The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-11-19
R. R. Director Hines to Again
Reduce Passenger Train
Service.

CnlcdBO, NOV. l9.--Ine growing
menace of the coal sitaation was the
subject today of further discussion
by Walker ID. Hines, director general
of railroads, and seven regional di-
rectors. Possible action talked about
included q further reduction in pas
senger train service and shutting off
coal from nonessential industries.
Mr.. Hines indicated he would issue
q statement after the meeting re-
garding steps to be taken to con-
serve the coal supply now available.
what we will consider is what
means can be employed. by elimina-
tion of consumption except where
1t Is indispensable, to conserve our
coal reserve" said Mr.. Hines.
Meanwhile, reports from virtually
all sources were of vanishing sup
ply Of hituminous coal as. the miners
remained firm in their disposition to
await announcement of agreement
by the apparently deadlocked miners
operators conference at Washing
ton. OF the great union fields only
West Virginia reported an appreci-
able amount of fuel brought out, 1t
being said rs per cent. of the mines
in that state were being operated.
| An immediate prospect of a decla-
ration of military control in the min
ing districts of Iowa, with state oper-
alton of mines. a strike of returned
miners in Wyoming, said to have been
due mainly to activities of radicals,
and withdrawal of federal troops
| from West Virginia marked main
developments in the mining districts
during the last twenty-four hours
Use of state soldiers in Wyoming was
threatened by the governor unless ef-
forts Of radicals to intimidate min
ers which desired to work ceased.
The regional directors generally in
formed Mr.. Hines that the railroads
had sufficient fuel for several days
the statement of the central west di.
rector being an exception.
No general freight embargo will
be considered, Mr.. Hines said, adding
that restricting the fuel supply o
nonessential industries in itsel
would sharply curtail freight ship
ments.
Scale Committees Negotiating.
Washington, Nov. 19.-Scale com
nittees Of bituminous miners anc
operators in the central competitive
field went into exc cutive session to
day to negotiate a wage contract
after Federal Fuel Administrator
Garfield had urged upon them thu
necessity for .ad djusting their differ
ences and aproducing the coal th
country needs.
Immediately after converting, tn
operators and miners decided to con
tinue their negotiations through
subcommittee of eight from each side
DR.. Garfield expressed regret tina
the operators and miners had no
established a permanent body to ad
judicate their disputes. Lacking that
he said, the question revolved aroun'
the cost Of production.
do you think the mine worker
should give consideration to the op
! orators because they have to pa,
taxes?" asked John l.. Lewis, presi
dent Of the United Mine Workers.
, Garfield Answers.
: "The question is whether the con
,, sumer should pay enough to cove
! the excess profits tax and at tn
same time give the operators thei
normal profit, too," replied DR.. Gar
field.
IF the federal government took a
the profits bv taxation, even that cir
cumstance should not prevent tn
miners from asking reasonable in
: creases," said Lewis.
well, we must bear in mind tha
the Lever act guarantees reason
s able profit on the production of fuel
returned Dr. Garfield. Congress
responsible for all tax enactments
Reply to Green.
! Replying to William Green, secre
: tary of the United Mine Worker
4 DIR. Garfield said the fuel admnistra
3 ton, in increasing the price of Coz
q during the war, had made an allow
ance of Is cents for overhead eS
penses because there was not time
make a minute examination int
every case, and for the same reaso
10 cents was allowed as royalty.
J. Referring to the Is cents allowe
t for wages, DR.. Garfield said that wt
Il "crude thing to do" but that it VIZ
c later found that amount was in IL
>, average, absorbed by wages.
n Thomas T. Brewster, chairman
the operators "scale committee
told the miners that "a fabulous ma
gin in the coal industry does n
exist" DR.. Garfields impartial fl
:, ures," he said, had refuted the r,
h ports of enormous profits in the co
= business, which, he said, had bee
l. rim on n slender margin,