Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-08-21
ORDERS ISSUED BY FEDERAL OF.
FicIALs 70 GIVE FUEL SHIP.
M.ENTs PREFERENCE.
PRESIDENT WILSON SOON
TO NAME FUEL DICTATOR
Entire Northwest TO Benefit From
Order Speeding Shipments Robert
9. Lovatt Said to Be Slated For Po-
sit;en Of Coal controIIe.-Trads
Commission Conference.

washington, Aug. II. ~ President
Wilson yesterday made the FIRST i'm
portant move in the plan for the gov
eminent to grip the coal problem Of
the country by authorizing Robert S.
Lovett, as administrative officer Of the
priority shipments board, to direct the
railroads to give preference to coal
sAapments to Lake Erie ports for ship
ment to Lake Michigan, Lake Superior
and other northwestern ports.
The president was expected to an
nounce the appointment Of q coal die
tator of5the country, whose duties will
be similar to those being exercised
over food products Of the nation by
Herbert C. Hoover.
For more than an hour the president
conferred with the federal trade COM
mission on the subject. Immediately
afterward he saw Mr.. Lovett at the
White House, who later issued his first
order a. the director Of the priority
board.
It was declared last night by author
q coal dictator probably will follow the
first move to control the coal crisis.
The order OF preference to shipments
uf coal to the northwest was spurred
on because Of the threatened coal fam
Inc in that section.
With that immediate difficulty rene
died, 1t was said, the perfection OF the
general coal control policy can be
worked out thoroughly, altho the plan
&c be adopted Is said to have been de-
termined in most Of its essential fea-
lures.
Chicago Gets Benefit.
Chicago and the northwest will be
the immediate benehciaries Of the or
der, which, In the name Of the presi-
dent, directs all railroad companies
Serving Lake Erie ports in the trans
portation Of bituminous coal for trans
shipment by vessel to ports on Lake
Superior and Lake Michigan shall and
they are hereby directed until further
order daily to sive preference and prt-
GRITTY in the distribution Of cars to coal
mines served by them, and transport
the came - that bituminous coal for
trans-shipment as aforesaid by Lake
shall have preference and priority In
transportation"
The order further directs all rail-
roads affected to accept and receive all
coal cargoes rendered to them.
The president conferred with the
trade commission late In the day at
the commissions request, and 1t is re-
ported that the commission asked that
nothing further be announced regard
I ing the coal control plan until later
date. alx.Xlkl
May Appoint Lovstt q.
That the president has had in mind
the appointment Of Mr.. Lovett as coal
controller Of the country has been re-
ported here. Mr.. Lovett has been
known to state that he does not wish
to undertake the task. He SO informed
Francis s. Peabody. chairman Of the
committee on coal production, yester-
day. But the general understanding
here Is that one man Will be named to
superintend the coal regulation and
that man still may be Lovett.
y. The trade commission Is now de-
clared to be opposed to regulation OF
the industry by the commission, pc
lieving that q one man control IS moro
efficient In war times.
II Lovett u not named, the other
man under serious consideration Is
William 3. Colver. Of st. Paul, MEM
Der Of the trade commission. Mr.. Col
yer has been giving his entire time
lately to careful and minute study
OF the coal problem and was respon-
sible for the investigation OF cost
prices revealing exorbitant profits for
J coal operators, q report on which the
1commission handed to the president
last Saturday.
Can Investigate Prices.
Under the law, the machinery Of tho
trade commission will be available for
any investigation Of production prices
4 or for any other Investigation that the
coal dictator might make. but the
president It. Is said, has felt that the
commission has 50 much other import
ant work on hand that It would not be
wise to turn the coal administration
over to the commission as body.
should Colver be appointed 1t Is pos
4 sible he may resign rs a member or
the commission. but 1t would not be
necessary for him to do so.