Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-10-31
CABINET PLANS
STEPS TO EASE
CRISIS I'm FUEL
Minimum Price on Soft Coal Decided Upon, But
Not on Hard for Present; Confiscation in
Transit and ALLEGATION Assigned to Railroads;
Cut Of so Per Cent for Industries Is Likely.

Washington, Oct. 3O.-Ihe
government put on its fighting
clothes today to meet the coal
strike due to start Saturday.
While order after order pop
ped out with startling wartime
swiftness, the long arm of the
law reached out to protect the
public and those miners willing
to remain at work in the face OF
union commands to quit. De.
velopments included:
Orders to railroads to confiscate
all coal In transit, if necessary, to
build up and reserve for operation
of the railroads.
Re-estahIishment of the priOrities
list of the fuel administration, SO
that the railroads. public service
utilities and essential Industries
is mined and that in storage.
Preparation of an executive order.
establishing maximum prices for
coal and completion of plans by the
Department Of Justice to punish
those guilty of profiteering and
boarding.
Announcement by Secretary Lane
that the government will not hesi-
tate to curtaiI consumption Of coal
essential industries might be kept
in operation.
Discussion of the situation by
President Wilson's cabinet. which
met In special session at the call OF
Secretary Lansing.
Working out of plans by which
miners who wish to continue work
will be afforded every protection
including that of federal troops
should that become necessary.
NO CHANCE FOR G0UGERs.
Most drastic was the order of the rail
road administration for seizure of coal
in transit for roads requiring it and
rationing of stocks on hand to essential
industries.
So far as the government is able. to
prevent, there will be no profiteering
Almost the first step. today, was draft
night. fixing minimum price for al!
grades of coal. establishment of the
priority list will put coal where it is
most needed. and if it comes to pinch.
the government will curtail consump-
ton.
Non-Union Supply for Roads.
If curtailment is resorted to. the
curtailment list used by the war in
dustries board during the war would be
taken as the basis for the industries to
be supplied. Mr.. Lane said. plants en-
gagged in manufacturing munitions might
be cut off altogether.
The current supply Of coal from non
union mines is sufficient TO meet
domestic demands and supply the needs
Of railroads and public utilities, Mr..
Lane said.
At the conclusion of the special
cabinet meeting. Attorney Genera
Palmer announced that the fuel admin
stration would take control Of the han
ding Of the, coal and would use hi
authority under the Lever act to take
whatever steps might be necessary to
meet the situation.
Garfield Still on lob.
The agencies to be used by the fuel
administrator in carrying out his plans
will be the department of interior and
the railroad administration.
Mr.. Palmer pointed out that DR..
Harry A. Garfield still was fuel admi-
nistrator and could exercise his authority
without resurrectiEg the fuel administrs-
ton.
Attorney Genera! Palmer said later
the restoration of the maximum prices
on Goa! would apply to anthracite as
well as bituminous, but DIR. Carried ex-
cepted anthracite for the present.
President Enters Fight.
Breaking down the rule which had
kept members of the cabinet away from
his sick room, President Wilson took
hand in the fight. today, and person
ally approved every detail in the general
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