The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1919-11-20
FUEL SUPPLY
IN HANDS OF
R. R. LEADERS
Regional Directors Given
Absolute Power to Con-
serve Nations Waning Coal
NO Move to Work.
CONFERENCE RESUMED
(By Associated press)

(By Associated PresS)
CHICAGO, Nov. 90 Regional di.
rectors of railroads today had a free
hand In dealing with curtailment Of
non-essential industries and unneces-
sary passenger traffic and extraordin-
ary efforts to conserve and distribute
the nations steadily diminishing coal
supply. were being made.
Under that authority. granted by
General Of Railroads, after q two-day
directors, the entire south east Of the
Mississippi and south of the Ohio r.v-
ers. except for q small area In the
Pocahontas region, today had been
placed on q wartime ration basis and
annulment Of trains in addition to the
146 already taken of was under con-
alteration.
Other drastic action looking toward
reserving the available supply for es-
sential industries, public utilities and
domestic consumers included stopping
deliveries to all non-essential indus
tries in Cleveland, and deliveries in
Omaha, Neb, only on written applica-
tion approved by the local coal COM
mittee.
Most Men Still Out.
Except In the West Virginia fields,
upon which 1t was announced the rest
Of the country would draw for abso-
lutely necessary requirements, there
was little hope today for increased
production. The majority Of the 425,-
600 bituminous miners who went on
strike nearly three weeks ago, main
tanned their disposition to disregard
the strike recall order issued by their
acting president under direction of the
federal court and to await develop
ments from the miners-operators' con-
ference at Washington.
In Colorado a strike Of the miners
who had returned to work was called
for today. following failure Of the min.
ers and operators to agree on wage
scale.
Two state courts Of North Dakota,
where the governor had seized the lig-
mite mines and ordered state opera,
tion, today had issued DEGREES that ap-
parently would lead to restoration of
the mines to their owners At Willis
ton, one company notified the COVER
nor 1t would not permit state opera
tion.
Should the apparently deadlocked
conference at Washington not reach
an agreement within a week, martial
law in mining districts and state op-
Grafton Of mines was planned in Iowa.
Governor Harding said he was con-
sidering taking over the mines, offer.
} ing the miners an increased wage and
compensation Of the operators until a
settlement could be arrived at
The first troop movement into a
coal field since the first days Of The
strike was reported from Wyoming.
Thirty soldiers were sent to Wintcn,
Wyo., where a small group Of alleged
alien miners armed with rifles stopped
American and naturalized workers
from returning to the pits.
DENVER, Col, Nov. 2O.-Colorado's
second coal strike within the month.
officially began this morning. The
strike was called by George o. John.
son, district president of the United
allegations that not all the striking
miners had been taken back to work
The chief grievance Of the miners was
with the Colorado Fuel and Iron Co.,
largest producer in the state. which
be taken back except those active in
promoting the recent strike.
INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 2O.-Curtail
ment of interurban service Is another
step in the efforts in Indiana to con
serve the coal supply of the state, be
came effective on several electric
traction lines today. The action, in
compliance with an order Of the state
public service commission, follows by
a few days the institution of lightless
nights throughout Indiana.
1t was stated today that unless ar
agreement is reached in Washington
between miners and operators within
ten days, the coal supply situation ir
Indiana will cause the suspension O1
many industries. Plants in Indiana
polls have average of about two
weeks supply of coal, it was said. anC
the railroads have an average Of II
days supply However. operation O
the mines must have been resumed
for several days before relief can b.
secured.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2O.--Fuel sd
ministrator Garfield still withheld to
day any action towards a nationwide
restriction Of coal consumption, while
subcommittee of mine workers ant
operators continued negotiations for
wage scale in the central competitive
field, and basis of settlement for tn.
miners strike. Steps taken in locali
ties where the pinch of coal famine
has been felt, have been the action o
rgional coal committees of the rail
road administration.
The joint committees were reported
today to be making progress toward
settlement For the first time it wa
said they were considering details o
wage and working condition agree
ment. The miners were reported Il
have receded from their proposal 70
local adjudication Of disputes arising
out of the general agreement. This
it was said. would present sporadic
labor difficulties in localities after al
agreement had been negotiated.
Operators, however, still were with
holding definite counter proposal t
the miners demands for the 30 hou
week and so per cent increase II
wages, but 1t was understood the
were prepared to offer some wag
increase.
PITTSBURG. Nov 20.-Economy il
the use of fuel by Pittsburg consumer