New-York tribune., 1918-07-12
Fuel Problem
Again Reaches
Critical Point
Continued from page 1

and use all their resources to increase
production
Inc admission that the railways are
prepared to deliver two hundred more
cars OF coal to New England points
oally than the fuel administration has
Dech able to provide is a practical con-
fession that the railways have over
taken production. Some time ago the
railways found means of handling an
aoditlon 400 cars daily to New Eng
land. The fuel administration has been
able to deliver only $50, so it pro-
poses to take the other 200 awav from
the brewers.
There may be some camouhage in
TINS, Tor 1t is certain that not many
OF the 200 cars daily will be obtained
Tor New England by depriving the
brewers of coal, and it is we'll known
that DR.. Garfield is quite willing to see
the brewing industry go by the board,
feeling that it is not only dispensable,
but tnat its elimination will make for
wartime efficiency. But the fact re-
mains that the railways have made a
breach in the coal problem that DR..
GARFIELD has not been able to take ad-
vantage of through producing more
coal.
The creation of committee to study
the question of curtailment and re-
strlction is a sure sign that other in
dustries will soon follow, to some ex-
tent at least, the sad and mournful way
of the brewers. The task before this
committee is Fl most delicate one, as
even the most dispensable industries
have commercial and financial ramifca-
tlons that make the matter of dealing
with them IN an arbitrary manner cx-
ceedingly dangerous to the welfare of
whole communities. Some industries
arc conducted almost wholly on bank
credits. Put them out of business and
some banks will go with them Then
there is the necessity of looking ahead
to the end of the war, so that it will
not find us with our industrial organ
ization full of holes. An industry may
be non essential now, but when the nor
NAL national life is resumed it will be
essential. Such an industry must be
kept alive, except in the last resort.
even though it be temporarily much re-
stricted.
Up to Garfield
1t is too wide and difficult field to
be handled by the fuel administration
alone. 1t is a job for men of deep un-
derstanding of business and economies,
SO the committee has been made up, be-
sides P. B. Noyes, head of the CON
tration, of Charles NJ. Woolley, of the
War Trade Board. who is president of
the American Radiator Company;
Thomas f. Whitmarsh, representing the
food administration, who is at the heau
OF two great wholesale grocery houses
in New York, as we'll as bank direc-
tor; Edwin B. Parker, a lawyer, repre-
senting the War Industries Board; Pro-
fessor Edward G. Gay, of Harvard. rep
resenting the War Trade Board, and
Edward Chambers, traffic manager of
the National Railway Administration.
Such is the personnel of the commit
tee that will deal with the fate of in
dustries, saying to one that it may con-
tinue an attenuated existence, to an
other that it shall go into state of
coma, and to another that it shall
change it's nature. While this commit
tee strives to cut the fuel coat to the
coat goods it is more imperative on DR..
Garfield than ever to deliver the goods
lest the coat be too small after all