New-York tribune., 1918-01-29
MIR. Baker and Our Fuelless
MONDAYS

In his statement to the Senate commit
zee and to the nation yesterday Secretary
Baker laid stress upon the fact that there
are more than a million men in this coun-
,ry under arms. This in explanation of
he epidemics of sickness reported from
The different camps. And these million
.len will be sent to France Just as rapidly
is they can be equipped and we can find
hips in which to send them.
Secretary Bakers second appearance be-
ore the Senate committee came upon
-ateful day-the second Of the "shut-down''
Mondays, when the industries Of a section
f the country whose population exceeds
hat Of the German Empire have to stop
ior lack of coal. Ships in the harbor
Falt, new ships on the ways wait, our SOL
ers wait, munitions wait, the Allies wait
or foods and supplies, our railroads are
cut down in the deliveries they can make
Ill for lack Of coal. While we listen t,
he Secretary S fair words Of great accom-
plishments and yet greater things to come,
We may remember the part that he played
n bringing about this standstill of indus
'ry. This Secretary of War who appeared
yesterday was no different person from the
Secretary Of War who seven months ago.
IS president Of the Council of National De-
renee, gave out this amazing document:
My attention has been called through
the newspapers to the action reported to
haUc tahen place during the last week by
the so-colled committee Of coal production
in cooperation with certain coal producers.
This meeting seems to have adopted reso-
luton whereby the operators present agreed
TO sell bltumlnous coal at price not
higher than So a ton, and that this obliga-
rion should remain in force until some
such action had been taken by an author
lzcd governmental agency.
THE color which has been given to this
meeting IN the newspapers may well mis-
lead the public into the belief that the
Council OF National Defence has under
taken to sanction the fixing Of a coal price
by the coal production committee. there
to say that such action is clearly beyond
the legal power OF the coal production
committce and the information + have
think justitics me in believing that the
price of 50 suggested OR agreed on as a
maximum is an eror6itant, unjust and
oppressive price"
Consider what was here involved. This
agreement which Secretary Baker so vio-
lently denounced was formulated by q
committee headed by another member of
the Cabinet, and likewise member of the
Defence Council. This committee had in
duced the coal operators of the country tc
pledge themselves voluntarily to a basic
rate of So ton for coal, which meant =
reduction of from so to GO per cent of the
price they were then receiving on new
contracts. This reduction was not enoug1
for Secretary Baker; he must denounct
this as can exorbtant, unjust and oppres
sive price
The whole country by now knows tht
sequel. Thrown into confusion BY the con
flct OF authority, the summer was waste,
N hesitation, when large stores might hav.
been laid in for the winter. We doubt i
there is on record within this generation
at least, another case Of one Cabinet of4;co
lepudiating an agreement made in behal
OF the government by another Cabne
officer on such fateful issue as this Th
consequences will be felt alike in Americ,
and by our allies for months to come.
1t is the belief Of the leaders OF the Goa
industry that if tho Lane Peabody agree
lnent of last June had stood coal produc
tion would have gone on rising at the SAM
rate at which it had been rising for th,
previous fifteen months; the supply for tn,
fall and winter would have been abundant
there would have been no need for the ap
oointment of Fuel Administrator: ",
should not have had our railways tied ur
IN hard knot by priority orders; VIZ
should have had no Dr.. Garfield and nc
fuelless Mondays.
When Secretary Baker Iakes an appeal