The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-10-30
NEED NOT REVIVE
FUEL CONTROL
Garfield Advises Cabinet Rail-
road Administration Has
Authority Over Coal.

road Administration Has
Authority Over Coal.
Washington, Oct 30.--Revival Of
the fuel administration to deal with
conditions growing out of the coal
strike is not necessary, DR., Harry A.
Garfield advised the presidents cabi-
net today, holding that the wartime
powers of that body now are vested
in the railroad administration, which
will have full authority to distribute
coal to essential industries.
Members of the cabinet said If DR..
Garfield's suggestion was adopted 1t
would obviate the necessity of ask
ing congress for money to reorganize
the fuel administration and that the
railroad administration could allocate
coal in accordance with the preferen-
tial list in effect during the coal
shortage two years ago.
While revival of the fuel adminis-
tration has been urged by govern
and profiteering, the department of
justice announced it had power to
handle that situation under the food
control act.
An executive order restoring maxi
mum prices for coal will be issued
by President Wilson, probably today.
Officials would not say what maxi
mum had been determined upon.
Ready to Face Situation.
Considered as one of the greatest
catastrophes that could befall the
country, and by some said to threaten
more far-reaching consequences to
the people Of the United States than
the world war, the government is said
to stand ready in every way to face
the issue SO clearly laid down by the
coal miners in session at Indianap-
oils. The miners declared:
1.-THE issue has been made, and II
it must be settled upon the field of
industrial battle, the responsibility
rests fairly and squarely upon the
coal barons alone"
Refuted BY Palmer.
The federal government, through
Atty. Gen. Palmer, has refuted this
statement, declaring the miners lead
ers last September ordered the strike,
not only. without consulting the mass
of miners themselves, but without
first giving the operators chance to
The position of the government re-
mains that the strike, under existing
circumstances, Is unlawful and that
IL carried to its logical conclusion,
would paralyze transportation and in
dustry, deprive unnumbered thou
sands of men of their right to earn a
living for themselves and families
put cities in darkness, bring hunger
and cold to millions and, If continued
for one month, leave death and star
walton in it's wake. In effect, iii
would be a more deadly attack upon
the life of the nation than an invad-
ing army"
OF Short Duration.
Nevertheless, and while conferences
are in progress looking toward min
imizing the effect of the strike upor
the public at large, faint hope /.
still felt in certain quarters that ever
if this strike in itself now seems in
evitable, it may be of short duration
perhaps even of only a few days du.
! ration.
To CurtaiI Consumption.
Secretary Lane announced as the
cabinet met that the government
| would not hesitate to curtail the con
sumption of coal in industries SO pc
| cent. in order that the coal on hanc
and that available from unaffected
nonunion mines might be equitabl!
distributed to essential industries.
The curtailment list used by thu
war industries board during the wa
would be taken as the basis for tn
industries to be supplied. Mr.. Lam
said; plants engaged in manufactur
| i,,or r,,iohf ha Ht,f nff alto
gether.
| The current supply Of coal from
nonunion mines Is sufficient to NEE
domestic demands and supply tn
needs of railroads and public utili
ties, Mr.. Lane said. New Englan
has stored away two months sup
ply, which will take care of all re
quirements for that period.
Must Reduce Production.
Industries will probably have t
reduce their production by SO pc
cent. because of the coal strike" ac
cording to Secretary of the Interio
Lane, who today stated he had thi
information from the bureau of mines
There will be sufficient production
of coal for domestic purposes an
for the railroads." Secretary Ian
said, but we may have some diff
Guilty in providing for the publ
utilities" Secretary Lane declare
that the government officials now sc
their way clear to produce 100000,
900 tons of coal for current use dur
ing the winter.
There is a two months supply G
coal for New England stored in Bos
ton, and a winters supply for tn
northwest stored in Duluth" Secre
tary Wilson said.
Secretary Lane declared that ther
are 100000 coal miners and but 400
900 of them will be affected by tn
strike.
1.-THE president will be asked toda
, to make an order eanceIling the sus
hension of restrictions to the prie
Of coal, which will have the effect c
restoring the maximum prices. Upo
the making Of that order the fuel ad
ministrator will take such action a
) may be necessary to protect con
surners both as to price and distribl
( tion Of fuel.'