Courier Democrat., 1918-02-14
CONTROL OF FuEE.
Full Exposition Of Governments
Conduct of This
Work.
WORK WELL ORGANIZED
Value Of Commissions Labors WelI
derstood-Priority on Lakes
Averted Serious Famine in
Northwest

Bismarck, N. DAT present no ad-
ministrative auxiliary of the federal
government is more in the public eye
than the national fuel administrations
1t is probable that this condition will
continue at least so long as cold
weather persists. The first pinch al
the war was felt in the winter of
1867, when the local demand for;
ccal exceeded the supply, and there
resulted hardship and Industrial dlt4
ticult1es. With this shortage went
rapidly mounting prices. The situar
ton became so acute that in Juna
1917, Congress adopted a resolution
asking the Federal Commission to in
vestigate the anthracite coal situa-
tion. The Trade Commission real.
ized that the anthracite coal problem
could not be considered apart from
that OF bituminous coal, for the reas-
| on that under conditions OF increased
demand one must take the place OF
the other to considerable extent In
industry.
The estimate of tho amount of coal
which was needed during the year
ending June 80, 1917, as compared With
the previous year, indicating an In
crease of only about 10 per cent Not
wtthstanding, the prices of coal, when
1t came time to make contracts in the
early summer of 1917, had increased
for large consumers 100 to $50 per
| cent and for small consumers by 200
| to 400 per cent.
After thorough investigation, the
Federal Trade Commission June 70
made the following recommendation:
"First, that the production and dis.
tribution of coal and coke be conduct
ed through pool in the hands of a
government agency; that the produc.
ers of the various grades Of fuel be
paid their full cost of production, plus
uniform profit per ton.
| Second, that the transportation
agencies of the United States, both
rail and water, be similarly pooled and
operated on Government account, IN.
! der direction of the President, and
| that all such means of transportation
be operated as unit, the owning cor
poration being paid a just and fair
compensation which would cover nor
NAL net profit, upkeep and better
ments."
| Following this report. the coal situa
tion became more and more acute, and
finally bill giving the President
authority to exercise drastic powers
became law August 10, 1877. On
| August 20, Robert S. Lovett was made
general agent under the Priority Ship
ment Act and given full authority to
require the roads o. the country con-
| cerned in the transportation of coal
10 give coal priority in transporta-
ton. BY executive orders, the Presi.
| dent, upon the basis of information
furnished him by the Federal Trade
Commission temporarily fixed scale
| of prices for bituminous and anthra.
cite coal.
The President did not take advan.
tage Of an authority in the law to place
the control of coal under the Federal
Trade Commission, but decided to ap-
point fuel commissioner. DR.. Harry
| A. Garfield, was appointed to this of.
fee August %, 1917
With this appointment began the
| work Of the fuel administration
which now extends to every state and
district and coanty and city in the
United States. What that commits.
| sion has accomplished is we'll known
here in the northwest, which but for
| priority shipments of coal via the
great lakes during the season of nav.
igation would pay millions more for
Its fuel, if it were possible to obtain
eastern Goals at any price. Fuel ad-
ministrators in every state we're
| named September %, and each fed
eral fuel administrator appointed for
his state an advisory committee and
certain local committees, which are
the ultimate finger tips of the fuel
| administration, authorized on approval
| of the state administrator to investi-
gate and remedy cases Of hardship or
uneQuity, subject to reversal or ap-
peal to the United States Fuel Ad-
lninistrator. They also are to keep
the state administration informed az
to local conditions and needs and to.
lend assistance in providing relief.
The most important duty Of theF
state fuel administrators is to- sesE
that the supply Of fuel In THAR sfatea]
70 eouitably distributed at 3air ytlces.
II 10 tho intention OF the United katea.
fuel administration to see tAA& thai
state administrators sSs nrovsda&witM
ehs necessary authority 20 aiyx&& hal
In transit when necassssy arsseG Thfhl