for steel, but establish
es price that will stand until final
'6gnre is set
SEIZURE is THREATENED.
A final price will be determined by
the shipping board and the feet cor
iporation with the advice of the raw
ANTI pio1c v,,;<N III "a
national defense. If the steel mills
refuse to furnish their product at the
aprice decided on the president will be
asked to exercise his power to COM
sr2andeer th Aai< output rf 4 price high
M than today's base is fixed the gov
ernment willspav the difference, II low
er, the steel mills will refund.
Sec'y Daniels has ordered coal and
oil producers to supply the enormous
quantities needed by the navy at
prices to be fixed later by the presi.
dent when the federal trade commits
sion has determined fair rate. The
navy will use 1.750.000 tons Of coal and
S0.000,000 barrels Of oil purchased un-
der this application of the authority
granted by congress.
Similarly, steel for the entire navy
building program is being bought at
rate fixed when Secretary Daniels re-
Dected the proposals of the steel max
Irs as too high.
BIDS RUN HIGH.
Secretary Daniels said today that the
goal operators proposed to furnish
pavy coal at the rate Of $295 ton at
the mine. The navy has been paying
H2.8S a ton delivered. The secretary
directed the companies to ship imme-
hiately, the orders being prorated
bmong the producers. agreeing to pay
, tentative price of s233 at the mines
pending report from the federal trade
commission
Oil quotations submitted, Mr.. Dan
lels said, ranged from 81. SIS to 1886
barrel, delivered at Port Arthur, Tex.
although the present rate is 80 cents
barrel at that point. The department
directed the producers to fill its orders
Tor 50,000,000 barrels.
The arrangement regarding steel or
,ders, the. secretary said, leaves a
handsome profit" for the producers.
COAL PRICES MOUNT.
/ Coal at $14 to 500 a ton by the begin
ming Of next winter, and scarce at that
Is the grave prospect faced by house
holders unless the government stops
lhe profiteering of the coal barons and
brings order out of chaos In the indus.
Try
This is the admission of officials of
the trade commission and of the de-
partment OF commerce who have been
Investigating the visible coal supply
md production and transportation con.
Bitions.
According to the administration,
President Wilson intends to avert this
ealamity even IL it should become nee
kssary for him to take over large
humber, If not all, the coal mines in
khe name OF the government, operate ,
them, and commander the railroad
rolling stock necessary to the distribu-
hon Of fuel
WILSON TO HAVE POWER.
Within few weeks the president
probably will have been clothed with
SufYicient power to do whatever is nec-
kssary TO speed up the production and
yhe transportation of coal, to curb the
apacity of producers and dealers, and
lnything else required to protect the
householder from extortfon and priva-
Non.
President Wilson already has broad
Bcwers to regulate the coal industry in
war time under the national defense
hw
The food control bill, gives him auth
Drity to commander coal mines
The priority shipment bill passed by
she senate Saturday authorizes him to
Eive coal the right Of way In transpor-
htion and to compel the provision of
sufficient cars. Even broader powers !
'hre provided in Senator Pomerene's
bill which is likely to be passed If the /,
soal situation shows no signs of Inn
movement.