The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1918-01-17

tee that warehouses were jammed
with supplies with no ships 10
move them and that many OF
what ships there are cannot move
for lack of coal.
Ships in Port; No Coal.
81 wonder if the public appre-
ciates how necessary it is to move
this material" he added.
1t was not the purpose to take
coal from one factory to give 1t
to another, he explained.
The shortage of bituminous
coal because of poor railroad ia
cilities this year amohpted to
about 35, 5,O00,0 900 tons, he said,' and
that must be made up some way.
Overproduction in Goods.
Senator Reed was directed by the
committee to report to the senate the
legislation and reasons given by Or.
Garfield for his order, without MAX
ing any recommendations regarding
the Hitchcock resolution.
Senator Reed declared that If the
$4,000. .0O0-ton deficiency were made up
by stopping factories the country stlil
would have to make up the goods Iost
by the closing down of factories. The
government, he said, would create a
goods shortage instead of coal short
age, and that at the same time the
country would have lost fifty times
the value of the coal in wages lost. :.
'sThe shortage can be made up
DIR. Garfield said. "only by increasing
production and by decreasing con-
sumption. There is, an overpyoduc-
ton OF goods
nj Unfair to Coal Users.
"There is a shortage of goods, not
an oyer-production," insisted Reed. He
declared it was unfair to permit plants
using water power to run while stop
ping those using coal.
Il have no authority over water
power." replied DR.. Garfield, but l
would like to see all industry of every
kind close down on the Monday holi-
days"
Fail In Patriotic Duty.
Senator Reed suggested that plants
which have coal OH hand be permitted
to run as long as they have the coal.
~ think | ought to 90 very slow IN
issuing an order Of this kind" sVd Dr.
GARFIELD. ~ have consulted business
men for a month in regard to this.
think that if factories do not pay
wages of workers while ..,ey are closed
down they will not do their patriotic
duty"
Senator Reed asked, granting that
wages should be paid, what about the
reduced production.
81 think | have answered that IN
saying we must not further clog our
railroads.
Isn't it dangerous" Senator Reed
asked, ito stop the factories when
there is shortage in many faterials!'
I'VE must save the cars and there
for mus. stop the pi lie up of supplies
for shipment.
Senator Reed estimated there were
II .0O0, 900 wage earners in industries
and if 100000 were thrown out OF
work by this order there would be d
loss of $15,000,000 day If So a day
we're allowed for each. He believed thf
production loss would run the total tc
billion do liars.
You have the same loss on Sunday:
| and HOLIDAYS" Garfield replied.
Will Release Cars.
DR.. Garfield said the car shortage
was the great trouble and insisted thu
| order would relieve that situation al
| well as saving coal.
Chairman Reed disagreed vigorousl!
| and declared: Il think it highly nee
! essary that you change this order,
! you have the liberty to do So"
Senator Jones. of New Mexico, salt
she was informed that it was the pur
pose of the fuel administration to pur
/ chase all the coal mined in the five
| day period.
DIR. Garfield said it only was the pur
pose to buy the coal which otherwis
! might not be purchased.
/ "AppalIing," Says Reed.
Il certainly hope" added Senate
Reed after the hearing had progresse'
for an hour, that you will see fit t
modify this order. DR.. Garfield. 1t
f, economic effect is appalling"
Il wish you would state more full,
the extent of your discussion of thi
order w ith business men," said Sena
Tor Jones.