New-York tribune., 1918-06-15
Rejects Plan of Represents.
tive Smith TO Solve The
Fuel Problem.
Has Urged Closer
Co-operaton
Buffalo Man Believes Rail.
road Head Would Act In.
stead of Just Talking
By Carter Field
Special Dispatch to The Tr,s.r. ;,

Special Dispatch to The Tr,bsxe,
WASHINGTON, June 14.-Irritat.x
at the profusion of statements but Ia.s
Of action on the part OF Fuel Admins.
traitor Garfield to avert fuel shortao.
next winter, Representative Charles
Smith, OF Buffalo, has recommended Il
President Wilson that the fuel admiu;..
tration be made bureau in the Treas.
ury Department, with a view of endinr
all differences between the two arrsp.
izations and checking all shifting Of n.
sponsibihty from one to the other.
Mr.. Smith frankly thinks that Secre
tary of the Treasury McAdoo would
stop issuing statements and take scuut
action which would svoid the terrific
cost, in money as we'll as suffering of
fuel famine.
The President declined, FOR the pres.
ent at least, to put DR.. Garfield under
Mr.. McAdao; but assured Mr.. Smith b.
felt keenly about the fuel situation, a.
we'll as the transportation situation.
and had recently brought about "very
much closer coordination" between tbe
two organizations, which led him 10 be.
| lieve tnat there would be much ciosei
cooperation this winter than last.
Confident of Cooperation
! The Presidents letter follows:
"I have read with interest your
letter of May 25, and agree with it in
principle, though not in administra-
tive method. | feel very keenly that
the fuel problem centres about the
| problem of transportation, and with
that in view I have recently brought
about very much closer coordina.
tion between the fuel administration
and the railroad administration than
existed last winter. / have every con.
hdence that they will work in close
and disinterested cooperation.
CORDIALLY and sincerely yours,
WOODROW WILSON,"
"You can say that I feel just ths
same as | did when I wrote the letter
to the President said Mr.. Smith. 4
don't pretend to understand what is ii
DR.. Garfeld's mind, but I know that'
we are drifting toward fuel short
age that will be worse than that of
last winter and he is doing nothing
absolutely nothing except to issus
statements calling on people to get
their coal in early and to economic.
and warning of the curtailments which
will be necessary.
Many Cannot Get Coal Now
"ln the first place, the people can
not do any better than they are doing
on getting their coal in early. / kncv
of hundreds of cases in my district
alone-others in New York City, IL
Washington, all over the country, ID
fact-where people cannot get the eosl
they have ordered. They are WAITING
with dread for fuel famine next win.
ter, and nothing is being done.
SHow are people going to economic
on coal? Does Dr.. Garfield think sny
one has been wasting coal? AS for The
curtailment threats, they are msrt
weak admissions that he can do moth.
ing positive to help the situation.
Il believe frankly that if Mr.. Nc
Adoo were in charge of the fuel situs-
tion-which the President admits cen
tres about the problem of transports.
tion'-all this apprehension of fuel
/ famine would shortly disappear. and
tunr1l, G,,I k,nC IN.
ter filled up to overhowing. believe
that not factory would have to Close
down for lack of fuel and that not
family would suffer for lack of firf
if they could afford TO buy coal.
"This belief is based merely on fhe
assurance that Mr.. McAdoo would tax
some quick estion now to avoid TINS
menace. If the railroads cannot carr
the coal which is being mined, or whics
could be mined, he would have some er
tensions rushed in to the coal countrJ
on which the coal could be poured cut
If the problem is getting enough cos
mined, he would see to it that it wa
mined, even if it were necessary to cor
script men 20 mine the coal.
Waste of Garfield Method
Incidentally, the Lest from excess
pIontS ana income taxes aione Na's-
will result to the Treasury from On:
workless day such as we experiences
last winter would more than pay for trx l
railroad construction necessary, II AM
should be shown to be necessary.
"As matter of fact, ! am informse
that at present the railroad situation y
ahead of the mining situation--tns
more cars can be delivered TO even
mine than that mine can fill. Meab
while. DR.. Garfield talks of curtailmens
in industry and warns of a serious 81
uation next winter, instead Of delas
something to stimulate mine proo'e
ton.
"r have little hope of the fuel sAas
tion so long as DR.. Garfield remain. - :.
the head of it. If Mr.. McAdoc IS =
busy to take over this problern, SOD
other man who is not afraid 70 =
should be put in charge"