The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-02-28
COAL FAMINE
UNNECESSARY
Lodge Declares Amateurs
Responsible for Fuel
Scarcity
RAPS PRICE-FIXING
BY ADMINISTRATION
Asserts Hoover Competent,
but Handicapped by
Incompetents

Washington, Feb. 2s.--Goyernmeni
price fixing as method OF preventing
profiteering has proved failure, accord
ing to Senator Lodge of Massachusetts
who yesterday gave the Senate the con.
illusions he had drawn from the recent
Investigations OF the coal and sugar
shortages. In the case of coal he said
price fixing had only served 10 curtail
production, while the food administra-
tion's price plan for sugar had kept
western beet sugar from the eastern
states and in the mean time retailers OF
coal and sugar had profteered.
ITO prevent prohteering by few"
he explained, "the fundamental error of
the administration was that policy
for all Of fixing prices-declared fail.
ure in both Germany and France-was
adopted, instead of one of stimulating
and increasing production
Blame for the coal shortage, Senator
Lodge laid to the fuel administration
price-fiSing plan and railroad difficult
ties. The closing order he described as
complete confession of impotence and
failure" He denounced the fuel admin
istration as an unnecessary agency"
which was composed largely of am
ateurs."
The senator dealt in milder man
ner with the food administration. Al.
though asserting fixing the price of sug
ar was mistaken policy" and the
sugar famine largely artificial, he added:
I'm Justice to Mr.. Hoover, he made
every effort to get rail distribution and
get Java sugar. How much he was
thwarted by the railroad situation and
the tangle of priority orders ] do not
know, but | am certain that if he had
been efficiently aided, instead OF being
crossed by other commissions, there
could have been no sugar famine in the
eastern states"
Discussing the procedure of the fuel
Senator Lodge said:
"They fixed a price which made il inn !
possible to work many mines, frightened /
the producer and tended to reduce pro- I
duction.
Not content with this they also set |
to work to change the whole system of |
distribution. No more reckless expert.
ment could have been better calculated
TO make railroad difficulties almost in
superable. AT single blow they par.
tally paralyzed all the machinery Of
distribution, Only ignorance of econom-
C laws could be offered a. an excuse
"The result of the fuel administra-
ions policy was to add to the already
enormous railroad difficulties by Great
ng chaos in distribution and adding to
III this suspense, alarm and uncertainty
lue to fixing an arbitrary price.
'The system adopted by Mr.. Hoover
lad at least the merit Of maintaining
production The system Of making
litferent coal price at each mine was
Even if they kept prices
Town, which is purely guesswork, they
,rought coal famine with this nom
nal fixed price.
Declaring the railroad problem could
ave been solved, Senator Lodge con
inued
But nothing can be more certain than
hat the policy of the fuel administra
ion, its fattempt to substitute new
cheme of distribution, its reckless price
king brought on coal famine in a
ountry which has more coal than any
/ the world"
Either Secretary Lane or Francis s.
eahody, Senator Lodge said should
ave had charge Of the coal situation.
Ie denounced comforting of vast powers
pom state fuel administrators.
$50 far as / can learn the senator
dded, "the only qualification of these
entlemen is that they should be Demo
ats"
Senator Lodge warned the Senate
gainst official interference with what
,me government bureau might decide
, be a non essential industry, Neither
: sale, in conclusion, should those who
ticise government affairs be charged
it'll being friends of Germany
Il think il will be wise to limit at
cks upon patriotism of men merely be-
use we differ from them as to the
amer in which the war is being con
icted," he said Patriotism is not con
led to those appointed to more or less
iportant offices in Washington. There
a tendency TO make the test of pa
iotism blind unquestioning support
It only of the president himself. but
everyone he sees fit to appoint. 1t is
II duty to support the president, but
yer beyond what our conscientious
nvictions of duty to the country and
a cauCa demand y