Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1917-06-22
TRADE COMMISSION MAKES MOST
REVOLUTIONARY REcOMMEN.
DATIoNS IN ITS HISTORY
TO CONGRESS.
ASKS OPERATION OF RAIL
AND WATER LINES AS UNIT
Board Favors Poois-Believes Coal 70
ParaIyzing Other ndustries-Throo
Members Consider Immediate
Action Necessary-Soft Coal
Output Low.

Washington, June 21.-Drastic war
time government control is urged for
coal, coke and transportation by the
Federal Trade Commission as the only
adequate remedy for an alarming coal
price and supply situation. The rec
concentrations are the most revolu-
tionary of their kind ever submitted
by the commission.
Complying with congressional 70
quests for coal probe, the commits
sion pointed out that the coal situar
ton threatens industries and individ-
uals.
Coal Paralyzing Industries.
'The commission believes" says the
report, submitted after many months,
Of investigation, that the coal indus.
try 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 point of
consumption with the greatest expedi.
ton, nor are they promptly discharged.
In view of these conditions the COM
mission recommends:
Make Recommendations.
II. That the production and dis
trfbution of coal and coke be con-
Quoted through pool in the hands Of
a government agency; that the pro-
ducers of various grades of fuel pe
paid their full cost of production plus
q uniform profit per ton with due al.
lowance for quality of product and
efficiency of service); and,
e. That the transportation agen.
cies of the United States, both rail
and water, be similarly pooled and
operated on government account under
the direction of the President and that
all such means Of transportation be
operated as unit, the owning cor
porations being paid a just and fair
compensation, which would cover nor
NAL net profit, upkeep and better
ments. - 81 ~+' .. ~ =
Dissents on Transportation Plan.
These recommendations are ap-
proved by Commissioners Davies, Col.
vOA oAu HOAIs NAkuWdu 11dII1S Ul8%
sents on the plan for transportation
pool except as a last resort and sug-
gests instead that during the war the
President be authorized to use rail and
water transportation agencies to givel
preference to shipment of coal, coke
and other commodities in the order Of
their importance to the public well
fare"
An urgent necessity exists for i'm
mediate legislation to correct condi-
tons, says the report, because the
usual spring and summer accumula-
ton of coal stocks at points distant
from producing districts lis not now
taking place, but it must be made dur
Ing what remains of the summer unless
the country is to face next winter q
most serious and irreparable situa-
tion."
Present production of soft coal il 40
per cent under the possible maximum.
principally because of coal car short
age, the report declares. Consequent
ly the extra large production of an
thracite coal this spring, one-fourth
greater than usual, has been diverted
to industrial markets ordinarily filed
by bituminous coal and coke.