The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-12-28
Garfield Says That
Long War Is Sure to.
Bring This Result.
GENERALIZATION OF ROADS
TO FURNISH ONLY RELIEF
Senate Committee Drops Sugar In
quiry Until Friday, Hoover Is
sues a Statement From the
White House.


ministrator Garfield told the senate
investigating committee yesterday
that if the war continued very long
the government would be compelled
to pool coal and sell it at a reason
able price.
Some coal operators, he said, were
making the greatest profits in their
history, but he, considered high
prices a stimulus to the great pro-
duction the war demands.
The fuel administrator said he
saw little relief in prospect for the
railroads until their operation was
centralized.
DR.. Garfield said he did not want
to place blame for lack of transpor-
tation on anyone, nor did he want
to try to shift blame, that might be
attached to his administration. He
added that it was impossible for the
railroads to cope with the situation.
"Coal is responsible for one-half
the congested traffic, and thousands
of cars are being backed up at bot
t!e-neck points through which the
railroads have endeavored to move
large amounts" said he. "The only
thing to do is just what we have
done-ask Judge Lovett for a pri-
ority order for coal and to appeal
to the operators to shoot whatever
coal they can to points where most
needed. That has helped in some re-
spect."
DR.. Garfield mentioned Pittsburg,
Cincinnati and Toledo as examples
of "bottle-neck" points, but said
there were many others. Mines in
eastern West Virginia are shipping
west. and those in the western part
shipping east, causing congestion at
meeting points. A change involves
great detail in changing contracts
which are not closed until next
April, he said.
"Unless conditions are improved,
may abrogate these contracts and
divert shipments to prevent con-
gestion," DR.. Garfield said.
81 think that wise plan," re-
marked Senator Kenyon.
War demands for bituminous coal
have been greater than mines could
meet, although the increase of pro-
duction this year has been normal,
DR.. Garfield testified. In an effort
to alleviate conditions, he said, the
fuel administration was laying en-
phasis on stimulating production ra-
ther than regulating price.
"When the operators complain
that prices fixed by the president
are too low, we are inclined to give
them the benefit of the doubt" DR..
Garfield said.
Admits Big Profits.
Senator Kenon asked the admin
istrator if he had information of
dividends of some of the large op-
orators and he answered that he had
no accurate figures on them and
could not furnish them. He knew,
however, that big profits were being
made, but believed it necessary to
stimulate production.
Questioned by Senator Kenyon,
DR.. Garfield said his organization is
composed Of about 200 persons,
chief of whom are engineering ex-
perts, lawyers, coal producers and
He proceeded at length to give de-
tails of how complaints against
prices are handled. Forty such COM
plants of operators had been inves-
tigated, he said, and each one had
required services of engineers, ex-
pert accountants and lawyers. DR..
Garfield said his chief advisers were
volunteers an dworked without sal