The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1917-06-21
FEDERAL POOL ON COAL
and RAILROADS URGED
Trade Commission Makes Revolutionary Proposal
For Averting Fuel Famine During the
Coming Winter
FAIR PRICE WOULD
BE PAID TO PRODUCERS OF COAL
AND TRAFFIC LINES WITH GREAT
Err RESULTING EFFICIENCY IN
PROSPECT.


Washington, ". c., June 20-CoN-
eminent pools of coal production and
distribution and of rail and water
Transportation We're recommended 10
Congress today. by the federal lrale.
commission as the only means oi
avoiding a disastrous coal shortage
next winler.
The commission believes, says me
report, submitted after, many months
of Investigation ordered by Congress.
thai the coal industry is paralNzins he
industries of the country and that me
coal industry itself is paraiNzed bN
the failure of transportation. -lher"
are enough coal cars in the country
but not enough are Delivered 10 me
mines and these cars are no' moved.
The commission ,,l' believes l,s saNI 'la AZ,
report submitted after many months oi
Investigation ordered by Congress. that
the coal industry is paralNzins t'' m
d,lstrirs of the country and maj me
coal industry itself is paralNZrd 10y 'lle
failure of transportation There are
enough coal cars in the country but
not enough are delivered To tie mines
and these ears are not msNed To the
point of consumption With Tn" greatest
expedition nor are they promptly dis
charged.
In view of these condltlons 1he com
mission recommends:
Recommends Fedora, POOL.
"FirSt-that the production ana dls-
tribuion of coal and c0iee be conduct
ed through a pool in the hanes of
government agency: the producers oil
various grades of fuel be pad their
fun costs of production, plus uni
form profit per ton With due alloM-
ance for quality of products and efli-
cheney of service; aud.
second that the transportation
agencies of the United States, both rail.
and water be similarly pooled and OPP
Grated on government account, under
the direction of the president and that
all such means of transportation he
operated as a unit, the owning corpor-
alion being paid a Just and fair com
pensaton which would cover a normal
net profit, upkeeb and betterlnent
These recommendations are approx
ed by commissioners Davies, Golvei
and Fort. Chairman Harris dissenis ON
the plan for transportation pool, en-
cept as a last RESORT, ana suggests M
stead that during the war the .presi,,
dent be authgrlZed Ia ORDER ran ana
water transportation agencies To give
preference toi Shipment ol coal, coke
and other commodities in llle order al
their Importance 10 The public welfare.
Need Immediate Action.
An urgent necessity exists Tor I'm
mediate legislation TO correct cohdl-
tons. says the report, because lllr
usual spring and summer accullilntlla-
tion OF coal STOCKS al points llSlahl
from producing districts is not now
taking place. bu' IT. must he mad" dur
ing wis<I remains ol tlle summer unless
the country Is 10 lace hrNl WINTER IL
most serious ana lrrepalrapir sl''ialloh
Present procllclloh ol bll'iiillholiS
or "seoiIed roal IS 1o per cen' under
the possible" MAXIMUM, pfihrlP'llN pe
cause oil coal car siiollaSN' li'' report
declared. Consequently llle rNlra larse
production o1 anlllraclle toitl l'is
spring, one fourth greater IMAM nsli-
ally has been hlNrfleu lo indllsltlil
markets ordinarily lilled by hl'Ilinh
Gus coal and coke. 10
Contributing factors in the new or
ganlzatlon OF coal 'fahsp"rlallo1l ar.
me hisi harst fa'es from ~ NV iorh !,
TO Newport News ana no BOSTON ahu
the practice of lake shps to max" Trips
TO IN" norl'lWeSl III Watef haias' ia'il'f
than carry coal
Discussing thc proposed remedy 'ilr
commission saNs:
III the producer al cacli 'lil'lc Wer.
paid ms iull cost nl production Wll''
allowance for me lnnlhlehalic". nPkrrp
and all the usual lleliis, anu To l'iis
Wereadted MED ana UNIFORM net
pfolli per 'oii, Ml'il uue itS"i" W Iu"i
ity, the coal thus produced al wldei\
varying costs, II pool"u, eouiu h' sol'
through the government al an average
and uniform price. IualliN r"nSlder.d
which would be cnllfcly lolefable 70