The Washington times., 1920-09-02
PREDICT men
WILL return
Department Of Labor Officials
Have Little Fear Walkout
SN VIII Widen.

! The Ipterstats Commerce Commfs-
sion n preparing TO relieve any acute
coal shortage caused by . strike In
the anthracite fields by diverting
bituminous coal TO New York. eastern
and New Jersey. Of
nciais Of rhe Commission have besn
watching the situation closely since
the President expressed condolences
that some substitute for anthracite
coal would be found II the miners
declined to remain at work
Governmsnt officials are watching
the progress Of the unauthorized
strikes today and are hopeful that the
meeting of the wage scale committees
IN Scranton may bring some sort OF
action that will alleviate the condi-
tionA
l. @. c. EXPECTED TO ACT.
The Interstate Commerce Connie
slon II expected to be the nrst called
upon to carry out tho Presidents
statement that substitutes VIII be
furnished, the substitute being bitumt
nous coal and the Interstate Com
merce Commission ordering priority
nsthe shipments Of this coal to meet
shortages of anthracite GOAL
Department Of Justice agents have
orders to watch for any alleged con
spiracies. At the Department OF
Labor the hope was expressed that
public opinion would force the min
ers back to work. 1t was pointed
cut that Labor Day is near and that
many of the miners are taking Few
extra holidays and that the middle OF
next week may see tho strtkerS foroes
dwindling.
The development Of a serious walk
out, It was said by Interstate Com
merce Commission officials, probably
would mean an immediate conference
OF the coal-carrying railroads. tho
operators and the Interstate Com
merco Commission to work out plans
for priority and diversion orderA
WOULD HIT THREE STATES.
Coal men, in close touch with the
situation, asserted that the only hard
ship an anthracite strike would i'm
pose would fall upon the household
crs of New York. Pennsylvania, and
New Jersey, who use anthracite for
heating and cooking purposes and
who are unequipped to burn bitum-
inous fuel
They pointed out that similar
situation was successfully met In
1918, when the navy found 1t neces
sary to requisition practically all the
anthracite output for vesselsl carry
ing troops, because smokeless coal
was essential to safety from submac
rines The shortage thus occasioned
was met by shipments Of bituminous
coal diverted from other sections,
Interstate Commerce officials fndi-
eated that diversion of bituminous
coal might mean widespread readjust-
ments and entail some discomfort IN
other parts OF the country, Much Of
the coal which the mines ship for do
mestic consumption already con-
been contracted for by large con-
sumers. Diversion Of output may
mean readjustment OF these contracts
and a cutting down Of deliveries
SHORTAGE ALREADY EXISTS.
1--WE are not crossing that bridge
till we come to it, however" one off,
ciaI said. A shortage of bituminous
coal already exists in certain sec.
fions, notably Ohio, Indiana, and
Illinois, and priority and diversion or
ders must be arranged with those
needs in mind. he declared.
Coal men were emphatic in their
belief that any shortage could be met
without material increase in cost to
the consumer.
sThs normal anthracite production
h not more than one and a half mil
don tons a week." said one operator.
sAs about one-third or two fifths OF
The miners belong to the United Mine