Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-09
DIRECTOR or RAILROADS LOOKS
FOR SHORTAGE AND PRICE
PRoEiTEERINe.
BLAMEs PUBLIC FOR
HARDsHlPs TO COME
Admits Transportation Difficulties Are
Real and Prices Will Be Boosted
When Shortage Appears Next Win
ter-Makes Suggestions For Rem.
edyino Some Of Existant Evils.
TBy T.. @. Dougherty.l

Washington, Sept s.-That prof.
teering in coal is likely to materialize
this fall and winter was made plain
before the senate committee investi-
eating the coal situation when Walker
d. Hines, director general of railroads
appeared. Hines offered four sugges
lions which he thought would relieve
what he said was certain to come--a
large coal shortage and resultant hiGr
prices. These suggestions were:
Funds to permit an accurate O.
innate of the coal produced.
Accurate estimate Of the amount
of coal that is necessary.
S-Publicity of the cost OF coal at
the mines and to the retail dealer.
4-EXtension of the Lever bill. giving
full government control of fuel for the
coming winter.
Director General Hines warned the
committee that coal operators will take
advantage of transportation difficult
ties this winter and use these difficult
ties as a pretext for increasing the
price Of coal.
Transportation difficulties are
real" Mr.. Hines said. II am afraid
that whatever transportation shortage
exists will be made a preteNt for an
increase in the price Of coal which will
be an unjust burden on the public.
These transportation difficulties are
going to be played up. They are GO
ing TO be exploited and perhaps ex-
banded. They will be stressed until a
public state Of mind fearing impending
disaster is created, which will furnish
basis for an increase in prices. which
the public ought not 10 stand for.
Il do not mean ITO accuse the coal
operator, but it is only human nature
that when they find a condition for
which they can not possibly be blamed.
they should take advantage of it and
play it up and exploit it for the pub
licv
BIames Public.
Mr.. Hines said much OF the blame
for the cosi situation which threat
ems is due to the failure of the public
to lay in their winters supply this
spring or summer. He said that whole
sale buying Is beginning now and that
the increased market has caused a
drain on the railroads to haul the coal.
Local boarding" of coal will be
practiced. Mr.. Hines told the commit
tee. and he urged steps be taken to
prevent this practice. He advocated
that the Lever law be extended to en-
power the government to control fuel
in order that the winters supply would
be assured and the coal shortage be
equally distributed thruout the coun-
try instead of Isolated in one section.
The lack OF wartime power is max
ing the coal problem more Difficult.
this year than last, Mr.. Hines said
The failure Of any power to govern the
distribution of fuel may allow discrim-
ination and cause expensive shipping
which does not tend to increase the
fun supply or hold prices down.
The fuel situation, with the unset
tied railroad controversy, senators de-
clared. may be expected to cause con-
siderable hardship this winter unless
settlement of the problems are
reached before cold weather sets in. 1t
is admittedly one OF the biggest. prob
lens that the government has ever fac
ed. and while the president has called
a conference between capital and Ia
Dor and agriculture for early in Oc-
tober. some senators are not sanguine
of the prospect of permanent settle
ment of the difficulties in time 10 avert
some hardship.