El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-06-21
GOVERNMENT MUST
POOL PRODUCTION
. AND Distribution
OF COAL SUPPLY
Only Means to Avert
Disastrous Famine
Next Winter
FAILURE OF CARS
IS CHIEF EVIL
Uncle Sam to See That
Everyone Gets Share,
Is Federal Plan
COAL OUT
PUT HARD HIT
(Ry Leased Wire to New Mexican.)

l6y kcdScu wire 10 iNCW MSNlCdHsJ
Washington, June Achievement
pools of coal production and distribu-
ton and of rail and water t%ransporta-
tion were recommended to congress
today by the federal trade commission
as the only means of avoiding a disas-
trous coal shortage next winter.
"The commission believes" says the
report, submitted after many months
of investigation ordered by congress-"
that the coal industry is paralyzing the
industries of the country and that the
coal industry itself is paralyzed by the
failure of transportation. There are
enough coal cars in the country but
not enough are delivered to the mines
and these cars are not moved to the
points of consumption with the great.
est expedition nor are they promptly
discharged"
Recommendations
In view Of these conditions, the
commission recommends:
First-That the production and
distribution of coal and coke be
conducted through a pool In the
hands of a government agency;
that the producers Of various
grades Of fuel be paid their full
cost of production plus a uniform
profit per ton with due allowance
for quality Of product and effi-
cheney of service); and,
Second-That the ~transporta-
tion agencies of the United States,
both rail and water, be similarly
pooled and operated on govern
ment account, under the direction
of the president and that all such
means of transportation be oper-
ated as a unit, the owning corpor-
alton being paid a just and fair
compensation which would cover
normal net profit, up-keep and
betternents.
These recommendations are approx
ed by Commissioners Davies Glover
and Fort. Chairman Harris dissents
on the plan for transportation pool,
except as a last resort and suggests
instead: THAT during the war the
president be authorized to order rail
and water transportation agencies to
give preference to shipment Of coal,
coke and other commodities in the or
der of their Importance to the public
welfare"
"An urgent necessity exists for i'm
Mediate legislation to correct condi-
says the report, because the
usual spring and summer accumula-
ton Of coal stocks at points distant
from producing districts Is not now
place but it must be made dur.
Ing what remains of the summer I'M
less the country is to face next winter
q most serious and an irreparable sit
uation."
present production of bituminous,
Or soft" coal is 40 per cent under the
maximum, principally be-
cause of coal car shortage, the report
declares. Consequently, the extra
large production of anthracite coal
his spring; o~ne-fourth greater than
usual has been diverted to industrial
markets ordinarily filled by bitumin-
coal and coke.
Anthracite mines have been given
ample a supply. the commission OBJ
serves, "by reason Of the close cor.
oorate relation between rail transpor-
alton and anthracite production.
"Bituminous mines, however. are
compelled by the car shortage to oper-
tie only part time and many miners
ire going into other work.
Contributing factors in the disor.
,anization Of coal transportation are
he high barge rates from New York
o. Newport News and to Boston and
he practice of lake ships to make
to the northwest in water ballast
ather than carry coal"