The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1920-03-24
: = = 4 \ x = x 4 ** X x
= WASHINGTON
X NEWS LETTER
BY The Washington Star
Copyright 1929
: = y i i i i * i i i i f.

IN and outs of the coal industry fo
many months, if enacted into law, wi
go far toward preventing distressin
coal shortages such as have been ey
perienced this winter, it is believed
The first of these bills terminate
federal control of the coal and coke in
dustries still existing under the oper
alton of the food and fuel control ae
of war times.
A second bill provides for the an
polntment of federal coal commits
sloner, with principal offices in Wash
ington. The duties of the coal com
missioner are to include the investi
cation of the organization, manage
ment and praetieese Of dealers and op.
orators in coal with reference tc
costs, profits and distribution; the in
vestigation of wages and working con-
dltlons, terms of employment and liv-
ing expenses of the miners and other
workmen employed; the investigation
of methods and processes for the stor-
age of coal, the compilation of all
data obtained SO as to be in shape for
reference. These investi-
cations are to be made from time to
time, so that the data shall be un-to-
late.
The third bill amends the interstate
commerce act so as to provide that
during the period from April to Au
gust 81, inclusive, in each year, no
railroad shall receive more nor less
that 85 per cent of the scheduled rate
in effect for carrying coal on the date
of shipment. During the remainder
of the year, however, the railroads are
% charge 115 per cent of the sched-
lied rates for carrying coal.
The last bill is intended to deal with
he chief problem that has confronted
he coal industry of the country for
many years-the seasonal demand for
oal. In the fall and winter the de-
nands for coal are SO heavy that, |
When a blizzard or a coal strike comes
long, it is impossible to supply the
thereby causing much suf-
ering to the people and injury to the
Industries of the country.
The establishment of the proposed !
Preferential rate for the shipment of
oal during the spring and summer
rould, it is believed will be effective
the consumers of coal to
urchase when they could get the ben
fit Of these lower rates. At pres
Mt the great majority of persons and
0ncerns buy coal only as they need it.
If this result should be obtained,
le railroads would be able handle the
1al much more easily, since they
ould be asked to distribute it more
Jenly throughout the year. Under
lie present circumstances they are
'mpelled to have a very large num-
sr of coal cars to meet the seasonal =
,mand. Many of these cars are not
,eded in the seasons when the coal
rot moving. 1t has been estima-
d that the roads will need 100000
w coal ears to handle properly the
asonal demand during the coming
inter- The roads might be spared
is expense at a time when they need
cry dollar. C
The proposed law also would tend b
stabilize the prices of coal. In Y
any cases today the coal mines work Q
termittentlys. @neting the demands t
r coal as thes,u me. If there should ~
steady demand and continuous op- h
alton of the mnies, the costs of Y
an organization could be o
ually distributed and the loss now
e to maintaining an organization W
zen the plan is not producing would
eliminated. In
One of the principal causes of COM ,
aint by the coal miners is that they ;,
not have continuous employment, II
t are frequently laid off on account :
the mines shutting down. The
nes shut down when there is lack
orders Of coal cars. Under the q
in proposed, it is hoped that the or .
IS will be distributed throughout n
year, so this cause of unrest he
ong the miners may be done away h
h.
from August / TO September l. II of
pointed out, consumers of bitum- f
us and anthracite coal using appro- =
1ately 500,000,000 tons year, the m
,ater part Of which is purchased :
ing the winter months, will then a,
re an opportunity of purchasing ia
/ at a less cost. This plan will put y,
} use some 25o,000 coal cars which n
tied up during the summer months G,
a time when the coal can be moved he
GENTLY and the railroads are not ar
jested. tn
{ the coal mines are operated 23o
$ a year, with the same number of Sc
Iers, it has been estimated that tn
le 800,0O0,000 tons can be produc- W.
The demand for coal in this a
ntry is growing rapidly. The de- to
i'd for export coal is very heavy, De