The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-10-31

4 49,
thrown around all mining property and
uining communities win be placed I'm
der provost guard for ths protection OF
life wherever this is warranted by dis
order or threat OF disorder and wherever
IL b asked by State or municipal au-
thorities.
War Department estimates place the
number OF mobile troops now in the
United States and stin under arms at
about 2so,ooo. lit should become nee
essary in order to maintain the output
OF coal there will be no hesitation In
using the entire force. While so far as
can be learned the movement of troops
to the mines has not started. army
forces are being kept In or shifted to
centres from which they can be rushed
to the mines on short notice.
Walker d. Hines, Director-General OF
Railroads. attended the Cabinet meet
ing again to-day. The Railroad Admin
istfation Is working hand In glove with
the War Department and other Federal
agencies to combat the menace to The
public involved in the coming strike and
is ready for troop movements on a mo-
nent's notice. Passenger equipment has
been assembled at terminals where Il
win be needed for quick entrainment.
The Quartermaster Corps is rushing
al details for the supply not only Of
troops which will be sent to the mine
areas but Of the civilian populations
there as we'll This precaution is be-
ing taken by the War Department be-
cause OF the possibility of having to es.
tsblish virtual camps for the better pro-
lection OF the patriotic miners and their
families.
Motors for Moving Troops.
Motor trains are practically IN readl-
ness at great many points to sup
plement the railroads In rushing troops
TO the mines.
Or. Garfield, although he has for the
last several months been devoting him
self to his duties as president of Will
Jams College, has remained technically
the United States Fuel Administrators.
DR. Garfield was called into the Cabinet
meeting to-day and the former plan to
invest his powers and duties in some
other official was discarded II was de-
tsrmined to urge him to take up this
public duty again and to administer the
distribution Of coal In the impending
crisis.
The big war organization Of the Fuel
Administration will not be revived, how
ever. This will not be necessary, as the
nucleus of the organisation was assimi-
lated bodily by the Interior Department
IN the bureau of mines in the Geological
Survey. These two bureaus have large
organizations for handling the problems
to be met both in coal production and
distribution and their existence makes II
Unnecessary to suffer the delay that
would ensue were II necessary to build a
new organization and secure appropria.
lions from Congress.
DIR. Garfield, Secretary of the Interior
Lane and other officials are convinced
that further appropriations and add.
tional legislation are unnecessary. while
an appropriation would be necessary tc
create in its entirety the Fuel Admins.
tration. as old appropriations for 1t have
lapsed.
DIR. Garfield is not yet prepared Il
make any statement as to his plans fol-
operation but 1t 10 possible that he will
call to his aid some of the dollar year
men who served as his advisers during
the war and who are fully equipped with
knowledge Of the present problem.
Mr.. Hines took the initial step in ap.
plying priorfties and the order of Goa
distribution. While technically his orders
for the holding and diversion of Goa
shipments were designed to protect the
railroads from coal famine they in effec,
put into immediate operation the line O,
priority to be followed by the Govern,
ment In coal distribution during tn,
strike.
Order Of Coal Priority.
The order of priority follows:
l. Steam railroads, inland and coast
vise vessels.
.. Domestic. including hotels. hos
Ditals and asyiuma
.. Navy and army.
such portion or plants as. SUPPLY light
heat and water for public use.
rs. Producers and manufacturerss q
food, including refriSeration. -.
IS. National, Stale, county aRd-raunie
ipaI Government emergency require
rnents.
Z. Bunkers and other marble FINER
sency requirements not specified above
s. Producers of news print paper ant
plants necessary to the printing an,
publication Of daily newspapers
This 10 as far as the priority lis
goes. The limited production of coal dur
ing the strike. It is expected, will leav,
NO surplus for other uses.
Statement Issued by Hines.
Mr. Hines issued a public statemen
IN explanation OF his action. In part 1
follows:
'In order to interfere as little as pos
sible with the normal course or Goa
traffic the Railroad Administration up t
the present time has permitted coal I
go to the designated consignees. Fo
the last two weeks open top equip
ment has been devoted to coal loadin
at the exclusion OF other classes o
traffic and the movement of such equip
ment has been expedited so as to facili
tate the maximum production of Goa
The result has been an EXCEPTIONAL
heavy coal production.
st having become necessary, how
ever. to be prepared to insure agains
all temporary contingencies. that tn
transportation service be protected, re
gionRl directors have now been II
structed to see that each railroad sha
accumulate a necessary reserve Of CO;
when II is not already on hand, pui
chasing such coal IL possible. and othel
wise holding coal IN transit. The pras
tice thus resorted to is a practice whic
railroads have always employed in en-
ergencies whether under priyate or nuf