The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-12-11

WILL REl.1A|N
DIc,LOCATI0N OF
FUEL SUPPLIES
Make 1t Necessary to Contir
Conservation Of Coal For
a Time

WASHINGTON. Dec %. - Expr"s-
sions by government officials or salts
rariiun and relief at the settlement or
tho nation wide strike Of hiiumlnous
coal miners were coupled tonight VITA
warnings To the American pc"pI" thht
early relaxation II III" drastic rcStrlc-
t;OnS on the consumption OF coal must
not hr expected.
Fuel Administrator Garfield immc-
diatrly on request of word that the
miners in Indianapolis had agreed I"
accept President Wilson'S proposal. dc"
clar"d that immediate removal of rcgu-
lations on soft coal consumption WAS
not TO be considered.
Director General Hines In n formal
statement asserted that diSlocatl"n
created by the strike could not be rem
CdicI instantly. TIL" public. Mr.. Hines
said will hc expected In continue con
serving fuel until normal conditions are
restored, but Just as soon rs praC: icable
restrictions Will be rcSCindcd or modi-
fled.
Hines Statement.
AS a preliminary to bringing bn>k
normal conditions" said the director
general" coal mined will be allowrr
10 run as billed. except the tidcwat"r
and export embargo will continue; or.
d"rs placed TO western regions from Po-
cahontas and Allegheny regions will be
cancelled. but coal billed on these
orders prior to cancellation. will be
permitted to 20 and be expedited so thGt
these cars ca be promptly released for
mines"
The railroad administration. Director
Hines announced. would aid in meeting
the needs of ether consumers by rcduc-
ing its supply to n ten days margin.
The administration has been maintain
ing a fifteen day supply. While the
two government agencies directly con-
cerned with distribution Of the available
supply OF bituminouS coal-which 1t is
estimated has been cut 36.00O.000 tons
by the forty-day strike--wcrc issu!n: Z:
their warnings. White House officials
indicated that steps would be taken i'm
mediately to carry out the provisions Of
the presidents proposal relating to in
vestigation Of wages and work ing con-
ditions in the bituminous fields by q
commission Of three. In fact It was in
timatcd that tho president already had
practically decided on the appoin; ments
to the commission and was awaiting
only the return of Attorney General Pal
mer from indianapolis before announc-
ing the names q the three members.
Some Uncertainty.
when and how the operators would BE-
informed Of the settlement and Of the
provisions Of the settlement. Indivi-
dual operators intimated that they cX-
pected Attorney General Palmer or
some other government representative
TO inform them soon as to what they
were expected to do under the settle
mcnt 1t was pointed out that the only
agreement in which operators actually
arc concerned was that which the cen
trail scale committee OF the compcti-
tive field made with DR.. Garfield. Tho
presidents proposal. It was said. might
vary considerably from that and some
operators in the central field. or in out
lying fields might not consider them
selves bound. but there wcrn no signs
Of any such intention evident
In his statement Director General
Hines said weekly coal production was
cut from eleven to twelve million tons
during the strike to about five million
tons, which was mostly mined in Penn
sylvania and West Virginia. Unusual
routes and long hauls for coal during
the strike resulted in equipment being
scattered and 1t is not anticipated that
all mines can be supplied with cars to
normal extent for period of time. said
Mr.. Hines.
The director general expressed the
hope that the public. coal operators and
miners would appreciate the difficulties
and make allowances for time required
to restore normal conditions. He said
that regulations in connection with use
of bituminous coal for power. light and
heat will be rescinded or modified Just
as soon az practicable"