Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-03
prccarious Fuel Situation

ONCE more the Federal government finds
~ 1t necessary to take emergency meas
ures in order to distribute properly the
available tonnage of coal, and it may be-
come necessary before many weeks have
passed to proceed still further and lay down
i margin Of profits which coal producers,
distributors and spectators are permitted
to charge the public. Even now the Depart
ment OF Justice is giving consideration to
the question of excessive prices being
charged for coal and to its powers under the
Lever act to deal with such prices.
In order to save the Northwest section
from Il fuel famine, the Interstate Com
merce Commission has issued priority or
der to accelerate the movement of coal to
that region New England came forward
with Il demand for similar order to pro-
toct its industries from Il threatened short
age. Almost ut the same time these steps
were being taken. the operators OF Illinois
appealed to the White House to intervene
against Wholesale strike of miners in that
State, who had rejected the award Of the
bituminous coal commission.
On top of all this came Il warning from
the officers of the National Coal Association
to the members OF that body to the general
effect that if means were not found to fuel
the country during the coming winter, the
coal industry inevitably would find itself
once more under Federal control. And il
such control is restored third time. this
warning added, the industry might as we'll
reconcile itself to permanent government
administration.
The coal trade, taken by and large, may
not be wholly responsible for the shortage
which exists in the coal markets. That
industry has had difficult labor problems
to face and still has such problems. 1t has
had shortage In cars and still has short
age in many fields. All this is granted and
allowance is being made by thoughtful men
for the handcaps which the producing in
terests have labored under.
But that industry is wholly responsible
for the present runaway market 1t is re-
sponsblc for the fact that coal is selling
i'll some quarters for two and three times
the government price of year ago. Many
OF the more far-sceing coal factors have
sought to hold down prices to Il decent
level. They have told their associates that
prolitcering in coal would be punished as
surely as it existed. but these warnings have
not prevented spectators from taking adj
vantage of the shortage and the fright OF
many consumers who have been willing to
pay almost any price in order to be assured
of an adequate supply OF fuel.
There is plenty of coal in this country
to meet every need. Everybody who knows
anything about this business knows that
Moreover. the firesides and industries of
America have first call upon their own
StorehouscS. II expectation of coal must
he suspended while this nation lays in a
reserve supply for the coming winter there
ought to be action to that end without de-
lay. If the private managers of the rail
roads cannot or refuse to supply tho rolling
stock 60 market the coal. then the Inter
state Commerce Commission must exercise
its powers to that end.
And if the owners of the coal mines can
not do their part both in production and in
distributing their output at a reasonable
price, people now used to autocracy in
government, will resort to more autocracy
in order TO deal effectually with the ques-
ton of fuel