Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-01
STEPS ARE TAKEN
/. BY COVE ERNORS To
AVERT SUFFERING
Urge a Coal Administration,
With an Administrator for
Each State, to Handle Dis
tribution of All Fuel.
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Chicago, Nov. 30.-Governors of
seven soft coal producing states at a
conference today agreed that the state
governments should take "all possi-
ble' steps to obtain the production of
coal and recommend 10 the federal
government that complete fuel ao-
ministration with an administrator for
each state recommended ly the gov
ernors be perfected Immediately The
state executives also requested equit-
able distribution of coal under uni
form and rigid regulations in all
states.
The governors participating in the
conference. called by Gov. Frederick
ID. Gardner of Missouri, announced
that they had adjourned to meet in
st. Louis next Sunday to await the
srrther development of the federal
goVernn nents plans for bringing about
resumption of production of coal.
Miles c. Riley of Madison, Wis, sec
retary of the conference, was instruct
ed to proceed to Washington 20 re-
main there temporarily as the COVER
nors' representative and ito present
to the authorities the seriousness of
the situation in the states"
Attending the conference were
James r. Goodrich of Indiana. w [,
Harding of Iowa, Gardner of Missouri,
Robertson of Oklahoma. A. II. Rob
erts of Tennessee. and Attorney Gem
eral X. j, Hopkins of Kansas, repre-
sentng Governor Henry j. Alien.
states Face Serious Shortage.
Ihe state executives We're in agree
ment that their states faced a serious
shortage of coal and that only the
utmost conservation of all fuel and
most rigidly supervised distribution
could prevent suffering of the people
and disaster to industry.
The governors We're unanimous that
the fuel administration organization
SHOULD be perfected to provide more
absolutely charge of coal reserves and
distribution through state admins
traitors named by the state executives
themselves. The sessions were eXeeu-
tive and it was not until late in the
afternoon that the conference brok,
up and issued public statement.
Governor Gardner, following the
conference, said it was the sentiment
of the meeting that the governors
should use every effort to have the
state governments meet the coal sit
uaton in the commonwealths II
was desired TO cooperate with the
federal government and until the gov
ernment had further time to put it's
plans for increasing production into
effect no further action by the gov
ernors' conference would be taken
until the meeting one week hence in
st. Louis,
Recommendation Agreed On.
The statement made public an
the conference had "unani-
mously agreed on the following re-
concentrations:
That a more complete fuel admin
organization for the country
be perfected by the appointment at
once of fuel administration in each |
state to be recommended by the gov
ernors, to be compensated by the fed |
eral government, and to have fun |
charge and control of all coal avail
able for his state.
I'm view of the statements by Di- !
rector General Hines to the effect
that the production of soft coal is now |
forty to fifty per cent of normal and |
in view of reports from other sources
to the effect that the production of
hard coal is now above normal all !
coal mined and in stock in the Unite |
States both soft and hard, should be |
distributed equitably among the |
forty-eight states on the basis of |
their needs as developed during the !
war. regardless of the state where !
mined.
Rules For Conservation,
THAT rigid and uniform rules and !
regulations for the greatest conserva
ton of coal throughout the Union be
established promulgated |
and enforced.
That the respective state govern
ments take all possible steps to Sc
cure the productisn of coal.
That Miles c. Riley, secretary If
the governors conference, be direct
ed and delegated to proceed to Wash
lngton to present to the authorities
the seriousness of the situation in the
states and to remain in that city tenn
porarily as a representative of the
governors,
THAT the conference of governors
convene again on December in 81.
Louis for further consideration and
confer upon the coal situation"
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