Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-02-14
CONTROL OF FUEL
Full Exposition Of Governments
Conduct Of This
Work.
WORK WELL ORGANIZED
Value 81 commission's Labors Wsli
ENTHUSIASTICALLY on Lakes
Averted Serious Famine In
Northwest.

m1nlStfatlVe 0uxlilofy OF the fo06fol
government IL more in the public eye
than the national fuel administration.
II Is probable that this condition will
continue at least 80 long IS cold
weather persists. The FIRST pinch Of
the war was felt in the winter Of
1861. when the local demand for
coal exceeded the supply. and there
resulted hardship and industrial diff
fculties. With this shortage went
rapidly mounting prices. The situa-
ton became 80 acute that IN Juno
1917. Congress adopted resolution
asking the Federal Commission to In
vestigate the anthracite coal situa.
ton. 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 q considerable extent in
industry.
The estimate Of the 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
| withstanding, the prices OF coal, when
It came time to make contracts in the
| early summer of 1917, had increased
for large consumers 100 to $50 per
cert and for small consumers by 200
/ to 400 per cent.
! After thorough inves. i-atlon, the
Federal Trade Commission June 10
/ made the following Recommendation:
"First, that the production and dis
| tribution of coal and coke be conduct
ed through a pool In the hands OF q
government agency; that the produc.
ers OF the various grades of fuel be
paid their full cost CT production, plus
a uniform profit per ton.
Second, that the transportation
agencies OF the United States, boti,
rail and water, be similarly pooled and
operated on Government account, ua-
der direction of the President. and
that all such means of transportation
be operated as unit, the owning cor
poration being paid just AMI fair
compensation which would cover nor.
nal net profit s.upkeep aad better.
Ments."
Following this report. tho coal situa
ton became moro and more acute. and
finally bill giving the President
authority to exercise drastic powers
became law August IL. 1HiT. On
August 20, Robert S. Lovett was made
general agent under the Priority Ship
nlent Act and given full authority to
require the roads o: the county con
cerned in the transportation of coal
10 give coal priority in Transports
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
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 thu
work of the fuel administrator
which now extends to every state ant
district and county and city in tn
: United States. What that commits
sion has accomplished is well know
: here in the northwest. which but 70
priority shipments Of coal via til
great lakes during the season OF nav
igation would pay millions more 70
its fuel, If it were possible to obtai,
eastern Goals at any price. Fuel ad
m:nistrators in every state wer
named September IS. and each fed
! eral fuel administrator appointed TO
his state an advisory committee an
, certain local committees, which ar
, tho ultimate finger tips Of the fue
, administration. authorized on approva
r Of the state administrator to invest
;. gate and remedy cases Of hardship O
1 unegu;ty, subject to reversal or az
j. peal to the United States Fuel Ad
a lninistrator. They also are to kee
). the state adm Illustration informed q
0 to local conditions and needs and t
t lend assistance in providing relief. ;
The most importan: duty Of tn
f state fuel administrators is to Sc
d that the supply Of fuel In their state
e is equitably distributed at fair price.
b II is the intention Of the United State
l. fuel administrator to see that tn
state administrators are provided wit
# the necessary authority to divert fue
>. in transit when necessity arises. Tht
). authority already has been conferre
e on State Fuel Administrator /. T
a Baker and on similar officials in othe
states. The state administrators ma
require. as has been done In Mort
Dakota, dealers to deliver only lin
II ted supply to any one customer, an
d 10 require customers TO give info
n nation cor rernin g ti?eir supply o
a hand and their requirements. The
n may take measure to prevent hoart
IS ing. In general l; is desired that
II reasonable control be exercised
t. confidence and agreement and enfo.
F.,i -. 4 ~,