New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-08-13
Rail Priority
For Building
Material Urged
Housing Difficulties Laid to
transportation Troubles
by Daniel Willard, Who
Suggests Appeal to 1. C.. C.
Coal Rule Ties Up Cars
Calder Asks Why Shipping
Board Boats Are Not Used
as Bituminous Carriers

O"AeiHioIc ~ WIN RallTOdQ, tOlQ the
Senate Committee on Reconstruction
and Production in session here yester-
day that the transportation troubles
had much to do with the present hous-
ing difficulties.
AS aremedy he suggested that all
large cities appoint committees to de-
termine what building materials should
get priority in the use of transporta-
ton facilities and to advise with the
Interstate Commerce Commission and
the carriers to have the needed priori-
ties put into effect.
Mr.. Willard, who is chairman Of the
advisory committee of the Association
OF Railway Executives, said that the
roads are anxious to co0pera in ev cry
way with the authorities in New York
and other congested communities in
an effort to relieve the situation.
Admitting that the housing shortage
was due in a great measure to the
shortage of railroad cars, he said that
the general priorities on coal estab-
lished last spring by the Interstate
Commerce Commission interfered with
the railroads favoring such commodi-
ties AS were necessary in the building
( industry. He believed that these might
receive more consideration and pos
sible priority standing if determined
efforts were made by such committees
as he suggested.
Thorough Survey Urged
With respect to the problem in New
York he advocated that a competent
committee make thorough survey of
the situation, with an eye tc determine
just what buildings such as apart
mvnts, schools, hospitals and general
dwelling places were needed and to APP
proxmate the kind and quantity of
materials necessary. The conclusions
could be taken up with the special COM
mittee on housing of the railroad cx-
dale, president of the D. l.. & W. is the
head, and with the aid of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission a special
effort could then be made to rush the
necessary supplies here
Mr.. Willard also spoke at length on
the coal situation. When asked by SEN
ator Calder, chairman Of the Senate
committee if he favored the restriction
Of coal exports to bring down the price
ard increase the supply here, he re-
Piled he did not believe such a course
should be taken.
at doesn't seem to me- he said,
chat anything helful would come from
restricting outgoing coal, which is now
about 100000 tons month, four
times the amount formerly shipped in
a similar period"
He declared the output of soft coal
was increasing, that 100000 tons will
be produced this week, and that next
week production will amount to almost
12,000,000 tons.
Senator Calder, however, thought
that the export business was having an
important influence on domestic prices
and quantity. "What I am wondering"
he remarked, "s whether we are going
to Sain much International standing if
we sell coal which costs Sd g ton for
anywhere from $50 to $50 ton to
foreign nations. Will they not say to
US: Yes, you gave us coal, but you
took our skins for it,?
Shipping Board Boats Idle
When the proposition of utilizing
some of the Shipping Board vessels to
move coal from Southern ports to
points along the New England coast
was suggested, Mr.. Willard said he had
spoken to Admiral Benson about it,
but that Admiral Benson told him
nothing could be done at this time
Senator Calder declared he also spoke
to Admiral Benson about it and urged
upon him the Importance of assistance
during the emergency. The Senator
said there was a large number Of the
Shipping Board boats lying idle in
Hampton Roads and he couldn't under
stand why they should not be employed
during the crisis.
Colonel Daniel B. Wentz, president
of the National Coal Association, also
appeared before the committee. He
said that the shortage of bituminous
! coal has grown more marked since
March, but believed the shortage Of
20,o00000 tons would be made up by
the end of the year. The discussion
here developed on Che point that while
operators claimed they couldn't fur
nlsh all the coal contracted for because
OF the transportation difficulties, public
utilities could go out into the open
market and obtain all the coal they
wanted "for higher price"
The high prices, such as SIS to $25 a
ton, prevailing here and at other tide
water ports, Mr.. Wentz explained, were
undoubtedly due to spectators who
nave OBTAINED possession OF large guam
titles of the commodity in some I'M
accountable manner.
j. w. Lieb, vice president of the Edi-
son company, said that, while public
utilities were receiving a daily normal
supply of coal, they were unable to OBJ
tain Il surplus to tide them over the
winter. He said the companies could
go out into the market, however, and
get all they want "if they paid the
price"
The hearings will be continued to-
day at 20 West Thirty-ninth Street.