Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-27
WAR RESPONSIBLE
FOR COAL FAMINE
Demands on Railroads So Great
Shipments Are Badly
Tied Up.
PUBLIC TO GET MORE FUEL
DR.. Garfield Says More Attention
Will Be Given Needs
Of People.
PUBLIC TO GET MORE FUEI


WASHiNGToN December 9c.-Much
Of the effect OF the fuel ;M,ninistra-
{ TOMS work haz hocn nullincd. Fuel
Administrator Garfield told tho SEN
ate committee Investigating the coal
situation to-day, By the transportation
tic-up. lie said little general relief
could be expected until the railroads
were put under one management, and
that if tho war continued "A long time
it would bc necessary for the govern
mcnt to take over tho coal supply and
parcel it out cqutabiy.
Tho administrators efforts have
been directed TO a great extent TO
the stimulation or production to meet
demands Of the war. but, Dr. Garfield
said. because o: the traffic congestion
the moro VIC produced the moro trou-
Bile VIC added TO tho railroads" Tho
normal 10 per cont increase over the
production OF last wear has been main
taincd. nc added, though tho war has
brought demand for an additional
10 per cent over the 1916 output which
has not bccn met.
In the past few days the private con
sumner has been given more conSidera-
tion than heretofore. pr. Garfield OK
planned. AT first the main idea was
TO supply the Govcrnmcnt and the rail-
roads. but with the suffering due 10
the shortage in many places. nc said
tho administrator recently had devoted
most of it's time to attempting to get
coal to places whore it was most need
Cd Conditions already arc better. he
stated. though the situation was not
we'll in hand and would not be until
transportation facilities wcrc i'm
proved.
DR.. Garfield said he was not familiar
with dividends many OF the coal com
panios were paying. but that hc be-
licved many operators were making
more money than ever before.
GOOD PRICES ESSENTIAL.
TO DESIRED PRODUCTION
Good prices he regarded as necessary
TO large production.
Senator Nardaman. a member OF the
committee. insisted that tho operators
wcrc ''plundcrinS and robbinE" tho pco-
pie and the whole power of the fuel
administration should he employed TO
stop il.
When the operators complain that
prices fixed by tho President arc too
low. we are inclined TO give them the
benefit OF the doubt Dr. Garfield said.
Senator Kenyon asked the admins
traitor if lie had information OF div
dcnds of some of the large operators.
and he answered that he had no ac-
Curatc figures on them and could not
furnish them He knew, however. that
biz profits were being made. but be
lieved il necessary to stimulate pro-
duction.
Private consumers have felt the
shortage because the government has
come first in its demands. but that rule
has rccn changed in the last few days,
DR.. Garfield said.
I'VE arc giving it 20 the people first
now" he said. with a discontcntcd
people we could not make much prog
rcss in the war"
Conditions are much better now. he .
said. and added:
II can guarantee that We have the
situation we'll in hand"
Dr.. Garfield said he did not want 10 .
place blame for lack OF transporta-
tion on any one nor did he want to try
10 shift blame that might be attached
TO his administration. He added that
il was impossible for tho railroads 10
cope w!'h tho situation.