The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-08-21
Other Mems Views
An Editorial That May or May Not Square
With The Views Of The Forum
The Christian Science Monitor:

The Christian Science Monitor:
tdecent official predictions Of a coal shortage in
the United States, at a time when consumers
were expecting to hear that coal production and
coal distribution like all other industrial actvi
ties in the country, had been accelerated to meet
the war emergency, have begun, naturally, to
bear fruit. The Boston fuel committee, with the
approval OF James j. Storrow, federal fuel ad-
ministrator for New England, has announced
that. from July 49, 1918. until further notice. the
price of anthracite coal, exclusive Of basketing,
WIN De $1l ton, instead Of S10.25 ton, the rate
fixed last January.
In other words the net result to Boston of
Iederal fuel administration for the present year,
up to date, is that the consumer must pay IS
cents more for every ton of anthracite he puF-
chases in midsummer than he paid in midwin-
ter regardless Of when his order was filed.
Inc excuses offered for this advance con-
ton as now administered. It is claimed for in
stance; that the increase in freight rates Is re-
sponslple TOT It, when the Increase in freight
rates could have affected only very recent ship
ments, and then to the extent of a mere frac-
ton OF the advance which the consumer is called
upon TO meet. The increased rate under govern
ment railway control, has been operative only
about one month; the fuel administration has
had more than year in which to provide a re-
serve supply equal to all contingencies. 1t Is
also claimed that the advance Is justified by the
increased cost Of labor. Aside from the fact that
the fuel administration should have seen that all
labor contracts were made before mining for this
year began, there is the other important circum-
stance to be offered in refutation that labor is
more costly now than it last January. But,
above and beyond all this, last winters prices
Tor all sorts of coal were outrageously high;
der efficeint conduct Of the federal fuel admins-
tratiop, an Industrial agency created with the
view principally Of protecting the public against
the eXaetions of fuel profiteers, announcement
an advance, could have been made at this time
by the Boston fuel committee, with the approval
OF the federal fuel administrator for New Eng
DR.. Garfield's gloomy predictions, admonitions
and warnings, however. have paved the way nices
ly for the balloonng Of coal prices this year. If
he had deliberately planned to restrict the out
put and place the market at the mercy of prof.
teers' he could hardly have taken effec-
tive course The public has been led for months
on statements, with reference to coal production,
laden with suggestions Of scarcity, famine, and
fear; and, as a consequence, instead Of protest
ing theoretically against the incompetence dis
played in administering trust Of vital national
and international Importance, the consumers Of
the nation, with a little impotent murrnuring
meelly accept from the coal barons assessments
In such forms as Inconvenience and hardship.
The advance in the price of coal just announced
is not Of merely local or sectional moment it
is Indicative of what all that part of the nation
which is dependent upon large fuel supplies must
the President shall speedily take cognizance of
the fuel administration breakdown. Let 1t not
be lost sight Of, for moment that the supply of
coal IN the mine Is PLENTIFUL that this is an age
Of narvels in machinery; that never before In
the history Of the world, was there deeper and.
wider knowledge Of the possibilities Of industrial
engineering, and that the greater nations are en-
gagged today, in the conduct of enterprises by the
side Of which the mining and distribution Of a
sufficient amount of coal to supply the people
Of the United States is a task of minor dirnen-
sions. II these things shall be kept in mind, the
practical confession of the federal fuel admins
traton that it is incapable of performing its
function will be looked upon by both the gov
eminent and the public in its true light,
There should be no delay in correcting the con-
ditions that have arisen already, and in prevent
ing the conditions that are certain to arise if the
present loose method Of dealing with the fuel
situation continues Another winter of coal
shortage and excessive coal prices should not
be rtsked by those who have the authority to
prevent 1t, and who will be held responsible if
1t comes.