Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-12-13
REGIONAL CHIEFS
GIVEN DISCRETION
AS TO TIME TO ACT
Remove Coal Limitations as
Soon as Supply Is
Available. -
SAME PROGRAM APPLICABLE
IN RESTORING TRAIN SERVICE
Unofficial Reports Say IS to 20
Per Cent of Miners Are
Back at Work.
OPERATORS CRITICIZE PLAN
central Pennsylvania District Accents
Proposal While Condcmuins
Settlement Method.
SAME PROGRAM APPLICABLE
IN RESTORING TRAIN SERVICE
OPERATORS CRITICIZE PLAN
Central Pennsylvania District Accents
Proposal While CondcmuinS
Settlement Method.
Try Associated Press,

WASHlNGTON. Dec. 12-Regiona1
directors or railroads were given au-
thority tonight by Dircctor-C;eneraI
Hines to remove restrictions on the use
of light, heat and power derived from
coal as soon as the fuel situation war
rants. The regional directors also wers
authorized to restore train service. re-
moved or curtailed to meet the coal
shortage, due TO the bituminous miners
strike, as soon as the fuel supply In
the various regions justifies.
Sending out OF the instructions con-
stituted the first step taken by the
government in the light Of expecta
tion that miners would accept the
governments strike settlement pro-
posal and return to work.
Coal Stiil Going West.
Director-Gcncral Hines, in ANNOUNCE
ing his action, said conditions in the
was being shipped from tho East to
the West. but that removal of restric
iers The mfht pai1roaS be snoEsiy 5astied
unoincial sttmates during the day tina
from So to 20. per cent OF the miners
had gone back to work. Private re-
ports to operators said that in ms
diana nearly all the men had returned,
but elsewhere good deal OF delay
Fuel Administrator Ciarfields resie-
nation. sent 70 President Wilson yes
terdny. was discussed by White House
officials, who expressed the belief that
1t would be accepted. though it was
not indicated that the President as
G yet had acted. The work of the fuel
would be transferred to the railroad
administration. DR.. Garfield refused to
ulscuSS the matter.
Operator. Criticize Terms.
Operators representing the central
Pennsylvania district. one of the Iarr-i
est in the United States. were the first
& TO act today upon the settlement pro-
ciZed It's terms with the utmost vigor
II. T. darkness. counsel for the fuel
an aaaminlstration, announced during the
purchasers prior to the RESUMPTION OF
the government price fixing could he
iGHga,ly raised to absorb the cost OF
the 1T per cent increase in the miners
wages granted under the strike settle
Coal mined on contract. II was
said. in most cases bore price below
the government maximum Of s2.s5 per
Ton mine run, and contracts ordinarily
70 pay additions in labor costs In
CURED after their making
t9ei adminstration statistics. it was
salu. indicated that even after the
addition of extra labor costs created
by the li per cont increase the larC--
waiM VS., portion hn 91 Of the contract coal still
mum.
Government Largest Consumer.
The government itself through the
railroad administration, which con-
sumes normally 81 per cent of all coal
under the ruling. il was pointed out
The War Department contracts were
SAID to give power to the Secretary
OF War TO make adjustments and 40
the settlement had the support of the
Sadninistration, it was assumed that
Secretary Baker would approve the in
crease ~
:, Much OF the Navy Department coal
IS neins Communicated. and some OF
heid which is ncnunion Private and
industrial consumers, supplied hv con-
tract coal. Will in most cases paw the
increase small amount of high
explained. would he sold for higher
price than the government maSjmnm
Probe rri"es Charged.
nriccs charged by coal operators
because Of the strike arc being scru-
tiniZed closely by officials Of the rail
road administration and probably will
Justice h' ''he"t OIL
Riis being rendered by the onera.
tors are said by officials to specify
prices higher in many instances than
ser ser by the government. and investiga.
tion VIII be made to determine whether
the increased prices are justified nv
EXISTING contracts in ali cases II was
sinnc!hed in the order restoring war
Iuent 10 November IS on contracts
made prior TO October 80 should he
PAID Tor at the contract rate. but so
him6nr hm6m coai mas been priced at the
mas heen deemed advisable.
DISCREPANCIES In prices have been
one one cause. according TO officials. OF the
nnanc!a! embarrassment OF which ths
operators have been complaining.