The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-03-22
T RELINGHUYSEN+
WOULD SAVE
NATION A BILLION.
That Estimated Annual
Waste Due to Existing
Systems.
WHAT THE BILLS ARE
Coal Commission Would
Maintain a Constant In
vestigation.
-(coeyish. 1920, BY The Wa.h-
fngton Star)


Especial Dhpateh to The west virsinian.)
WASHINGTON, March 22-The coal
problem which has vexed the United
States for years finally is to be tack
led in constructive way by the SEN
ate. Three bills Just introduced by
Senator Frelinghuysen Of New Jersey,
chairman of a subcommittee OF the
Senate Interstate commerce commit
tee, which has been studying the in
and outs of the coal industry for many
months, II enacted into law, will go
far toward preventing distressing coai
shortages such as have been expert
enced this winter, 1t is believed.
The first OF these bills terminates
federal control OF the coal and coke
industries still existing under the OPP
eraion OF the food and fuel control
act OF war times.
A second bill provides for the ap-
pointment of a federal coal commits
sioner, 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 practices of dealers ana
operators in coal with reference to-
costs, profits and distribution; the
investigation of wages and working
conditions, the terma of employment
and living expenses of the miners and
other workzen Employed; the investi-
cation OF methods aud processes for
the storage OF coal, ind the compila-
tlon OF all data obtained SO as to be
in shape for immediate reference.
These Investigations are to be made
from time to time, so that the data
shall be up-to-date.
The third bill amends the interstate
commerce act so as to provide thai
during the period Hom April 1 to Aug
81, inclusive, in each year, no railroad
shall receive more nor less than IS
per cent Of the scheduled rate in eff
feet, for carrying coal on the date or
shipment, During the remainder Of
the year, however, the railroads are
to charge 115 per cent of the scheduled
rates for carrying coal. G
The last bill is intended to deal with
the chief problem that has confronted
the coal industry of the country for
many years-the seasonal demand for
coal. In the fall and winter the de
.mands for coal are so heavy that,
when blizzard or coal strike comes
along, it is impossible to supply the
demands, thereby causing much suf-
fering to the people and injury to the
Industries of the country.
The establishment Of the proposed
preferential rate for the shipment Of
coal during the spring and summer. Ill
is believed would be effective in caus ;,
ing the consumers Of coal to purchase
when they could get the benefit of
these lower rates. At present the great
majority Of persons and concerns buy
coal only as they need it.
II this result should be obtained,
the railroads would be able to handle
the coal much more easily, since they
would be asked to distribute 1t moro
evenly throughout the year. Under the
present circumstances they are COM
PEELED to have very large number
OF coal cars to meet the seasonal de
mand. Many of these cars are not
needed in the seasons when the coal
is not moving, 1t has been estimated
that the roads will need 100000 new
coal cars to handle properly The sea-
sonal demand during the coming win
ter. The roads might be spared this
extra expense at a time when they
need every dollar.
The proposed law also would tend
to stabilize the prices Of coal. In many
cases today the coal mines work IN:
termittently, meeting the demands 70,
coal as they come If there should
he steady demand and continuous OPP
GRAFTON Of the mines, the costs of main
tainlng an organization could be
equally distributed and the loss now
due to maintaining an organization
whom the plant is not producing would
be eliminated.
One OF the principal causes of COM
plant by the coal miners is that they
do not have continuous employment,
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