The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-28
Coal CARS MUST BEPLACED
ATMINE while ANY ORDER
EM HANDS OF OPERATORS
Commerce Commission and De-
partment. of Justice Joined
Hands to Relieve Shortage
MINES HAVE PRIORITY
Cars Must be Filled and Moved
With Utmost Dispatch Or
ders Interstate Commission
By HARRY 3. HuhI-

| Washington. June 27.-The inter
lstate commerce commission and the
department OF justice have Joined
hands to relieve the soft coal short
age and stop profiteering which
threatens to add $4,000. 900 900 TO
Americas fuel bill this winter.
The commission has ordered rail-
roads to deliver 10 coal mines an alb
solute 100 per cent car supply 40
open top or g9Bdola car may be sup
Piled for any Ddrpose except the trans
portation of coal while any mines
order for cars is untitled
The commissions orders to this ef-
feet are explicit and to the point and
wall be enforced % the limit, l 4. (.
members declare.
With full car supply. govern
ment officials see a quick finish %
the condition OF short supply and
heavy demand which has enabled hi
luminous operators and dealers to
double and triple the price OF coal
Prices should return TO normal soon
If, however, IN the face of adequate
car supply, the pr.ce is kept up 10 its
present levei. or i1 showed higher. as
the American Wholesale Dealers As
sociation intimates. then the depart
ment of justice has promised 10 take
quick and drastic action under the
-profiteering law and jerk opera
tors and dealers into court 20 Justify
the charges they are exacting.
Plans for this cooperation OF the
interstate commerce commission and
the department of justice were laid at
a conference between Commissioner
Charles c. McCord OF the l. C. c., and
Assistant Atty. Gen. III. S. Mitchell.
Although thes% is not the slight
est doubt but there has been flagrant
profiteering in coal, il Is not intended
TO make the departments program
against coal operators and dealers re-
troactive. Starting with clean slate,
with the beginning OF an increased car
supply, all excuses for excessive prices
will be held TO have been removed,
and from that date on the anti profi-
teering statute will be enforced.
The commission has ordered an alb
solute 100 per cent car supply TO the
mines" says Judge McChord. The
mines are given priority in car sup
ply and shipment over any other use.
The railroads will obey that order.
with a full car supply. there Will
be no further excuse for high prices.
The commissions job is 10 see that
the mines get cars and that the cars
are moved with utmost dispatch 20
their destinations. Beyond that. and
in all matters affecting price. the mat
ter is up TO fhe department OF justice"
Palmer's success in anti-profiteer-
ing prosecutions. TO date. is not such
as to throw any great amount Of fear
into the hearts OF greedy coal opera
tors. The law has been on the books,
they have been profiteering-and get
ting away with It.
Mitchell expected 90 issue a state
ment'' soon. Presumably this is de-
layed until after he can communicate
with Palmer A comparative new
conner in the department. IL Is said
Mitchell sees an opportunity 20 win
his spurs by his handling Of these
coal cases. and that unless he Is ham
pered by regulations from above. he
will make coal profiteers sit up and
take notice.
However. that may be. the Amer
can Wholesale Coal Dealers Associ-
alton is setting the stage for another.
boost IN coal prices, even while the
I. c. c. and department OF justice Of
ricials plan for their reduction.
G.. A Cushing. Washington repre-
sentative OF the association and its
expert in deciding the psychological
at which 20 add another dol
ar or two 10 the price. announces that
he very fact that an emergency u
admitted By the interstate commerce
commission in Issuing its 100 per cent
,ar supply and priority order. has
caused a panic" among buyers Of spot
coal and that he Is afraid the price
nav Jump about 81 per ton as a result.
Cushing, incidentally. says there IS
no shortage Of coal that the mines
are ahead OF their schedule produc-
ion for this time OF the year and that
he data Of the geographical survey
ind the figures upon which the l. c. G.
,ased its action are all wrong.
J. ID. A. Morrow, vice-president oc
he National Coal Association. how
.ver, says there is an acute shortage.
hat no reserve has been laid away
against the heavy demands OF next
winter and that the situation Is acute.