New-York tribune., 1918-01-22

administrators, but to those of New
renewal of coal seizures and an at
tempt to divert to the Public Service
Corporation of New Jersey coal in
tended for ships in the harbor and for
consumers in New York City,
Mr: Wiggin reported the seizure to
Dr.. Garfield. He said it was made by
Administrator Fall, of Jersey City, in
the name of the Jersey City Board of
Health, and said
"This is the same old question. We
protest violently. This Office must not
be interfcrrcd with by seizure of local
New Jersey administrators. Please give
the necessary orders at once"
Low wages, Mr. Wiggin declared, had
been responsible for some Of the di
cultles which bcset the attempt to
break the coal famine, and unless the
recommendation regarding reclassif-
cation and pooling Of anthracite were
put into effect. he asserted that hard
coal shipments, already far short of
requirements, would be further re-
duced by the now dcmurrage rule of
$40 day per car. which became etTec-
tive yesterday on all shipments. cX-
ceptlng soft coal consigned to the
Tidcwater Exchange pool.
Message 10 Garfield
The state administrator reviewed
conditions in general in the following
telegram to Dir. Garfield:
"The average daily unloading OF
bituminous in January, 1918, at the
Port of New York has been 2S, 400 tons
Minimum daily necessities for priori-
ties named by you in Section One of
your order of January II are as fol-
!.
New York, 5000 tons; incnerators to
burn garbage, 900 tons; flour and abb
batoirs, 900 tons; sugar, $500 tons;
dealers, $500 tons, for hospitals and
other uses named in Section One of
your order. For ships situation as fol-
lows-1O00o to $1,000 tons for new
shipping coming into harbor daily;
100000 tons needed for shipping accu-
mutation
"Anthracite situation as follows:
DAILY average deliveries to New York,
about $4,000 tons during January. The
average normal daily requirements
during next sixty days estimated at
10000 to $4,000 tons. Impossible to
calculate with entire accuracy how
much OF this necessary for uses spcci-
tied in Section | of your order of
January II, but safe to estimate that
from IS to so per cent necessary for
such uses.
"Best single day in January. 1918.
was total unloading of anthracite and
bituminous of 74,43O tons. This is at
least 25.000 to 10000 tons short of
minimum requirements. Much faster
unloading at the docks absolutely nee
essary to relieve situation. Docks must
unload at least 100000 tons a day un-
der normal winter weather conditions,
and can do it with enough labor, using
three shifts of eight hours, working all
docks twentyfour hours.
What Is Required
"This situation requires appointment
of commissioner by railroads, with pie
nary power, to compel docks to work
twenty,four hours day, pay larger
wages tor work if necessary and COM
pletely and effectively control railroads
in this respect, for these docks are op-
Grated or controlled in all cases by
transportation companies.
Port of New York cannot distribute
more Goa! without immediate relief ut
the docks. 1t probably cannot even re-
ceive its minimum requirements for
uses specified in Section of your order.
Have urged railroads to give Dock Com
missioner already appointed full power
and urge your assistance with authori-
ties to bring this about.
Aside from this congestion at the
docks which we have explained in such
detail, it must be borne in mind that
there is not sufficient coal in transit
to New York to take care of its imme
diate requirements, and that increased
shipments from the mines are essen
tial."
Specific indictment of the railroads.
however, was made by Mr. Wiggin in
the following message to Washington:
"On December 81 we had thorough
investigation made of unloading at
Jersey docks for New York tidewater.
as result of which we made recon-.
mendations to all of the coal CARRYING
railroads. day or two later we had
a meeting with the presidents of these
railroads and Assistant Director Cen
eral Smith, and the situation was thor
oughly explained to them
The result of our conference was
that all railroad presidents agreed the
chief difficulty was labor situation.
largely on account of the fact that