The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-27
Their Responsibility for
Low Production Point
ed Out. 4,
HINES WlLL Be CALLED
National Coal Asso. Head
Tells About National
ization Plans.

WASHINGTON, Aug. e7.-Enter-
ng ON an investigation of the increas-
ID price OF coal, senate interstate
commerce. subcommittee yesterday
,rought forth testimony that short
lge Of cars and labor difficulties were
nindering the coal production, that
certain elements in the miners union
we're intent on naturalization OF the
GOAL mines with the adoption OF six
hour day and a five day week plus
! wage increase and that unless prob
ems OF production were solved the
country would be brought face TO face
with coal famine in the comins
Finter
So emphatic were the witnesses that
The railroads were at the bottom OF
he present low production that Sen
ltor Frelinghuysen, the chairman OF
he committee, indicated the commit
ee's intention of bringing Director
General Hines into the hearing.
After detailing the effects of labor
difficulties and alleged car shortage
IN coal production, Harry N. Taylor,
president OF the National Coal Asso-
.fation, an organization OF operators,
declared a bill had been prepared for
submission to congress providing for
he naturalization OF the mines. He
idded that what the miners wanted
was not only that the government
ihould own the properties, but that
the mines should be turned over to
hem for operation. He insisted that
he more radical of the miners ap-
peared to be gaining control In GER
lain elements and that there was a
serious danger that these elements
would make an earnest effort for the
institutions Of something approaching
soviet methods in conducting the
properties.
Fear was expressed by Mr.. Tay'
.ur that at the miners convention
September 8, in Cleveland and at the
loint conference Of miners and opera
;ors In Buffalo, September rs, action
might be taken to further endanger
Production. He told the committee
that the strikes in Illinois, Kansas
md Missouri were in violation Of the
Washington agreement which proVld-
ID for the continuous operation of the
mines until peace definitely is estao-
liHhed. The conduct of the strikes
IN the Middle West, he said, were In
many cases influenced by radical ele-
ments. He said 1t was known gin
orally in the industry that an attempt
you'd be made at the Cleveland meet
ing TO put through a NATURALIZATION
program with six hour day a five
Day week and an increase in wages.
The possible conversion OF the coal
price hearing into an investigation
of the efficiency OF the railroad ad-
ministration was indicated during the
testimony of John Callahan, traffic
iirector OF the coal association. Both
Mr. Callahan and j. d. Morrow, vice
president of the association, had sup
olemented the statements of Mr.. Tay-
.or that car shortage was the most
Important single factor delaying de-
livery. Senator Frelinghuysen asked
Mr.. Callahan IL he would obtain for
him certain specific information re-
garding idle cars and other features
of operation, adding that he wanted
hat Information in order to question
Directors General Hines.
Denying that combination among
bituminous coal operators to fix pric-
es exists, ]. D. A. Morrow, vice pres
ident of the National Coal Associa-
loin, told a senate coal investigation
committee today that such combs
nation would be impossible, If at
tempted. Prices at the mines, he
said. have declined under the COM
petition which prevails and are low
er than they were a year ago.
There are about 5000 separate
commercial producers operating ap
proximately 1000 mines from which
hituminous coal is regularly shipped
Mr.. Morrow said. "In addition, there
are some two thousand operators with
about 3 GOO mines who begin produc-
Ing and selling coal whenever the
price goes up little and offers prof.
1t to them Moreover, there are hun
dreds of thousands of acres of coal
lands along railroads on which new
mines can be readily and quickly
opened by any one SO disposed Such
condition obviously does not lend
itself to restrictive combinations
among producers.
'Of the 5000 separate bituminous
coal producers in the United States,
1924, approximately forty.five per
~tA1l, nOtu memuersnIp IN tne Nation
al Coal Association. They produce
about sixty per cent of the total out
put OF Unanimous coal in the coun.
Try.
Charles that the National Coal
Association is combination to main
tain prices are without foundation, in
fact
The National Coal Associatoss, rep
resents these operators and looks ar
ter their interests in matters of gem
crai concern, such as transportation