Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-04-19
r RAlLR 0 ADS
CAN I BREAK
PRICE.
President Wilson Upholds
Fuel Administrator Gar
field, Overruling McAdoo
and Williams; the Same
Prices For All.
DECISION is SEQUEL
TO BITTER DISPUTE

/.
"The ruling by the president In
favor Of Fuel Administrator Gar
field today means much to the coal
producing sections In southern
iowa and other fields as we'll; It
means that the mines will soon be
abe % resume operations after
m Nanforesd idleness since The first
o. tkh> month"; declared q. n.
Harris 81 the Bidwell Coal Co, to-
day when apprlsed Of the action
Of President Wilson In settling the
dispute between the fuel and rail-
Way administrations Of the gov
ornsnent.
"As soon 40 the former railroad
contracts are arranged and cars
are available work will resume to
continue throughout the year." Mr.. s
Harris continued "The tonnage
already lost through the idIeness
soS the mines because Of the
failure 70 sell coal to the rail-
roads, has cut production In Iowa
considerably, but with the quss-
tion Of price settled between the
railroads and operators, an effort
will be made to speed up produo- :
tlon 40 much 40 possible.
The assurance Of = change In
the xoning system which opens the
lows field TO Iowa miners will b
+ . ors4t advantage for Iowa coal
e oIefotofo and miners. sAeo, er-
y ahsln1 tAsm IS >>sssAtlnus production
~ soNateGSt leS0 - = ~ 49,;
washington, b. c.. April is.Rail.
roads hereafter viii purchase their
coal at the full market price and cara
will be evenly distributed at the mines
under IN arrangement completed to
day by the railroad and fuel admins
tFations at the dictation Of President
Wilson.
The plan was accepted only after the
president had intervened to settle diff
ference between Fuel Administrator
Garfield and John Shelton Williams
director Of purchases for the railroad
administration.
Or. Garfield and Mr.. Williams almost
came to blows last night during bit
ter dispute. which was sequel to q
series Of discussions between the fuel
administration and Mr.. Williams
superior, Director General McAdoo.
M'ADoo ls oyERRULED
II developed that Mr.. McAdoo was
responsible for the order to the rail
roads which resulted in their refusal to
make coal contracts with mine owners
for the year beginning April /, except
ct prices materially lower than those
liked by the fuel administration.
President Wilson's ruling upholds
DR.. Garfield and overrules the railroad
0arector, who, II his plan had been sue
cessful, would have cut about SAC. .000.
900 off the total cost of operating the
government controlled railroads for
the current year.
After a series Of conferences, one o!
them enlivened by quarrel between
DR.. Garfield and Mr.. Williams, who
nearly came to blows, President VII
son last night took into his own hands
the settlement of the dispute over the
price the railroads shall pay for coal
The president was moved to actor
~ the failuure of the fuel and railwa,
administrations to reach IN agreement
and the. disclosure that the dispute II
disorganixing the fuel production ma
chinery and setting back production tt
an extent that threatens the recur
renee Of a coal famine next winter o
even greater proportions than las
winter.
v. 8. BUREAUS CLASH
The railway Administration proposed
TO purchase for the railroads 10000.
600 tons Of coal at a price of cost plus
10 cents a ton. The fuel administra
ticn insisted that the railways pay the
prices fxed by the president, which
are higher. but are the same as are
paid by the navy, the war industries
and Individual consumers.
President Wilson saw the necessity
for 3 decision without delay, for ever,
day brings additional evidence of the
shrinkage Of coal production caused
BY the shortage Of cars and the uncer
taiuty resulting from the failure Of tht
railroads to place contracts for the 81
Der cent OF the fuel supply they con
sumo.
M'Apoo RESPONSIBLE
Director General McAdoo is respon
sible for the move to compel the Goa
operators. to. supply fuel to the rail
roads at considerable less than the
government price. He was discussing
the proposition with Fuel Administra
tor Garfield without making any head
way against the latter's opposition
when he went away on his Libert,
Loan speechmaking tour.
The negotiations were continued by
fyr Garfield and Mr. Williams who Is