The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1920-08-17
OFFICIALS ARE WORRIED
OVER COAL INDUSTRY
SWITCHMEN'S STRIKE PARTLY
RESPONSIBLE FOR CHAOS.
NO CARS ARE AVAILABLE.
NOW SEE .TIE-UP OF FUEL

Poor TRANSPORTATION Facilities Cause
MANY Mines TO Close-Industries
Affected by Shortage-EmbargO on
Coal ExpOrts-DiscOntent Growing.
Possibility of a general strike of
bituminous coal miners throughout
the central competitive field has add
ed to the seriousness of the fuel situa-
ton. Primarily due to the failure of
transportation facilities, the coal
shortage promises to become the most
acute in the nations history, despite
the efforts by federal officials to check
the growing industrial unrest, provide
carers for the mined coal and aid the
railroads to bolster up their weak
nesses. John L. Lewis, president of
the United Mine Workers of America,
asserted in an official statement that
anv settlement of the Illinois strike
which would modify the basic inter-
state agreement, under which the min
ers of the central field are now work
ing, would result in an imemdiate
shutdown of.all bituminous mintes, IN
volving a strike of 100000 men.
To Decide Fair Profits.
Appointment by Attorney General
Palmer of a committee to decide on a
fair margin of profit for producers and
dealers in bituminous coal, beyond
which prosecutions under the Lever
act will follow, is expected to fix a
maximum margin of profit allowable
The committees prices will probably
be materially lower than the present
market price of coal.
The committee appointed by the at
torney general consists of Vance NC
| Cormick. former chairman of the
Democratic National committee, who
is listed as a coal operator, and Will
liam Potter, former fuel administra-
tor of Pennsylvania, representing the
public: J. w. Lieb, of the New YORK
Edison company, representing the utll-
ity companies; c. N. Snyder, OF the
New York Central railroad, represent
| ing the railroads; W. G. Townes, O.
New York, coal operator; Charles A
Owen, Harlow Voorhees,, Philadel
phia coal operator, and Charles l.
Couch, president of the American
Wholesale Coal Dealers association Of
Buffalo.
Switchmen's Strike Factor. -
The strike of railroad switchmen Is
felt very seriously in the coal indus
try. The transportation lines are still
handicapped by the congestion In ter
minals. and thousands of cars are Sc
effectually tied up that coal operators
are able to run their mines, in many
instances. on part time only.
The Interstate Commerce commits
sion has issued an order for priority
of movement in the transportation OF
coal to New England. The order in
cludes a prohibition of any movement
of coal to tidewater unless consigned
to New England. This order, in the
view of coal experts, amounts to an
embargo on the expectation of coal.
Discomfort Grows.
Union officials assert that the mini
mum wage in the Illinois district,
awarded by the bituminous coal com
mission last autumn, amounting to
$3.50 to $5.75 a day, would be fair if
they could be employed at least five
days week. AS it is, the day and
shift men are receiving SIS to SIT
in their weekly pay envelopes in a
large percentage of the mines. This
condition has created widely grow
ing discomfort, which has already re
suited in more than half of the soft
coal miners in Illinois district being
idle.