The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-06-20
POOL PRODUCTION
AND DISTRIBUTION
OF COAL AND COKE
Federal Trade Commission Has a
Scheme for Handling the situa-
ton; Urgent Necessity Exists
for Immediate Legislation.


ny Associated prsss.
Washington. June 2O.-Government
pools 81 coal production ana di-irihu.
tson and OF rail and water t%ransporta-
ton were recommended tn congress
today by the federal trade commits
sion as he only means OF avoiding "a
disastrous coal shortage next winter.
The commission believes, Says the
report. submitted after many months
Of Investigation ordered by congress.
that the coal Industry IL paralyzing
the industries OF the country and that
the GOA industry itself IN paralyzed
by the factor % transportation. There
are nough c0al cars in the country.
but not enough are deliyere dto the
mines and these care are NOT moved
To- the point OF consumption with the
greatest expedition nor are they
promptly discharged
/, In view of these conditions, tho
commission recommends:
"Ffrst-That the production and
distribution ~ coal and coke he ou-
Quoted through a pool IN the hands 81
q government agency: that the pro-
ducers OF various grades Of fuel bo
paid their fun cos, OF production plus
Ia uniform profit per ton with due
allowance Ter quality VI product and
efficlenc, of service). and.
"second-That the ransportatior
%agcncies VI the United states. both
rail end waer he similarly pooled and
operated on government account I'M
DER the direction Of the president aut
that al such means ~ transportation
be operated ~ e unit. the owning cor
pnration heing paid q Just ana faii
compensation which would cover nor.
NAL net profit. upkeep and better.
ments.
Thcse recommendation are an
proved by Commissioners Davies col
yer and Fort. Chairman Harris dis
sents on the plan for transportation
pool except as a last resort ana sue
eests instead. that during he wal
the president bee authorized to ordo,
rail ana water transportation agen
cies To give preference to shipn'cn'
of coal. coke. and other commoditiei
az the order Of their Importance q
the public welfare.
An urgent necessity exists FOR i'm.
I mediate legislation TO correct coudi
lions. says the reporti because th'
usual spring and summer accumuia
ton Of coal Socks AT points diston
from producing districts is not nov
taking place, but II must he mad
during what remains of the summer
unless the country Is 10 face next VIII.
tiers mast serious and an i%rrcparahl'
situation"
Present production OF bituminou
or soft coal IL forty per cent unde'
the possible maximum. priucipall'
because Of the soft coal shortage IN
report declares. Consequently tn
extra large production Of anthracite
coal this spring one fourth create
than usual. has been diverted 10 In
dLstridl markets ordinarily filled D..
b.tumiuous coal and coke Anthrn
cite mines have been given ample ca
supply. the commission observes. "h.
reason of the close corporate relation
between rain transportation and 1n
thracite production
"Bstuminous mines. however, mr.
lcompelled by the car shortage "a op
lCrnte only part time and many miner
are going into other work.
Co~ntrlbutory factors To- the failur'
Of organization coal transportatioi
are the high barge rates from Sew
York to Newport News and Ia Bost"i
land the practice " Lake Ship 4
make trips 10 the northwest In waite
ballast rather than carry coal.