South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-04-29
State EXECUTIVE
MAY TAKE HAND IN
COAL SITUATION
Railroads and Gamblers Are
Warned Not to Attempt
Further Holdup.

INDIANAPOLIS. April 2s.-With
az least one member OF the Indiana
general assembly advancing a plan
for state control Of the coal shortage
sitnation. through legislative action.
Gov. James T. Goodrich already has
told the coal men Of the state. as
sembled here in state convention,
that legislative action 70 remedy a
pronounced and dangerous coal
shortage in Indiana will not be need
ed-that the state has power.
through its public service commits
sion. 20 go far enough in It's protec-
ton OF the citizens Of Indiana 20
take the coal situation in hand and
compel those. who are responsible
for a shortage and high prices 20
toe the mark"
The governor believes. il IS
known. that the present situation in
the coal market in Indiana rapidly
Is assuming proportions that may
call for drastic action on the part
Of the federal and state govern
ments. Less than one-fourth OF the
normal demand for cOal-even in
these warm spring mOnths-now is
being met by the coal dealers and
many smaller dealers throughout
Indiana have their bins scraped
clean OF the last pound Of the fuel.
Appears Like Car Shortage.
Apparently il is the railroad car
shortage that is primarily response
BILE and this. coupled with recon
signment abuses ana the general
gambling tendency i'm all markets,
is causing untold hardships already.
The hardships are not only being
multiplied upon the heads Of the
small consumers but the big and lit
tie utility companies Of the state are
suffering grievously. If the war Gre
ates a steady demand for practically
all eastern coal 90 supply the gov
ernment's battleships and NUM-
tiOns factories, the state of Indiana
perforce must fall back on its own
coal resources, il is certain. Unless
the car shortage condition is met
definitely within the next few
months il appears that the great
est suffering will be entailed
throughout this state-while tons
and tons OF coal are lying ready for
the loading. or ready for the dig
cling in coal fields but "A few short
miles from the states big distrbut-
ins eenters
Such a condition as this. as the
cold weather comes on, can mean
but one thing. Gov. Goodrich be-
Iieves. The state will be driven to
exercise its police power. as exem-
plifed i'm the public service commits
sion law. and-with the aid, per
haps. of this branch of the states
government, the state administra-
ton VIII feel called upon 20 devise
wa IS and means Of relieving the
present and the impending situation
insofar as possible
state May Take Hand.
I'm case the war brings on a more
dangerous condition than the pres
ent-and cold weather at the pres
ent moment in Indiana would mean
the suffering Of thousands Of citi-
ns-military eXpediency Will force
immediate state and national action
10 relieve the coal shortage. II is
known that the governor believes
he public service com mission has
power under the present law To go
so far. IL need be. as 10 take a recall
Citrant railroad company into court
and demand the appointment Of a
receiver 10 insure the operation Of
the road on a basis that would re-
lieve the coal shortage on that par
ticular railroad
IL is hoped that this condition will
not become imminent and that the
public service commission will be
able to relieve the present car
shortage with the assistance Of fed
eraI authorities. including the inter
state commerce commission. But in
cas-, The same decree of let bad
enou. alone" as 20 the coal situa-
tion &C ucs throughout the coun-
try As hoie. il appears that In
diana vii step into the breach to
protect its owr citizens for the COM
ing winte'
Bie Rush To Fiji Bins.
Citizens everywhere throughout
the state beV are intently seeking
10 purchs Sc enough coal to carry
them through the coming winter.
even at the terrih"aily high prices
which prevail. The same is true Of
the big utility companies Of the
state. the hig factories and the big
state institutions The coal COM
panies are unaole 20 supply the de-
mands. only above 25 percent of the
orders a-e berg tlled. il appears
This. tov. Is 90 time when the coal
trade normally Is dunest.
What suffering viii result II a
similar condition continues until
next fall-and how the suffering
viii be intensified IL war demands
uccentuate the present shortage is a