Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-02-26
ADMINISTRATION
BLAMED BY REED
FOR SHORT COAL
Fuel Head Scored by Missouri
Senator in Statement
of Facts"
BY Associated Press

Washington, Feb. 26.-Responsi-
bility for the coal shortage was plac-
ed squarely on the fuel administra-
tion by Senator Reed, of Missouri,
to-day in a Statement of facts" sub
mitted to the Senate subcommittee
on manufacturers as a basis for a
report of its recent investigation of
the fuel situation. Senator Reeds
statement was not the report of the
subcommittee which investigated the
food and fuel administration, but a
statement of his individual conclu-
sions on the facts.
Must Establish Stability
The chaos now existing in the
coal business" the statement said,
must give place to stability or we
will in the. near future be confronted
by coal shortage of the most dis
astrous character"
For this reason Senator Reed said
there should be an immediate an
nouncement of prices and contracts
which will be allowed to replace
present coal contracts, of which vir-
tually all terminate April l.
The statement also advocated the
announcement of q fixed time in
which the business world may safe
ly adjust itself to. the new contracts
and added:
TT is plain the prices allowed to
be charged must be reasonably re-
munerative. If this is denied, the
maximum of production cannot be
expected"
Rules Issued Without Warrant
Senator Reed declared the recent
fuel order closing industries east of
the Mississippi river was issued by
the fuel administration without
warrant or authority of law" in or
der to "eXtricate itself from it's self
created dilemma" The Senator made
it plain there was no excuse for such
condition to exist as the govern
ment on August 10 took over the
control of coal with authority to
commander mines and ample pow
ers TO meet any emergency
The transatlantic shipping tie
up, as far as was due to lack of
bunker coal, also was blamed on the
fuel administration by the Missouri
senator. His statement asserted the
entire business machinery for bunk
ering ships. built up by practical
! experts, not theorists or dreamers
had been put out of commission OF
| completely subordinated to the
! fuel administration so that it can be
fairly said the fuel administration
was substituted for the machinery
heretofore existing"
Prices Swept Aside
To add to the confusion the state
ment said the prices fixed by the
Lane committee were swept aside
by the fuel administration" and this
mistake finally was discovered anC
admitted by DIR. Garfield, Senator
Reed declared multiplicity of prior
ity orders resulted in tieing up thou
sands of freight cars and in Great
ing embargoes in many of the grea
terminal yards of the country"
"Obviously," the statement con
cluded, this great fundamental bust
ness ought not to be wrested from
experienced hands and taken owe
! by those who, however, good thei
Intentions, are utterly lacking in tina
knowledge essential tc its successful
conduct"
The statement was taken under
consideration to-day and report OF
the finding of the recent inquiry il
expected shortly.
Senator Lodge whose resolution
caused the coal investigation ha
given notice he will discuss the Goa
situation in the Senate to-mor
row.