The Washington herald., 1917-09-08
The Coal Situation.

"A very large proportion of the coal
supply available for the coming winter
is under contract. These contracts.
which are allowed to stand for the
present. were made prior to the Presi-
dents proclamation and very largely
limit the amount which may be placed
on sale at retail prices based on the
Presidents order"
This is the rather alarming state
ment which is contained in a bulletin
issued by the new Fuel Administrator,
Or. Harry A. Garfield. last night. II
is premonitory of a wave of high
prices, which the American people
have been dreading, but the statement
continues:
1T Is absolutely essential. however,
that sufficient supply of coal be put
on the market at once at these prices
to meet the needs OF domestic con-
sumers. The Fuel Administration be-
lieves that this supply of coal can be
made available and will be made
available by voluntary arrangements
between the operators and those with
whom they have contracts, and thus
make it unnecessary for the Fuel Ad-
ministration to exercise or recommend
the powers, the exercise OF which is
provided for in the Lever act" -
II these voluntary arrangements'
fai! during the early part of the win
ter, what then? It seems inevitable
that the price OF coal will go sky
rocketing; that the public will be out
ragged; that confidence in the whole
war administration will be undermined,
because Of its inability to cope with
the situation. We rather think that
drastic measures should be taken
right away to procure as even and
widely distributed supply Of coal as
possible. Fuel is something which can
not be dispensed with by the American
people. even in part; it is not subject
TO the same kind OF economics and
shortcuts as Mr.. Hoover is preaching
for wheat, for instance. We may eat
war bread" and bear up with the
thought Of sacrifice for the nation
but there is no such thing as war
fuel. And a policy which will per-
nit prices to go mounting sky-high
in the United States while thousands
Of tons are being shipped abroad
to Italy, for instance. which is sadly
in need Of twill not serve to make
the war any more popular in this
country. 1t will be bad political and
administrative blunder. in our opinion.
The frame work of the organization
Of the Fuel Administration, as an
nounced by Mr.. Garfield, will meet
with approval. But it is clear that
the power vested in him must be exer-
cised. Surely it is a sad commentary
on the existing state of things II pre-
vious contracts are allowed to defeat
the purpose of the law. In time of
war all private contracts should go by
the board if public exigencies require
it.
Already we hear rumblings and
echoes of a new scale of coal prices.
based. logically enough on supply and
demand. 1t is clear that the price
fixiEg for coal at the time" has not
clarified the retail situation to any
great extent. Nor will it be clarified
if left to the tender mercies of private
manipulation. which has an irresistible
temptation before it.
Railroad priority should be estab-
lished for coal whenever necessary.
such a step has already been taken
for the Northwestern States. The
whole coal supply should be comman-
deered by the government II that
drastic step is necessary to stabilize
prices